MEMS-based parametric amplifiers for range optimization of wireless sensor networks

卢萨蒂亚州和勃兰登堡州，我们的应用合作伙伴的家乡，有许多偏远地区和人口稀少的地区，这在世界上许多其他地区也是如此。在这种情况下，测量点的数字化是一个重大挑战；无论是地下水/水、森林火灾、结构、基础设施还是采矿后景观以及数字农业中的地形监测。特别是用于与云应用程序或基站联网的传感器的无线电接口在许多情况下限制了范围，这使得在高度分布的情况下难以覆盖。一方面，所需的长距离是有问题的，另一方面，在没有中央能源供应的偏远地区有效利用有限的电池容量是有问题的。在许多情况下，分散的能源生产，例如在光伏电池的帮助下，可以确保长期自给自足。但是，特别是在专业和工业用途中，有许多应用中，太阳能或其他来源的数量不够，或者尺寸和重量的限制禁止了收集概念。因此，需要纯电池供电的无线传感器节点，同时保证长时间运行。同时，单个测点往往分布较广，需要大量的能量进行发射和接收。这里申请的项目核心是一个节能的通用传感器节点。由于无线电接口在所有组件中具有最高的能量需求，因此这是本项目的重点。根据初步DFG项目FOR 1508中资源有限的传感器节点的设计结果，将进一步研究发现的系统方法，并将在无线电接口中特别添加一种创新的节能放大器技术，以便以节能的方式增加唤醒接收器（WuRX）的范围。将采用新的技术方法来扩大技术的可用性，从而为该系统的商业化铺平道路。基本的想法是通过高频激发为放大器产生能量，这是可能的，这要归功于机械振荡器共振。这将解决现有WuRX的两个最大挑战——能耗和短距离。因此，配备MEMS参数的传感器节点成为专业传感器网络扩展到广泛区域的理想解决方案。应用合作伙伴Actemium BEA将在其自动化系统和机器上演示项目中设计的系统在现场的适用性，例如露天采矿或分散测量点的输送机技术。

Lusatia and the state of Brandenburg, home of our application partner, have numerous remote regions as well as sparsely populated areas, which is also found in many other regions of the world. In this context, a digitization of measuring points is a major challenge; be it for groundwater/water, forest fire, structure, infrastructure or terrain monitoring in post-mining landscapes as well as in digital agriculture. Especially the radio interface for networking sensors with cloud applications or base stations limits the range in many cases, which makes coverage in highly distributed scenarios difficult. On the one hand, the required long ranges are problematic, on the other hand, an efficient use of the limited battery capacity at remote locations without central energy supply. In many cases, decentralized energy generation, e.g. with the help of photovoltaic cells, can ensure self-sufficient operation in the long term. But especially in professional and industrial use, there are many applications where solar energy or other sources are not available in sufficient quantities or where size and weight limitations prohibit harvesting concepts. Therefore, there is a great need for purely battery-powered wireless sensor nodes that nevertheless guarantee a long runtime. At the same time, the individual measuring points are often widely distributed, which requires a lot of energy for transmission and reception. The core of the project applied for here is an energy-efficient generic sensor node. Since the radio interface has the highest energy demand of all components, this is the focus of this project. Based on the findings on the design of resource-limited sensor nodes from the preliminary DFG project FOR 1508, the system approach found there will be pursued further and an innovative, power-saving amplifier technology will be specifically added to the radio interface in order to increase the range of the wake-up receiver (WuRX) in an energy-efficient manner. New technological approaches are to be used to extend the technical usability and thus pave the way towards commercialization of the system. The basic idea is to generate energy for the amplifier from a high-frequency excitation, which is possible thanks to a mechanical oscillator resonance. This would solve the two biggest challenges of the existing WuRX - energy consumption and short range. The sensor node equipped with a MEMS paramp thus becomes the ideal solution for professional sensor networks extending over wide areas. The application partner Actemium BEA will demonstrate the applicability of the system designed in the project in the field on its automation systems and machines, for example in conveyor technology for open-cast mining or decentralized measuring points.