Market assessment for battery free WiFi communication system

滑铁卢大学(UW)的研究人员开发了一种新型的、无电池的WiFi通信系统，该系统利用802.11 MAC层的功能进行通信。本发明使可能用于物联网应用的设备(例如传感器)能够使用现有的WiFi基础设施进行通信。这种新的通信技术兼容现代802.11n、802.11ac和802.11ax网络和协议。由于现有系统通常不是非常用户友好(它们需要手动将设备与接入点配对)，并且耗电(因此需要频繁更换电池和/或充电)，这种新技术提供了比现有系统显著的优势。这种无电池WiFi通信系统的其他优点包括：1)它实现低至1.25微瓦的功耗(比现有最节能的WiFi反向散射系统低26倍)；2)它不需要对WiFi接入点或设备进行任何软件或硬件修改；3)它与使用WPA或WEP等安全协议的WiFi网络兼容；4)它与所有现代WiFistard标准兼容。该系统可用于任何使用无线传感器的应用。物联网的具体应用包括智能家居、农业监测、供应链物流和生物识别传感器。作为这项市场评估拨款的一部分，被选中的顾问将进行全面的市场分析，以确定最合适的市场机会，以及与在特定细分市场应用该技术相关的技术、营销和财务挑战。良好的市场评估结果将进一步指导商业化战略的发展和招商引资。

University of Waterloo (UW) researchers have developed a novel, battery-free WiFi communication systemthat leverages features of the 802.11 MAC layer to communicate. This invention enables devices that might beused in IoT applications (e.g., sensors) to communicate using existing WiFi infrastructure. This newcommunication technology is compliant with modern 802.11n, 802.11ac and 802.11ax networks and protocols.Because existing systems are typically not very user-friendly (they require manually pairing the device with anaccess point) and are power hungry (thus needing frequent battery replacements and/or charging) this newtechnology provides significant advantages over existing systems.Other advantages of this battery-free WiFi communication system include: 1) It achieves power consumptionas low as 1.25 µW (26 times lower than the existing most energy efficient WiFi backscattering systems); 2) Itdoes not require any software or hardware modifications to WiFi access points or devices; 3) It works withWiFi networks that use a security protocol such as WPA or WEP; 4) It is compatible with all modern WiFistandards. This system can be used in any application where wireless sensors are utilized. Specific IoT exampleapplications include, smart-homes, agricultural monitoring, supply chain logistics and biometric sensors.As part of this Market Assessment grant, the selected consultant will perform a thorough market analysis toidentify the most suitable market opportunities along with technical, marketing and financial challengesassociated with the application of the technology in a particular market segment. A favorable marketassessment result will further guide the development of a commercialization strategy and in attractinginvestments.