Replace Microcontrollers with Metal Washers for a Better Smart Home
Smart home sensors can save us time and money by silently automating the repetitive tasks of daily life. By monitoring environmental variables — such as ambient light levels, room occupancy, temperature, and humidity — these little devices eliminate the need for making frequent manual adjustments to thermostats and lighting. But that convenience comes with a cost: regular charging or replacement of the sensors’ batteries. In a fully connected smart home, that may be dozens of batteries, each on its own schedule. And you thought smoke alarm batteries were a pain!
Fortunately, a new technology may simplify smart home maintenance in the future. A group led by researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology has created a sensing system called SoundOffthat promises to eliminate batteries entirely. It is composed of passive ultrasonic tags that silently and wirelessly transmit messages to a smart home hub. Normal interactions with everyday items cause...
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