November 10, 2003—A technology partnership and successful demonstration of a totally battery-free i-Bean wireless sensor networking device have just been announced by Millennial Net, a developer of hardware and software for self-organizing, wireless sensor networks, and Ferro Solutions, developers of energy-harvesting technologies.
Millennial Net’s i-Beans are extremely small, ultra-low power, self-organizing wireless sensor networking computing devices that enable sensors and other monitoring and control appliances to connect over low data-rate wireless networks. i-Beans have immediate utility in hundreds of industrial, medical, consumer, and military applications, and anywhere sensing devices must communicate with each other with limited or no human administration for years at a time and on very low power, explains the company.
Ferro Solutions’ Energy Harvesters generate electricity from vibrations that are barely noticeable to the human touch. Combining the Energy Harvesters with Millennial Net’s i-Beans further reduces the total cost of ownership of implementing and maintaining wireless sensor networks by eliminating the need for batteries and the labor associated with battery replacements. The result is greater savings for end users and a new degree of freedom for systems designers and wireless device engineers.
Specific applications for battery-free i-Beans include monitoring of heating, ventilation, air conditioning (HVAC) systems through duct or machine-mounted sensors and wireless transmitters; powering sensor devices in automobiles, trucks, or trains; and enabling remote colonies of sensors used in aircraft and ships to detect potential problems. In addition to its innovative networking protocol, Millennial Net uses a portfolio of radio technologies, including micro-power narrowband solutions as well as IEEE 802.15.4 wireless personal area network (WPAN) components.
The first demonstration of the battery-free i-Bean took place at ISA 2003 in Houston. For more information visit Millennial Net or call 617/225-0100, ext. 220.
