Practical realization of simultaneous wireless information and power transfer (SWIPT) systems

Abstract

The rapid advancement of the Internet of Things (IoT) has resulted in the widespread interconnection of systems, where future communication infrastructures will heavily depend on distributed sensors for data collection and environment monitoring. A major obstacle in deploying such large-scale sensor networks is ensuring a reliable and sustainable power source, as traditional batteries are constrained by limited capacity, periodic replacement, and environmental concerns. Interestingly, our surroundings are constantly immersed in radio frequency (RF) signals originating from sources such as mobile towers, satellites, and wireless communication systems. This pervasive RF environment offers an opportunity for energy harvesting, enabling sensors to derive power directly from ambient signals. A highly promising approach to achieve this is Simultaneous Wireless Information and Power Transfer (SWIPT), which enables devices to concurrently decode data and harvest energy from the same RF transmission.