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A team of researchers from the University of Massachusetts Amherst has developed a novel way of powering wearable devices by harnessing waste energy from future 6G wireless communication signals, specifically from visible light communication. VLC uses ultra-fast LED flashes to transmit data, which in turn emit leaked radio frequency energy. The team developed "Bracelet+," a simple, low-cost, copper coil device worn on the body that leverages human skin to amplify energy harvesting efficiency by up to 10 times. It may be able to harvest enough energy to power low-power sensors for health monitoring and could potentially obviate the need to recharge wearables such as smartwatches and smart rings very frequently. Although the technology relies on the usage of VLC by future 6G networks, it is a window into the sustainable future where the human body may become a natural source of power for devices.
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This innovation solves one of the main problems in wearable technology: having batteries that run out relatively quickly. Devices such as smartwatches and smart rings need to be charged frequently, sometimes daily, which for the user can be a hassle. Given the option of continuous charging in situ, the Bracelet+ could make next-generation wearables more usable and attractive. Wearable devices with this functionality that can siphon energy from such a bracelet may operate for longer with reduced need for traditional recharging, hence making the device more practical and feasible.
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However, that requires the deployment of 6G networks incorporating VLC, still in development and far from real-world realization. While present infrastructure is yet to adapt to the new technology, the study hints at changing waste energy from everywhere into a feasible power supply for novel devices.
While this may take full form years from now, this breakthrough opens new avenues in the design of wearable devices to interact with the human body flawlessly while solving the limitations in present battery technologies. This will revolutionize how devices get powered, providing a sustainable and convenient solution to the ever-growing wearable technology market.
