Near Zero Energy RF and Sensor Operations (N-ZERO)
Abstract
The DoD has an unfilled need for a persistent, event driven sensing capability, where physical, electromagnetic and other sensors can be pre-placed and remain dormant until awoken by an external trigger or stimulus. State-of-the-art sensors use active electronics to monitor the environment for the external trigger. The power consumed by these electronic circuits limits the sensor lifetime to durations of weeks to months. The Near Zero Power RF and Sensor Operations (N-ZERO) program will extend the lifetime of remotely deployed sensors from months to years. N-ZERO will develop the underlying technologies and demonstrate the capability to continuously and passively monitor the environment and wake-up an electronic circuit upon detection of a specific signature or trigger. Thereafter, sensor lifetime will be limited only by processing and communications of confirmed events. This program will investigate the development of highly innovative sensors and sensor architectures as well as signal processing and digitization technologies with near zero power consumption. In particular, a fundamental understanding of the trade space that simultaneously minimizes power consumption, the minimum detectable signal, and the probability of false detection will be explored. This program also has related applied research efforts funded under PE 0602716E, Project ELT-01.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Accomplishment
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2017
- Source ID
- 3d8b7e225695776fef89746cc27477f7