Energy for the Internet of Things (EIoT) Research Cluster
The Research Challenge
We define our research challenge as Powering Smart Things for the Trillion Sensor Economy.
Our Vision
The EIoT cluster’s vision is to enable deep-tech innovation for next-generation IoT devices by bringing together frontier research in modelling, design, metrology, materials processing, device fabrication, power management, control and system integration.
The number of connected IoT devices is predicted to grow to 1 trillion sensors connected to the Internet by 2050. The sensors will enhance and automate the monitoring and management of transport, energy, healthcare, manufacturing and other applications.
IoT sensors must be deployed, operated and maintained economically on a scale fit for the vision of supporting trillions of sensors.
Our Mission
The EIoT cluster is focussed on sustainable options to provide renewable energy to IoT devices.
This requires maximising and integrating energy harvesting and storage materials and devices, as well as minimising the power requirements of electronic control and sensor systems.
We aim to achieve this through the integration of dedicated low-power integrated circuit management and passive devices in order to bridge the gap between the energy requirements of the IoT device and the energy that can be harvested and stored.
Our Contribution to the UN Sustainable Development Goals
The research performed within the cluster directly contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):
It also indirectly supports the following goals:
Our Solutions
The Principal Investigators and their teams in the EIoT cluster are developing solutions from the atomistic simulation of materials and interfaces through to systems integration.
A target output from the cluster is a dedicated Energy Source in Package (ESiP) which combines the energy harvesting (EH), storage, electronic and sensor functions.
We are also establishing a dedicated testbed to create a physical ecosystem for developers of ultra-low-power wireless solutions to collaboratively undertake real-life energy harvesting and storage experiments at system level to optimise battery life. This will address the EU Green Deal objectives, developing green and more reliable IoT solutions and making electronic devices more efficient, more sustainable, safer and better connected.
We have also established the EnTICe Energy Harvesting Testbed, which is a world-first ecosystem for developers of ULP (ultra-low-power) Wireless Sensor Node (WSN) solutions to collaboratively undertake real-life energy harvesting experiments at system network level to optimise battery life. The Testbed provides remote cloud access to a real-life wireless sensor network and is powered by energy harvested from ambient surroundings.
Lead Experts
Energy Storage: James Rohan
Micropower Management & System Integration: Mike Hayes
Energy Harvesting: Kafil M Razeeb
Recent Publications
A. Tanwar, R. Kaur, N. Padmanathan and K. M. Razeeb, “Electrodeposited CuSbTe thin films with enhanced thermoelectric performance”, Sustainable Energy Fuels, 7, 2023, 4160–4171.
A. O’Donoghue, M. Shine, I. M. Povey and J. F. Rohan, “Nanoengineering of thin film V2O5 cathode interfaces via atomic layer deposition for use with polymer gel ionic liquid electrolytes”, Batteries & Supercaps, 2023, https://doi.org/10.1002/batt.202300447
G. Wei, R. Das, D. Lordan, M. Lorenc, B. Clark, D. P. F. Hurley, M. Hayes, C. O’Mathuna, R. Sai and P. McCloskey, “Investigation of the soft-magnetic properties of CoZrTaB laminated cores by dielectric layer tuning”, IEEE Mag. Lett., https://doi.org/10.1109/LMAG.2023.3319289
Recent News
Giorgos Fagas: Publication of Quantum 2030 – A National Quantum Technologies Strategy for Ireland: https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/126b4-quantum-2030-a-national-quantum-technologies-strategy-for-ireland/
Launched by Minister Simon Harris on 15 November 2023: https://www.tyndall.ie/news/minister-harris-launches-quantum-2030-irelands-first-national-strategy-for-quantum-technologies/
Further details are available at https://www.neuqu.ie/
Would you like to find out more? Discuss collaborations and partnerships? Or are you interested in furthering your research career at Tyndall? We would love to hear from you.
Recent Project
Long Life Power Platforms for Internet of Things (LoLiPoP IoT)
The LoLiPoP IoT project will involve developing innovative Long Life Power Platforms to enable retrofitting of wireless sensor network (WSN) modules in IoT applications. This includes developing algorithms to perform functionalities like asset tracking and condition monitoring (for predictive maintenance). They can be used in applications such as industry 4.0 smart mobility and energy-efficient buildings. LoLiPoP IoT creates an ecosystem of developers, integrators and users to develop these platforms thinking about power/battery life, ease of installation and maintenance. https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101112286
