Truly Sustainable Printed Electronics-based IoT Combining Optical and Radio Wireless Technologies

Project Information

SUPERIOT

Grant agreement ID: 101096021

DOI

10.3030/101096021

Project closed

EC signature date 21 November 2022

Start date 1 January 2023

End date 31 December 2025

Funded under

• Digital, Industry and Space

Total cost

€ 4 848 952,00

EU contribution

€ 4 757 739,50

Coordinated by

OULUN YLIOPISTO
Finland

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - SUPERIOT (Truly Sustainable Printed Electronics-based IoT Combining Optical and Radio Wireless Technologies)

Reporting period: 2023-01-01 to 2024-06-30

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

SUPERIOT aims at developing a truly sustainable and highly flexible IoT system based on the use of optical and radio communications, and the exploitation of printed electronics technology for the implementation of sustainable IoT nodes. The dual-mode optical-radio approach provides unique characteristics to the IoT system. The system can be reconfigured to use optical, radio, or both connectivity approaches. The hybrid optical-radio system allows very efficient use of resources while combining the advantages of both wireless communication methods. Energy autonomous nodes can harvest energy from both sources, resulting in an efficient and reliable energy system. Positioning accuracy can be also improved by combining optical and radio signals. Moreover, the dual-mode approach results in a highly flexible and adaptable communication system, that can operate efficiently under changing conditions and in different scenarios. The implementation of the IoT nodes will aim at maximizing printed electronics usage, resulting in a cost efficient, environmentally friendly solution. Nodes will have essential IoT functionalities such as sensing, actuating, and computational capabilities. As important as the development of a sustainable and flexible IoT node will be the development of its networking capabilities. The project will also identify, develop, and demonstrate applications for the proposed concept. Four demonstrators will be developed at the final stage of the project.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

The whole project and all work packages (WPs) were started in the reported period. With respect to technical and scientific contributions, the main work activities were carried out in WP 1 (Scenarios, Applications, Requirements and Business Models), WP 2 (Sustainable RIoT Node), WP 3 (Network Architecture) and WP 4 (Test Bed/Demonstrators Development). A brief description of the key achievements in these work packages is described next.

WP 1: in WP1, the vision of the SUPERIOT technology was formulated by studying and identifying the scenarios and applications. The WP also identified the business models for sustainable IoT concepts and specified the sustainability assessment work plan for project demonstrators.
WP 2: focusing on the node, in WP2 the initial prototype of the reference RIoT node, still primarily based on non-printed components at this stage, was designed, fabricated, programmed, and demonstrated. Concerning sustainable printed node production, progress was made for sustainable inks development, sustainable substrates, and implementation of printed energy harvesting and storage components.
WP 3: in WP3, the overall network architecture for communication, localization and energy transfer was developed and formalised; the radio and light-based connectivity protocols and radio-based localisation methods to be focused on were defined, tested, and demonstrated, serving as the reference for further development and optimisation. The network simulation tools and algorithms for multi-factor communication optimisation were developed.
WP4: the starting date of WP4 was moved forward to facilitate the preparation and implementation of the demonstrators and ensure smooth information exchange between WPs 2, 3 and 4. The initial version of the first demonstrator showcasing tracking of the status of the movable hospital equipment was developed and presented at the project meeting held at month 15.

The outcomes of these activities support the goals of SUPERIOT project and are fundamental results for the development and further implementation of the four project demonstrators.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

The SUPERIOT project advanced beyond the state-of-the-art for the following matters:

We promoted the holistic approach to sustainability for IoT and 6G through our dissemination activities, including publications, presentations, newsletters, video presentations, etc. The holistic sustainability approach sets a new course of action for developing truly sustainable IoT and future 6G systems.

We identified and systematised the scenarios for sustainable IoT and relevant business models.

We delivered the first prototype of reconfigurable IoT nodes capable of communicating and localizing (implementation and demonstration of light-based localization pending) over radio and light.

We developed and reported new methods for green fabrication of printed nodes elements (e.g. microsupercapasitors, memristors, touch detectors).

We developed and reported new Simultaneous Light Information and Power Transfer (SLIPT) receiver design. Also several other enabler technologies related to reconfigurable intelligent surface design, indoor energy harvesting performance improvement, and backscatter communication were developed and reported.

We proposed a network architecture for heterogeneous radio-light communication and beyond communication network, developed simulator extensions for NS-3 simulator and suggested new mechanisms for heterogeneous network optimization (i.e. optimal selection of communication modality, serving access point and time of handover).