The Internet of Things in Extreme Environments Using Low-Power Long-Range Near Field Communication
Hongzhi Guo, Albert Aninagyei Ofori
Abstract
The Internet of Things (IoT) in extreme environments, such as underground and underwater, is an essential technology to monitor the status and exploit resources therein. Existing solutions using active UHF radios experience high power consumption and high signal propagation losses, which increase the cost of maintenance. In this article, a low-power IoT technology using passive sensors and near field communication (NFC) is introduced. Existing magnetic induction-based NFC and other communication protocols are reviewed, and their advantages and limitations are identified. Then the system framework, key technologies, and research challenges of the low-power long-range NFC-based passive sensing system are discussed. This system can enable ubiquitous sensing and computing in various inhomogeneous extreme environments. Its applications in precision agriculture, road infrastructure monitoring, and water quality monitoring are presented.