University of Alberta researchers, in collaboration with Canada’s Department of National Defence, have created a small sensor that operates without a battery. This sensor can monitor vital signs and identify frostbite in soldiers exposed to extreme cold. The project is a joint effort between the University of Alberta’s engineering faculty, headed by Professor Ashwin Iyer, and the Department of National Defence’s Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security program.
The program’s aim is to leverage existing telecommunications technology for military applications. The university is renowned for its research in developing SWaP-C (size, weight, power, and cost) systems. Professor Iyer discussed these advancements with CBC’s Shannon Scott on The Trailbreaker radio show.
The envisioned application of this sensor technology is to equip soldiers, particularly those stationed in harsh environments like the High Arctic, with biometric sensors to monitor vital signs such as heart rate, respiration, and body temperature. The primary goal is to ensure timely medical assistance for soldiers facing health risks like frostbite.
Traditional battery-powered devices struggle in extremely cold temperatures, often failing when lithium-ion batteries are exposed to severe cold. To overcome this limitation, the team designed these sensors to operate without batteries by harvesting energy from the environment. This energy harvesting mechanism can be powered by various sources, such as motion or radio frequency waves commonly used in everyday technology.
The team had to address specific criteria for the sensors, ensuring they were wireless, compact, and efficient. By leveraging decades of antenna research, they managed to miniaturize the antennas to maintain functionality in these ultra-small sensors.
In real-time scenarios, these sensors can detect early signs of frostbite by monitoring core body temperature and extremities where frostbite typically occurs first. Once a critical threshold is reached, an alert is triggered to prompt immediate intervention, potentially preventing severe frostbite.
Beyond military applications, the technology holds promise for emergency response and other civilian uses. These sensors are versatile, capable of operating in extreme temperatures and detecting various parameters. They could find applications in home safety systems, such as detecting flooding or carbon monoxide, highlighting the broad potential for this innovative technology.