WiWear: Wearable Sensing via Directional WiFi Energy Harvesting

Abstract

Energy harvesting, from a diverse set of modes such as light or motion, has been viewed as the key to developing batteryless sensing devices. In this paper, we develop the nascent idea of harvesting RF energy from WiFi transmissions, applying it to power a prototype wearable device that captures and transmits accelerometer sensor data. Our solution, WiWear, has two key innovations: 1) beamforming WiFi transmissions to significantly boost the energy that a receiver can harvest ~23 meters away, and 2) smart zero-energy, triggering of inertial sensing, that allows intelligent duty-cycled operation of devices whose transient power consumption far exceeds what can be instantaneously harvested. We provide experimental validation, using both careful measurement studies as well as a controlled study with human participants, to show the viability of a custom-built WiWear-based wearable device, at least in office environments.