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Wireless power transfer (WPT) has the significant potential for soft-bodied continuum robots to extend the operational time limitlessly and reduce weight. However, rigid power receiver coils, widely used in WPT, hinder the continuum deformation of the robot, and as a result, the function realization using the continuum deformation (e.g., locomotion) is impaired. Therefore, this article introduces that a soft-bodied continuum robot can be designed by using thin film receiver coils and an inductively coupled wireless powering solution without sacrificing the continuum deformation and locomotion ability. A system is described for powering and controlling a soft robotic caterpillar consisting of nothing more than its continuum structure, actuators, and thin/flexible power receiving coils.

This paper presents an introduction and overview of wireless sensors in IoT applications. A typical sensor architecture is described from sensor to the cloud. Four distinct methods of achieving power autonomy are developed. These are battery powered short lifetime devices, energy harvester powered devices for indefinite operation, inductively coupled wireless powered devices for short distances and devices based on passive radio back scattering. Four concrete technical examples of whole system solutions, each exploiting one of the mentioned powering strategies are presented.

This demonstration will present an industrial process monitoring system developed at VTT and piloted at Metso Flow Control Oy for the application of valve leakage detection. The system applies a MEMs based acoustic emission sensor for the detection of valve micro fractures manifested as acoustic emissions in high-pressure valves. A whole system is developed including an asynchronous ultra-low power wake up radio and energy harvesters for both the sensor nodes and base station device giving a fully energy autonomous solution [1].

The zero power sensor network represents a platform that enables fully passive wireless sensing based on the third order intermodulation principle. This work describes the development and evaluation of a zero power reader device. Results from the initial characterization are presented for the evaluation of the reader's performance in sensor readout at a distance of 5 m. The limitations affecting the readout range are investigated and highlighted to be based on the reader's self-intermodulation.

A key barrier to the penetration of IoT technologies is the need for an independent power source for sensor nodes, increasing complexity and cost and hindering the convenience of deployment and maintenance. To address this formidable challenge, the authors have been developing a fully passive wireless sensor network platform, the Zero Power Sensor. The sensing mechanism is by now maturing and a platform has been implemented and readout distances in excess of 10 meters have been demonstrated. A method of addressing and activating the sensor nodes using bias applied by passive UHF RFID with digital output is demonstrated on one sensor node at a distance of 2m.