Acoustic Backscatter Communication

In this project we explore the potential and limitations of passive devices that use acoustic ultrasound waves as means of communication and as the source for energy harvesting.

The devices we explore use impinging ultrasound waves as their sole source of energy and deploy arrays of reconfigurable reflective acoustic elements. This allows for communication through the acoustic backscatter: the impinging wave is modulated and reflected back to the target receiver with virtually no active additional components. Led by leading researchers in Wireless Communications and Ultrasonics we will explore new signalling waveforms that optimize spectral and energy efficiency of communication and energy transfer. Successful completion of the project will lead to new sensor systems that are reliable, robust, secure and safe, notably in emerging industrial and medical sensor- and actuator systems.