Simultaneous wireless information and power transfer to increase energy efficiency of 5G

1 min read

A number of challenges and potentials, related to the technology for wireless power transmission over long distances via 5G mobile communication networks, have been identified by a team of researchers from Tomsk Polytechnic University (TPU).

Together with the University of Luxembourg, the University of Western Ontario and the University of Edinburgh, TPU, claimed to summarised all available knowledge related to this technology and are now working towards efficient power transfer over long distances with minimum losses.

Scientific supervisor of the project, Professor Nalin Jayakody of the School of Computer Science & Robotics, said: “The use of simultaneous wireless information and power transfer provides solutions to a number of problems in wireless power transfer, which can lead to notable gains in terms of power consumption, spectral efficiency and interference control in wireless communications.”

Prof Jayakody explained that the team’s objective is to provide foundational knowledge of Simultaneous Wireless Information and Power Transfer (SWIPT) and productive areas for further research related to the concept.

The researchers claimed to have identified a number of problems, both unique for SWIPT and for the development of communication systems as a whole. These are still being addressed, but include factors such as the distribution of resources in communication systems supporting SWIPT, hardware disorders, the study of channel status in the network, channel coding methods, secure transmission and SWIPT support for device-to-device connecting.

The researchers also said to have identified a number of priority areas in each of the sections of SWIPT communication technology.

The team have said that SWIPT techniques should be integrated with common relay protocols and the focus must be on improving algorithms for correcting errors in coding

According to the team, one of the main challenges for the future of the next-generation connections, is in improving energy efficiency to make possible to minimise additional expenditures for wireless operators and the harmful impact of information and communication infrastructure.