Wireless Powered Passive Resonant-Based Omnidirectional Sensing System in Human Cooperative Robots

• Published in: IEEE sensors letters 2025-01, Vol.9 (1), p.1-4
• Main Authors: Kumar, Vikas, Parajuli, Santosh, Awasthi, Shivansh, Sharma, Vikash, Ranade, Gayatri, Gupta, Ankur, Thundat, Thomas George
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Coils; Energy dissipation; energy harvesting sensor; Manipulators; Radio frequency; Receivers; Resonant frequency; Robot arms; Robot sensing systems; sensing circuit for Internet of Things (IoT)/wireless sensor network (WSN)/robotics; Sensor applications; Sensors; Wire; Wireless communication; wireless power transfer (WPT); Wireless power transmission; wireless sensing technique; Wireless sensor networks
• ISSN: 2475-1472
• DOI: 10.1109/LSENS.2024.3511348

This letter presents wireless powered passive resonant-based omnidirectional proximity and contact sensing system to enhance human safety in human cooperative robots (HCRs). The proposed system utilizes surface wireless power transfer (SWPT) methodology and wireless powered receiver (WPRx) that consumes negligible power (∼nW) under the idle condition. The WPRx sensing architecture detects the presence of conducting objects or humans, whether in proximity or in direct contact. The WPRx system responds by varying its resonance frequency in reference to the incoming objects. In addition, the given SWPT technique enables multiple receivers/detectors to be powered by a single transmitter, offering enhanced maneuverability and efficiency. The WPRx system is designed to operate at 3.6 MHz, exhibiting minimal power dissipation in the passive circuit, on the order of a few μW (∼29 μW) while providing a single-bit digital output. The sensing system is suitable for implementation on modern movable robotic arms to enhance safety for HCRs.