Energous and Identiv have partnered to bring real-time asset tracking to supply chain and logistics applications. The collaboration aims to wirelessly power Identiv’s ID-Pixels tags with Energous PowerBridge technology, enabling accurate and reliable sensor measurements that can be used throughout the supply chain, including in cold chain logistics.
Transforming Cold Chain Logistics with Real-time Asset Tracking
The joint solution aims to deliver more reliable, consistent power than disposable batteries and charging cables to the thousands of IoT sensors deployed across the logistics industry, resulting in less maintenance, lower costs, and shorter setup times, while also establishing greater precision, safety, and ease of use.
The adoption of IoT solutions in the logistics industry has expanded in the past five years and is expected to be valued at US $63.7 billion by 2026. The increasing number of IoT devices deployed across logistics brings with it a growing need to ensure they are reliably and consistently powered. This is especially critical in cold chain logistics, where accurate temperature sensing can inform businesses if goods have overheated or spoiled before final delivery, reducing waste and avoiding potentially lost revenue.
Historically, IoT deployments in the supply chain industry have been powered by disposable batteries and charging cords, both of which create costly maintenance burdens and safety concerns for IT teams tasked with recharging sensors in often rugged and inaccessible locations. Energous and Identiv’s collaboration aims to deliver a joint wirelessly charged IoT sensor formula to cold chain logistics companies transporting everything from perishable food to medication.
The joint answer will pair Identiv’s RF tags which are capable of measuring temperature and humidity with Energous’ PowerBridge technology, which sends radio frequency (RF)-based wireless power over the air. Together, this enables cold chain logistics companies to not only track and report the temperature inside cooling trucks but also deliver improved performance in normally restrictive environments such as refrigerated cargo ships, known as ‘reefers.’
“For logistics companies carrying temperature-sensitive goods, accurate reporting from IoT sensors is paramount and this can only be accomplished if the sensors are consistently and reliably powered,” said Giampaolo Marino, a vice president of marketing and business development at Energous. “This partnership incorporates Energous’ PowerBridge technology and facilitates a constant source of wireless power to each of Identiv’s ID-Pixels tags without the need for additional maintenance.”
Marino added that this “partnership offers logistics companies a solution that not only increases the overall efficiency of IoT sensors, as there is less downtime due to no battery drainage but also lowers the total cost and increases ROI.”
Meeting Industry Demands: Wireless Charging for Reefer Fleets
Energous’ RF-based wireless charging technology not only addresses the broad challenges of the cold chain but also zeroes in on the specific needs of refrigerated transport, an aspect for companies that operate extensive fleets of reefers. In the logistics of perishable goods, maintaining an even, optimal temperature throughout the entire length of a refrigerated trailer is a significant challenge.
Energous and Identiv’s joint wireless charging formula offers an advantage by enabling continuous, real-time temperature monitoring throughout different sections of a reefer. These innovative sensors can ensure that temperature-sensitive goods are transported under consistently ideal conditions, a capability for preserving the integrity of perishables like food, pharmaceuticals, and other sensitive products.
“Our partnership with Energous seeks to create a solution that will bring greater accuracy and reliability to cold chain applications in the logistics industry. Together, we are developing a wirelessly powered IoT solution that can be deployed within hours instead of days,” said Amir Khoshniyati, a vice president and general manager of IoT business at Identiv. “With no additional hardware costs or specialised training required, logistics companies can save both money and time.”
Energous and Identiv discussed this new partnership along with supply chain optimisation and the asset-tracking industry in a recent webinar. To listen to the webinar replay, register here.
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