Sensors that can detect signals of interest even while in stand-by mode is the goal of a DARPA research solicitation.
The Near Zero Power RF and Sensor Operations (N-ZERO) program targets a reduction in power consumption without a loss of vigilance. The sensors that DARPA is working to develop would consume much less power in stand-by while awaiting suspicious signals.
The improved energy efficiency would extend the sensor’s mission lifetime from months to years, according to DARPA.
The sensors would consume less than 10 nanowatts of power. DARPA hopes to achieve this through electronic judo. “N-ZERO intends to exploit the energy in the signal signature itself to detect and discriminate the events of interest while rejecting noise and interference. This would enable deployments of sensors that can remain ‘off’ (i.e., not consuming any battery power) yet alert for detecting signatures of interest, resulting in a nearly unlimited duration of operation.”
