The human body can become a 'living battery' thanks to 6G technology

Researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst (USA) have discovered a remarkable invention related to the use of radio frequency (RF) energy emitted from visible light communication (VLC) in 6G technology.

They believe that if this radio frequency is applied in data transmission of 6G networks, the energy generated from the transmission process can be efficiently collected using small, low-cost copper coils.

These coils can convert RF energy into electricity and transmit it through the human body to power other devices, creating a convenient and efficient wireless power system.

6G technology, a breakthrough in mobile communications, is currently being researched and developed, and is expected to be widely deployed before the end of this decade.

At the core of this mechanism lies VLC technology, a method of transmitting data extremely quickly through visible light rays emitted from light sources such as LEDs. VLC is considered one of the potential technologies for transmitting signals in future 6G networks.

However, in addition to visible light, LEDs also emit RF signals in a side channel as leakage energy, which has not been fully exploited before. Researchers have found that this RF energy can be efficiently collected using small copper coils, a simple yet effective method.

They also found that the efficiency of recycling energy from RF signals would be significantly improved when these copper coils were in contact with human skin, creating an energy source that could be used to power wearable devices or other applications in the 6G ecosystem.

According to research, skin contact can increase energy collection efficiency by up to 10 times compared to using a coil alone. The human body has been shown to be a superior amplifier of leaked radio energy, performing much more efficiently than other materials such as wood, plastic, cardboard or steel, optimizing the energy collection process.

Based on these findings, the researchers developed the “Bracelet+,” a simple copper coil that can be worn as an energy harvesting device on the wrist. Its flexible design also allows it to be adapted to become a necklace, anklet, belt, or ring.

However, scientists found that this bracelet is not only effective in collecting energy but also convenient to wear, providing the perfect combination of function and aesthetics.

“This design is very cheap, costing less than 50 cents (about $0.50),” the study authors said in a statement. “However, Bracelet+ can provide microwatt-level power, which is sufficient to power sensors such as on-body health monitors, which require little power due to low sampling rates and long sleep times.”

This technology could solve the problem of limited battery life on wearable devices. Even high-end smartwatches like the Apple Watch, while popular, often need to be charged daily, which can be a frustrating experience unless charging becomes part of your daily routine.

Furthermore, as devices like smart rings become more popular, the need to recharge batteries becomes more urgent than ever, creating a major challenge to the convenience and sustainability of these devices.

So the energy harvesting technology that Bracelet+ supports could evolve into an on-the-spot charging solution for next-generation wearables, as long as those devices are capable of harvesting energy from the bracelet.

Of course, this depends on the deployment of 6G networks using VLC, a technology that is still in its infancy and is a long way from being widely deployed, let alone integrated into consumer or industrial devices.

“Ultimately,” Jie Xiong, lead author of the study and professor of computer and information science at UMass Amherst, shared in a statement, “we hope to be able to harvest energy from any waste source to power future technologies.”

"We want to be able to harvest waste energy from any source to power future technology," study lead author Jie Xiong, professor of information and computer science at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, said in a statement.