Californian firms Energous and Identiv are working together to enable real-time asset tracking for logistics and supply chain applications.

Energous, an RF-based wireless power network company, and Identiv, a digital security and identification specialist in the IoT market, have partnered to bring real-time asset tracking to supply chain and logistics applications.

This collaboration aims to power Identiv’s ID-Pixels tags wirelessly with Energous’ PowerBridge technology, enabling accurate and reliable sensor measurements that can be used throughout the supply chain, including in cold-chain logistics.

The joint offering 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 establishing greater precision, safety and ease of use.

The adoption of IoT in the logistics industry has expanded in the past five years and is expected to be valued at $63.7bn 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 prior to 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 to cold-chain logistics companies transporting everything from perishable food to medication.

The joint offering will pair Identiv’s RF tags, which can measure temperature and humidity, with Energous’ PowerBridge technology, which sends RF-based wireless power over the air. Together, this enables cold-chain logistics companies to track and report the temperature inside cooling trucks and 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, vice president 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. 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.”

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, a critical 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 offers an advantage by enabling continuous, real-time temperature monitoring throughout different sections of a reefer. These sensors can ensure temperature-sensitive goods are transported under consistently ideal conditions, a vital capability for preserving the integrity of perishables such as food, pharmaceuticals and other sensitive products.

“Our partnership with Energous seeks to bring greater accuracy and reliability to cold-chain applications in the logistics industry,” said Amir Khoshniyati, vice president at Identiv. “Together, we are developing wirelessly powered IoT that can be deployed within hours instead of days. With no additional hardware costs or specialised training required, logistics companies can save both money and time.”

Energous (energous.com) has been pioneering wireless charging over distance technology since 2012. Its networks are safely and seamlessly powering RF-based systems in various industries, including retail, industrial and healthcare.

Identiv (identiv.com) has a platform that encompasses RFID and NFC, cyber security, and the full spectrum of physical access, video and audio security.