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Ambient IoT: Transforming Industries Through Smart Connectivity
In a quiet corner of a bustling warehouse, a single pallet goes unnoticed — its contents untracked, its condition unknown. Across the globe, a shipment of lifesaving medicine sits in transit, vulnerable to temperature swings that no one is monitoring. Meanwhile, a farmer in a remote village wonders if his crops are receiving enough water, but the sensors he needs are too expensive and too power-hungry to deploy. These moments, seemingly small, echo a larger truth: the world is brimming with things that could speak, if only we could afford to listen. As the number of physical objects outpaces our ability to connect and monitor them, a new kind of technology is needed — one that is ultra-low-power, battery-free, and scalable to billions.
As industries push the boundaries of automation and hyper-connectivity, traditional IoT technologies are beginning to show their limitations. The growing need for ultra-low-power, battery-free devices that can scale into the billions is prompting a radical shift in how connectivity is conceived. At the forefront of this transformation is Ambient IoT (AIoT) — a new class of intelligent, energy-harvesting devices that promises to reshape the future of the connected world.
Ambient IoT builds upon, and significantly advances, legacy systems like RFID. While RFID has supported logistics and tracking in sectors such as warehousing and toll management, it comes with inherent limitations — namely, short operational range, reliance on manual scanning, and vulnerability to interference. In contrast, Ambient IoT introduces a smarter, more scalable solution. Devices in this category can harvest energy from their surroundings — be it RF signals, light, vibrations, or heat — eliminating the need for batteries or direct electrical power.
Ambient IoT devices use ultra-efficient communication methods to minimize power needs. Some reflect existing radio signals through backscattering, while others harvest and store energy to boost or even generate their own transmissions. This flexible approach enables real-time connectivity at scale — all while keeping costs and energy use remarkably low.
Understanding the Device Landscape
In Ambient IoT systems, a device refers to the low-power sensor or tag that collects and transmits data, while a reader — often a base station or gateway — is responsible for receiving this data and sometimes powering the communication.
Ambient IoT devices come in different forms, categorized by their energy storage capacity and ability to generate radio signals. As per 3GPP TR 38.769 at the simplest level is Device 1, which has no onboard energy storage and transmits solely through backscattering. Then there is Device 2a which includes a limited energy buffer — not enough for full signal generation, but sufficient to amplify the backscattered response. The most advanced type, Device 2b not only stores energy but also generates its own radio signals for transmission, making it suitable for more complex applications.
Importantly, even the most capable Ambient IoT devices are designed to consume drastically less power than traditional NB-IoT devices. While Device 1 operates at power levels as low as 1 microwatt, Device 2b tops out at just 10 milliwatts. This ultra-efficient power profile is made possible by tapping into a wide array of ambient energy sources — ranging from solar and piezoelectric energy to acoustic, thermal, and electromagnetic energy.
Flexible Topologies for Diverse Deployments
Ambient IoT systems can be deployed across four key topologies, each enabling efficient connectivity in different scenarios.
Topology 1: BS ↔ Ambient IoT device
Topology 2: BS ↔ intermediate node ↔ Ambient IoT device
Topology 3 -> BS ↔ assisting node ↔ Ambient IoT device ↔ BS
Topology 3 supports split-link communication. The Ambient IoT device receives information from one node (e.g., base station) and transmits through another (e.g., UE or relay), enabling assisted uplink or downlink paths.
Topology 4: UE ↔ Ambient IoT device
Topology 4 allows the Ambient IoT device to communicate directly with a user equipment (UE), enabling localized, peer-level connectivity without needing a base station.
Signaling procedure
The communication framework for Ambient IoT (A-IoT) devices involves a standardized four-step message exchange process between the reader (base station) and the A-IoT device, applicable across different network topologies without impacting device operation. The procedure is as follows:
Real-World Use Cases
One of the most compelling aspects of Ambient IoT is its broad applicability. In industrial environments, it can be used for inventory tracking and equipment monitoring. In healthcare, it supports precise management of medical instruments and enables remote elderly care. In the consumer domain, it can enhance smart homes by offering better device control and even lost item tracking. Meanwhile, in agriculture and environmental sectors, Ambient IoT devices can be deployed to monitor livestock, detect forest fires early, and optimize crop conditions.
The versatility extends further into logistics, where these devices streamline operations across warehouses, shipping terminals, and even the fresh food supply chain. Indoor or outdoor, mobile or fixed — Ambient IoT adapts to virtually any scenario that benefits from low-maintenance, low-power, intelligent connectivity.
At the heart of these use cases are Ambient IoT devices, designed with varying degrees of complexity. Some operate exclusively on harvested RF energy and are perfect for simple tasks in controlled environments. Others, with slightly more energy capacity, can handle intermittent tasks that require additional sensing or processing. The most capable models are equipped with active transmission capabilities, making them suitable for more demanding applications that need consistent communication and stronger signal strength.
At Tejas Networks, we see Ambient IoT as a key enabler of the next wave of digital transformation — one that supports zero-energy, ultra-low-power devices capable of operating without batteries. We are contributing to the evolution of this technology through our work in standards development and research on energy-harvesting methods such as solar, thermal, and piezoelectric sources. These innovations aim to support massive-scale deployments of intelligent sensors across industries like manufacturing, agriculture, healthcare, and smart infrastructure.
Our focus extends beyond devices to ensuring network readiness for this paradigm shift. We are actively shaping architectures and protocols that align Ambient IoT with future communication technologies such as 6G, while also enabling integration with AI/ML-driven analytics. By fostering an open and interoperable ecosystem, Tejas Networks is helping build a future where connectivity is ambient, intelligent, and inherently sustainable.
References
As industries push the boundaries of automation and hyper-connectivity, traditional IoT technologies are beginning to show their limitations. The growing need for ultra-low-power, battery-free devices that can scale into the billions is prompting a radical shift in how connectivity is conceived. At the forefront of this transformation is Ambient IoT (AIoT) — a new class of intelligent, energy-harvesting devices that promises to reshape the future of the connected world.
Ambient IoT builds upon, and significantly advances, legacy systems like RFID. While RFID has supported logistics and tracking in sectors such as warehousing and toll management, it comes with inherent limitations — namely, short operational range, reliance on manual scanning, and vulnerability to interference. In contrast, Ambient IoT introduces a smarter, more scalable solution. Devices in this category can harvest energy from their surroundings — be it RF signals, light, vibrations, or heat — eliminating the need for batteries or direct electrical power.
Ambient IoT devices use ultra-efficient communication methods to minimize power needs. Some reflect existing radio signals through backscattering, while others harvest and store energy to boost or even generate their own transmissions. This flexible approach enables real-time connectivity at scale — all while keeping costs and energy use remarkably low.
Understanding the Device Landscape
In Ambient IoT systems, a device refers to the low-power sensor or tag that collects and transmits data, while a reader — often a base station or gateway — is responsible for receiving this data and sometimes powering the communication.
Ambient IoT devices come in different forms, categorized by their energy storage capacity and ability to generate radio signals. As per 3GPP TR 38.769 at the simplest level is Device 1, which has no onboard energy storage and transmits solely through backscattering. Then there is Device 2a which includes a limited energy buffer — not enough for full signal generation, but sufficient to amplify the backscattered response. The most advanced type, Device 2b not only stores energy but also generates its own radio signals for transmission, making it suitable for more complex applications.
Importantly, even the most capable Ambient IoT devices are designed to consume drastically less power than traditional NB-IoT devices. While Device 1 operates at power levels as low as 1 microwatt, Device 2b tops out at just 10 milliwatts. This ultra-efficient power profile is made possible by tapping into a wide array of ambient energy sources — ranging from solar and piezoelectric energy to acoustic, thermal, and electromagnetic energy.
Flexible Topologies for Diverse Deployments
Ambient IoT systems can be deployed across four key topologies, each enabling efficient connectivity in different scenarios.
Topology 1: BS ↔ Ambient IoT device
In Topology 1, the Ambient IoT device communicates directly with the base station. This bidirectional exchange includes both data and signalling, and the transmitting and receiving base stations can be different entities.
Topology 1: Direct Base Station-to-device communication
Topology 2: BS ↔ intermediate node ↔ Ambient IoT device
Topology 2 introduces an intermediate node — such as a relay, IAB node, UE, or repeater — that sits between the device and the base station. This node facilitates two-way communication by relaying data and signalling.
Topology 2: Device connects via intermediate nodes (UEs, relays, etc.)
Topology 3 -> BS ↔ assisting node ↔ Ambient IoT device ↔ BS
Topology 3 supports split-link communication. The Ambient IoT device receives information from one node (e.g., base station) and transmits through another (e.g., UE or relay), enabling assisted uplink or downlink paths.
Topology 3 with downlink assistance
Topology 3 with uplink assistance
Topology 4: UE ↔ Ambient IoT device
Topology 4 allows the Ambient IoT device to communicate directly with a user equipment (UE), enabling localized, peer-level connectivity without needing a base station.
All four models are compatible with both licensed and unlicensed spectrum, and integrate seamlessly into existing 3GPP networks. While Topologies 1 and 2 have already been studied and standardized by 3GPP, Topologies 3 and 4 remain in the research phase, offering exciting possibilities for future Ambient IoT deployments.
Signaling procedure
The communication framework for Ambient IoT (A-IoT) devices involves a standardized four-step message exchange process between the reader (base station) and the A-IoT device, applicable across different network topologies without impacting device operation. The procedure is as follows:
- Broadcast from the Reader: The reader initiates communication by broadcasting a control message to all A-IoT devices within its coverage area, signaling the start of the communication cycle.
- Initial Device Response: Upon receiving the broadcast, A-IoT devices respond with an initial message indicating their presence and readiness to communicate.
- Resource Allocation: The reader assigns specific communication resources to each device, typically in the form of time slots (TDMA) or frequency bands (FDMA). This allocation ensures that devices transmit without collision or interference, enabling harmonious coexistence even in dense deployments.
- Data Transmission via Backscatter: Devices transmit their data by modulating and reflecting the reader’s RF signals using backscatter communication within their assigned slots. This method leverages ultra-low power consumption and efficient spectrum use.
Real-World Use Cases
One of the most compelling aspects of Ambient IoT is its broad applicability. In industrial environments, it can be used for inventory tracking and equipment monitoring. In healthcare, it supports precise management of medical instruments and enables remote elderly care. In the consumer domain, it can enhance smart homes by offering better device control and even lost item tracking. Meanwhile, in agriculture and environmental sectors, Ambient IoT devices can be deployed to monitor livestock, detect forest fires early, and optimize crop conditions.
The versatility extends further into logistics, where these devices streamline operations across warehouses, shipping terminals, and even the fresh food supply chain. Indoor or outdoor, mobile or fixed — Ambient IoT adapts to virtually any scenario that benefits from low-maintenance, low-power, intelligent connectivity.
At the heart of these use cases are Ambient IoT devices, designed with varying degrees of complexity. Some operate exclusively on harvested RF energy and are perfect for simple tasks in controlled environments. Others, with slightly more energy capacity, can handle intermittent tasks that require additional sensing or processing. The most capable models are equipped with active transmission capabilities, making them suitable for more demanding applications that need consistent communication and stronger signal strength.
At Tejas Networks, we see Ambient IoT as a key enabler of the next wave of digital transformation — one that supports zero-energy, ultra-low-power devices capable of operating without batteries. We are contributing to the evolution of this technology through our work in standards development and research on energy-harvesting methods such as solar, thermal, and piezoelectric sources. These innovations aim to support massive-scale deployments of intelligent sensors across industries like manufacturing, agriculture, healthcare, and smart infrastructure.
Our focus extends beyond devices to ensuring network readiness for this paradigm shift. We are actively shaping architectures and protocols that align Ambient IoT with future communication technologies such as 6G, while also enabling integration with AI/ML-driven analytics. By fostering an open and interoperable ecosystem, Tejas Networks is helping build a future where connectivity is ambient, intelligent, and inherently sustainable.
References
