Researchers at North Carolina State University have identified design flaws in “smart home” Internet-of-Things (IoT) devices that allow third parties to prevent devices from sharing information. The flaws can be used to prevent security systems from signaling that there has been a break-in or uploading video of intruders. “IoT devices are becoming increasingly common, and…
New Study Demonstrates Radio Signal Benefits from Decades-Old Theory
Engineering researchers have demonstrated that a longstanding theoretical method called direct antenna modulation (DAM) has real-world utility for boosting the quality of radio signals when transmitting at high data rates. The finding has applications in fields such as military communications. “You can always improve signal quality by using a larger antenna, but that’s simply not…
Drones Offer Ability to Find, ID and Count Marine Megafauna
New research from North Carolina State University demonstrates that consumer-grade drones are effective tools for monitoring marine species across multiple sites in the wild. The work shows that the technology can be a valuable platform for scientists and conservationists interested in studying populations of sharks, rays, sea turtles and other marine megafauna. “We found that…
New Cost-Effective Silicon Carbide High-Voltage Switch Created
Researchers at North Carolina State University have created a high voltage and high frequency silicon carbide (SiC) power switch that could cost much less than similarly rated SiC power switches. The findings could lead to early applications in the power industry, especially in power converters like medium voltage drives, solid state transformers and high voltage…
Simulation Highlights Potential for Low-Cost Security Imaging Device
Researchers from North Carolina State University have used computer models to demonstrate the viability of a low-cost security imaging device that makes use of inexpensive radio components. Functional prototypes are under development and would be orders of magnitude less expensive than existing imaging devices. Currently, scanning devices that detect hidden weapons or contraband in airports…
New Techniques Make RFID Tags 25 Percent Smaller
Engineering researchers at North Carolina State University have developed a suite of techniques that allow them to create passive radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags that are 25 percent smaller – and therefore less expensive. This is possible because the tags no longer need to convert alternating current (AC) to direct current (DC) in order for the…
Model Makes Designing New Antennas Orders of Magnitude Faster
Researchers at North Carolina State University have developed a model that allows antenna designers to identify efficient configurations for antenna designs in minutes, rather than days. The model is designed to expedite development of next generation “multi-input, multi-ouput” (MIMO) antennas, which allow devices to get more use out of the available bandwidth. “Our model produces…
Researchers Boost Wireless Power Transfer with Magnetic Field Enhancement
Research from North Carolina State University and Carnegie Mellon University shows that passing wireless power transfer through a magnetic resonance field enhancer (MRFE) – which can be as simple as a copper loop – can boost the transfer efficiency by at least 100 percent as compared to transferring through air alone. MRFE use could potentially…