Development of an integrated and low-cost indoor light simulator for the characterisation of photovoltaic components and autonomous IoT systems
Lead Participant:
LIGHTRICITY LIMITED
Abstract
Lightricity has developed world leading efficiency indoor photovoltaic (PV) technology capable of powering a multitude of small wireless devices e.g. for wearables and the Internet of Things (IoT) thus avoiding the sustainability and maintenance costs of battery power. The company currently sells its PV component technology to IoT device developers and also offers PV-powered IoT devices to systems integrators and IoT solution providers.
In order to test our products in the full range of lighting conditions likely to be experienced by the devices and therefore demonstrate performance potential vs battery-powered devices, we developed a family of affordable, portable light simulators (LightBox). As well as helping address our internal needs, the LightBox is currently sold to researchers and PV-powered device developers.
Our latest LightBox product (LightBox+) is a very low cost (under £100), fully integrated, portable and calibrated version that does not require an expensive and bulky source-meter to be interfaced with it. The objective is to make test capability much more widely available and affordable in a format that suits the much bigger market in education, commercial IoT device development, device performance evaluation and even hobbyists where accuracy and resolution demands are lower but costs are critical. Although it is functional, it needs to be improved to meet industry standards and reach full market acceptance.
NPL and ASTUTE have been engaged through A4i to help with measurement and analysis support to solve measurement challenges relating to characterising and optimising performance and allowing choices for design for lowest cost manufacturing. They bring unique expertise and custom equipment not otherwise available commercially and a strong linkage to standards development for indoor PV technologies. This will increase customer confidence in the LightBox+ product and also underpin sales of our own PV component and PV-powered IoT device products.
In order to test our products in the full range of lighting conditions likely to be experienced by the devices and therefore demonstrate performance potential vs battery-powered devices, we developed a family of affordable, portable light simulators (LightBox). As well as helping address our internal needs, the LightBox is currently sold to researchers and PV-powered device developers.
Our latest LightBox product (LightBox+) is a very low cost (under £100), fully integrated, portable and calibrated version that does not require an expensive and bulky source-meter to be interfaced with it. The objective is to make test capability much more widely available and affordable in a format that suits the much bigger market in education, commercial IoT device development, device performance evaluation and even hobbyists where accuracy and resolution demands are lower but costs are critical. Although it is functional, it needs to be improved to meet industry standards and reach full market acceptance.
NPL and ASTUTE have been engaged through A4i to help with measurement and analysis support to solve measurement challenges relating to characterising and optimising performance and allowing choices for design for lowest cost manufacturing. They bring unique expertise and custom equipment not otherwise available commercially and a strong linkage to standards development for indoor PV technologies. This will increase customer confidence in the LightBox+ product and also underpin sales of our own PV component and PV-powered IoT device products.
Lead Participant | Project Cost | Grant Offer |
|---|---|---|
| LIGHTRICITY LIMITED | £20,676 | £ 20,676 |
Participant |
||
| NPL MANAGEMENT LIMITED | £19,239 | |
| ASTUTE CENTRE OF EXCELENCE | £10,079 |
People |
ORCID iD |
| Mathieu Bellanger (Project Manager) |