Wearable and Autonomous Computing for Future Smart Cities: A Platform Grant
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Southampton
Department Name: Sch of Electronics and Computer Sci
Abstract
The focus of this Platform Grant is the combination of wearable systems networked with smart city and building management systems, and the processing of the collected data. The Platform will cover infrastructure and devices and will require innovation in hardware and software in order to realise the goal of a people centred smart city. The topic of the Platform and the underpinning research themes require a multidisciplinary approach that can be provided by the unique expertise of the research group in the Department of Electronics and Computer Science at the University of Southampton.
Applications of the technologies will enable effective collection, communication, and processing of this data that, in turn, will enable applications such as crowdsensing activities or allow, for example, the provisioning of ultra-personalised services for users to enrich their experience as they navigate their environment, and engage in work and leisure. Such a capability would allow them to purchase personalised services (e.g. healthcare, entertainment, fashion), enable participatory sensing initiatives to support smart city applications (e.g. real-time traffic updates, pollution monitoring), or help coordinate evacuations during major disasters. Combining wearable sensors with intelligent building management systems can provide distributed sensing of the environment within the building as well as monitoring user activity and wellbeing in order to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of building services (e.g. heating, and ventilation). Such a capability will also become an important research tool to aid in our understanding of building occupant behaviour.
Key research challenges exist in developing user-friendly ubiquitous energy-constrained wearable systems and interfacing these reliably and securely with external networks. Wearable sensors and devices will place individuals at the centre of the smart city and enable a step change in the level of interaction possible. It is essential to develop robust, agile algorithms and mechanisms that can cope with potential failures that may arise in the sensors and networks. Combining AI with sensors enables intelligent interacting agents that can form multi-agent systems exceptionally capable of solving problems and interpreting information. Such developments will underpin autonomous systems, benefit the burgeoning Internet of Things (IoT) and enable the next generation of smart city applications. A flexible funding Platform underpinning the group in these crucial areas of expertise will enable pioneering work and the pursuit of emerging opportunities.
Applications of the technologies will enable effective collection, communication, and processing of this data that, in turn, will enable applications such as crowdsensing activities or allow, for example, the provisioning of ultra-personalised services for users to enrich their experience as they navigate their environment, and engage in work and leisure. Such a capability would allow them to purchase personalised services (e.g. healthcare, entertainment, fashion), enable participatory sensing initiatives to support smart city applications (e.g. real-time traffic updates, pollution monitoring), or help coordinate evacuations during major disasters. Combining wearable sensors with intelligent building management systems can provide distributed sensing of the environment within the building as well as monitoring user activity and wellbeing in order to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of building services (e.g. heating, and ventilation). Such a capability will also become an important research tool to aid in our understanding of building occupant behaviour.
Key research challenges exist in developing user-friendly ubiquitous energy-constrained wearable systems and interfacing these reliably and securely with external networks. Wearable sensors and devices will place individuals at the centre of the smart city and enable a step change in the level of interaction possible. It is essential to develop robust, agile algorithms and mechanisms that can cope with potential failures that may arise in the sensors and networks. Combining AI with sensors enables intelligent interacting agents that can form multi-agent systems exceptionally capable of solving problems and interpreting information. Such developments will underpin autonomous systems, benefit the burgeoning Internet of Things (IoT) and enable the next generation of smart city applications. A flexible funding Platform underpinning the group in these crucial areas of expertise will enable pioneering work and the pursuit of emerging opportunities.
Planned Impact
The development of robust and reliable networked wearable sensors across a smart city environment will benefit individuals, society and the economy in a number of ways. For example, the development of new wearable sensors will facilitate improved health that when combined with a smart city infrastructure could facilitate real-time health monitoring beyond the normally defined ambient assisted living environment (i.e. the home) and into the city. This will enable data to be gathered under a much wider range of scenarios, further improving the provision of healthcare services. Wearable sensors for monitoring the environment and networking these within a smart city infrastructure will enable a step change the amount and variety of data captured as well as facilitating increasingly popular new methods for gathering data such as crowd sourced sensing activities (e.g. in pollution monitoring). The impact in both of these examples will be further enhanced by the combination with AI to form multi-agent systems that can interpret the data and, where applicable, recommend actions. It will facilitate the interaction of the individual with their surroundings, enabling the provision of ultra-personalised services. The ability to act on the gathered data and provide, or highlight, highly informed opportunities for individuals to purchase goods and services will lead to new commercial opportunities.
The work will benefit both software and hardware designers and developers by defining and informing the next generation of smart city and wearable systems. There is the potential to expand the use and capability of existing smart city networks and infrastructure but also to drive improvements in underpinning electronic and systems design in both wearable and smart city domains. Applying low energy based solutions to devices, circuits, sensors and communications will both improve existing products and enable new opportunities. This is a particular requirement for wearable devices and the wider Internet of Things where the supply of energy is a practical constraint in the majority of potential applications. Improved energy efficiency in computation, sensing and communication between the wearable and smart city infrastructure is central to our vision. Specific industrial beneficiaries include the project partners ARM who are heavily involved in designed electronic systems for IoT applications. For example, Southampton has a strong relationship with ARM through its ARM-ECS Research Centre (Director: BAH, Technical Manager: GM), as recognised by the award of "University Research Group of the Year" in the National Microelectronics Institute (NMI) Industry Awards 2015. We have discussed this proposal with senior colleagues at ARM, and they have shown strong interest in supporting the project through staff time for technical discussions and membership of the project's advisory board, and internships for researchers. Other relevant companies include Phillips, Texas instruments, Intel and Microsoft all of whom are known to be researching low energy systems and applications such as ICT based healthcare solutions. Project partner Mayflower have developed a control system for streetlights based upon a wireless network providing an example infrastructure for the smart city environment. This research will enable improved utilisation of such assets and the company are supporting the research with hardware modules to expedite advances and ensure relevance. NquiringMinds Ltd will find new applications and case studies for their Trusted Data Exchange and InterliNQ: IOT Hub products.
The work will benefit both software and hardware designers and developers by defining and informing the next generation of smart city and wearable systems. There is the potential to expand the use and capability of existing smart city networks and infrastructure but also to drive improvements in underpinning electronic and systems design in both wearable and smart city domains. Applying low energy based solutions to devices, circuits, sensors and communications will both improve existing products and enable new opportunities. This is a particular requirement for wearable devices and the wider Internet of Things where the supply of energy is a practical constraint in the majority of potential applications. Improved energy efficiency in computation, sensing and communication between the wearable and smart city infrastructure is central to our vision. Specific industrial beneficiaries include the project partners ARM who are heavily involved in designed electronic systems for IoT applications. For example, Southampton has a strong relationship with ARM through its ARM-ECS Research Centre (Director: BAH, Technical Manager: GM), as recognised by the award of "University Research Group of the Year" in the National Microelectronics Institute (NMI) Industry Awards 2015. We have discussed this proposal with senior colleagues at ARM, and they have shown strong interest in supporting the project through staff time for technical discussions and membership of the project's advisory board, and internships for researchers. Other relevant companies include Phillips, Texas instruments, Intel and Microsoft all of whom are known to be researching low energy systems and applications such as ICT based healthcare solutions. Project partner Mayflower have developed a control system for streetlights based upon a wireless network providing an example infrastructure for the smart city environment. This research will enable improved utilisation of such assets and the company are supporting the research with hardware modules to expedite advances and ensure relevance. NquiringMinds Ltd will find new applications and case studies for their Trusted Data Exchange and InterliNQ: IOT Hub products.
Publications
Wagih M.
(2022)
Towards Improved IoT LoRa-WAN Connectivity using Broadband Omnidirectional Antennas
in 2022 16th European Conference on Antennas and Propagation, EuCAP 2022
Wagih M.
(2022)
Printed Non-Metallic Textile-Based Carbon Antenna for Low-Cost Green Wearable Applications
in 2022 16th European Conference on Antennas and Propagation, EuCAP 2022
Balsamo D
(2019)
Momentum Power-neutral Performance Scaling with Intrinsic MPPT for Energy Harvesting Computing Systems
in ACM Transactions on Embedded Computing Systems
Ortega A
(2021)
Partner selection in self-organised wireless sensor networks for opportunistic energy negotiation: A multi-armed bandit based approach
in Ad Hoc Networks
Yong S
(2023)
Ti 3 C 2 MXene as Additive for Low-Cost Textile Supercapacitors with Enhanced Electrical Performance
in Advanced Materials Technologies
Yong S
(2022)
Fabrication of a Flexible Aqueous Textile Zinc-Ion Battery in a Single Fabric Layer
in Frontiers in Electronics
Brede M
(2018)
Resisting Influence: How the Strength of Predispositions to Resist Control Can Change Strategies for Optimal Opinion Control in the Voter Model.
in Frontiers in robotics and AI
Wagih M
(2020)
Real-World Performance of Sub-1 GHz and 2.4 GHz Textile Antennas for RF-Powered Body Area Networks
in IEEE Access
Komolafe A
(2021)
E-Textile Technology Review-From Materials to Application
in IEEE Access
Wagih M
(2020)
Dual-Receiver Wearable 6.78 MHz Resonant Inductive Wireless Power Transfer Glove Using Embroidered Textile Coils
in IEEE Access
Zaghari B
(2020)
Efficient Energy Conversion in Electrically Assisted Bicycles Using a Switched Reluctance Machine Under Torque Control
in IEEE Access
Wagih M
(2022)
Millimeter-Wave Power Transmission for Compact and Large-Area Wearable IoT Devices Based on a Higher Order Mode Wearable Antenna
in IEEE Internet of Things Journal
Cetinkaya O
(2020)
Internet of MIMO Things: UAV-Assisted Wireless-Powered Networks for Future Smart Cities
in IEEE Internet of Things Magazine
Wagih M
(2022)
Screen-Printable Flexible Textile-Based Ultra-Broadband Millimeter-Wave DC-Blocking Transmission Lines Based on Microstrip-Embedded Printed Capacitors
in IEEE Journal of Microwaves
Wagih M
(2023)
Microwave-Enabled Wearables: Underpinning Technologies, Integration Platforms, and Next-Generation Roadmap
in IEEE Journal of Microwaves
Longman E
(2022)
Mesh Networking for Intermittently Powered Devices: Architecture and Challenges
in IEEE Network
Wagih M
(2022)
Toward the Optimal Antenna-Based Wireless Sensing Strategy: An Ice Sensing Case Study
in IEEE Open Journal of Antennas and Propagation
Wagih M
(2020)
Millimeter-Wave Power Harvesting: A Review
in IEEE Open Journal of Antennas and Propagation
Wagih M
(2022)
Broadband Low-Loss On-Body UHF to Millimeter-Wave Surface Wave Links Using Flexible Textile Single Wire Transmission Lines
in IEEE Open Journal of Antennas and Propagation
Wagih M
(2021)
Comments on "A Passive and Wireless Sensor Based on RFID Antenna for Detecting Mechanical Deformation"
in IEEE Open Journal of Antennas and Propagation
Wagih M
(2020)
Meshed High-Impedance Matching Network-Free Rectenna Optimized for Additive Manufacturing
in IEEE Open Journal of Antennas and Propagation
Wagih M
(2021)
RF-Powered Wearable Energy Harvesting and Storage Module Based on E-Textile Coplanar Waveguide Rectenna and Supercapacitor
in IEEE Open Journal of Antennas and Propagation
Wagih M
(2021)
Dual-Polarized Wearable Antenna/Rectenna for Full-Duplex and MIMO Simultaneous Wireless Information and Power Transfer (SWIPT)
in IEEE Open Journal of Antennas and Propagation
Wagih M
(2022)
Broadband Compact Substrate-Independent Textile Wearable Antenna for Simultaneous Near- and Far-Field Wireless Power Transmission
in IEEE Open Journal of Antennas and Propagation
Balsamo D
(2020)
A Control Flow for Transiently Powered Energy Harvesting Sensor Systems
in IEEE Sensors Journal
Wagih M
(2021)
Wireless Ice Detection and Monitoring Using Flexible UHF RFID Tags
in IEEE Sensors Journal
Wagih M
(2021)
Dual-Band Dual-Mode Textile Antenna/Rectenna for Simultaneous Wireless Information and Power Transfer (SWIPT)
in IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation
Valavan A
(2023)
Vacuum Thermoforming for Packaging Flexible Electronics and Sensors in E-Textiles
in IEEE Transactions on Components, Packaging and Manufacturing Technology
Sliper S
(2023)
Pragmatic Memory-System Support for Intermittent Computing Using Emerging Nonvolatile Memory
in IEEE Transactions on Computer-Aided Design of Integrated Circuits and Systems
Zhan J
(2022)
Exploring the Effect of Energy Storage Sizing on Intermittent Computing System Performance
in IEEE Transactions on Computer-Aided Design of Integrated Circuits and Systems
Daulby T
(2021)
Improving the Forward Progress of Transient Systems
in IEEE Transactions on Computer-Aided Design of Integrated Circuits and Systems
Wagih M
(2024)
A Wearable All-Printed Textile-Based 6.78 MHz 15 W-Output Wireless Power Transfer System and Its Screen-Printed Joule Heater Application
in IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics
Stuikys A
(2021)
Instantaneous Electromagnetic Torque Waveform Calculations for Switched Reluctance Machines Exploiting Vector Analysis
in IEEE Transactions on Magnetics
Wagih M
(2022)
Thin Flexible RF Energy Harvesting Rectenna Surface With a Large Effective Aperture for Sub µ W/cm 2 Powering of Wireless Sensor Nodes
in IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques
Cetinkaya O
(2019)
Energy-Neutral Wireless-Powered Networks
in IEEE Wireless Communications Letters
Ramchurn SD
(2021)
Trustworthy human-AI partnerships.
in iScience
Brede M
(2019)
Effects of time horizons on influence maximization in the voter dynamics
in Journal of Complex Networks
Paosangthong W
(2019)
Textile-based freestanding triboelectric-layer nanogenerator with alternate positive and negative grating structure
in Journal of Physics: Conference Series
Shi J
(2019)
Textile based ferroelectret for wearable energy harvesting
in Journal of Physics: Conference Series
Brede M
(2019)
Transmission errors and influence maximization in the voter model
in Journal of Statistical Mechanics: Theory and Experiment
Hillier N
(2021)
Acetonitrile-Free Organic Electrolyte for Textile Supercapacitor Applications
in Journal of The Electrochemical Society
Paosangthong W
(2019)
Textile-based triboelectric nanogenerator with alternating positive and negative freestanding grating structure
in Nano Energy
Paosangthong W
(2019)
Recent progress on textile-based triboelectric nanogenerators
in Nano Energy
Wagih M
(2024)
Wide-range soft anisotropic thermistor with a direct wireless radio frequency interface
in Nature Communications
Sliper ST
(2020)
Energy-driven computing.
in Philosophical transactions. Series A, Mathematical, physical, and engineering sciences
Yong S
(2022)
Phase-Inverted Copolymer Membrane for the Enhancement of Textile Supercapacitors.
in Polymers
Description | Substantial progress has been made in a number of aspects relating to the application of wearable electronics in a smart city environment. In particular, the design of flexible textiles based antennas for communication and power transfer has been developed and several examples of systems working at up to 5G frequencies have been demonstrated. Wearable pollution sensing gas sensors have also been demonstrated. |
Exploitation Route | Building wireless e-textile systems that monitor and interact with their surroundings. |
Sectors | Electronics Environment Healthcare Leisure Activities including Sports Recreation and Tourism |
Description | Flexible Hybrid Thermoelectric Materials |
Amount | £609,079 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/T026219/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 09/2020 |
End | 09/2024 |
Title | Data Supporting the Article: Dual-Polarized Wearable Antenna/Rectenna for Full-Duplex and MIMO Simultaneous Wireless Information and Power Transfer (SWIPT) |
Description | Dataset supporting the Article "Data Supporting the Dual-Polarized Wearable Antenna/Rectenna for Full-Duplex and MIMO Simultaneous Wireless Information and Power Transfer (SWIPT)" in the IEEE Open Journal of Antennas and Propagation. Article DOI 10.1109/OJAP.2021.3098939 |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2021 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | N/A |
URL | https://eprints.soton.ac.uk/451110/ |
Title | Data set for thesis "Building A Bridge Over the Valley of Death: A Practical Development of Textile Supercapacitors" |
Description | Data to support the thesis "Building A bridge Over the Valley of Death: A Practical Development of Textile Supercapacitors". The data is separated into 1 excel file and three .txt files given the size of those data sets. The three .txt datasets are for Figures 6.17, 6.18 and 6.19. The excel file covers all other data. There is also Metadata file to help explain and navigate the data. |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2023 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | N/A |
URL | https://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/478027 |
Title | Data suppporting "Acetonitrile-free organic electrolyte for textile supercapacitor applications" |
Description | Dataset supporting the article: "Acetonitrile-free organic electrolyte for textile supercapacitor applications", published in Journal of the Electrochemical Society |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2021 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | N/A |
URL | https://eprints.soton.ac.uk/450866/ |
Title | Dataset supporting the journal article "Pragmatic Memory-System Support for Intermittent Computing using Emerging Non-Volatile Memory" |
Description | Sivert T. Sliper, William Wang, Nikos Nikoleris, (2022) Pragmatic Memory-System Support for Intermittent Computing using Emerging Non-Volatile Memory. (Accepted/In press) In: IEEE Transactions on Computer-Aided Design of Integrated Circuits and Systems. 14 p All files are in csv or ods format, both of which can be opened in spreadsheet programs like Libre Office Sheet or proprietary alternatives such as Microsoft Excel. |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2022 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | N/A |
URL | https://eprints.soton.ac.uk/456087/ |
Title | Distributed Sensing with Low-cost Mobile Sensors towards a Sustainable IoT |
Description | This zip file contains the dataset used to produce Figure 4 of "Distributed Sensing with Low-cost Mobile Sensors towards a Sustainable IoT". It contains two folders, the first for the stationary sensors and the second for the mobile sensors. |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2021 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | N/A |
URL | https://zenodo.org/record/5218521 |
Title | Millimeter Wave Power Transmission for Compact and Large-Area Wearable IoT Devices based on a Higher-Order Mode Wearable Antenna Data |
Description | Data supporting the article "Millimeter Wave Power Transmission for Compact and Large-Area Wearable IoT Devices based on a Higher-Order Mode Wearable Antenna" in the IEEE Internet of Things Journal. Article DOI 10.1109/JIOT.2021.3107594 Dataset includes the direct comaprison of mmWave and UHF power transmission, the DC power tables, and the simualted and measured antenna radiation properties. |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2021 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | N/A |
URL | https://eprints.soton.ac.uk/451111/ |
Title | UHF RFID Ice Detection and Monitoring Data |
Description | Data supporting the article "Wireless Ice Detection and Monitoring usingFlexible UHF RFID Tags" submitted for publication in the IEEE Sensors Journal. Article DOI 10.1109/JSEN.2021.3087326 |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2021 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | N/A |
URL | https://eprints.soton.ac.uk/451109/ |