Backscattering-Based Security in Wireless Power Transfer Applied to Battery-Free BLE Sensors

TL;DR

This paper presents a backscattering-based security method integrated into Bluetooth Low Energy wireless sensor networks, enabling secure, energy-efficient identification for battery-free IoT devices without additional power or computational costs.

Contribution

It introduces a protocol-agnostic security approach leveraging wireless power transfer links, validated through experiments on compact sensors for scalable IoT applications.

Findings

Demonstrated secure identification using backscattering in BLE sensors

Achieved compatibility with size-constrained applications like Structural Health Monitoring

Discussed solutions for multi-node collision challenges

Abstract

The integration of security and energy efficiency in Internet of Things systems remains a critical challenge, particularly for battery-free and resource-constrained devices. This paper explores the scalability and protocol-agnostic nature of a backscattering-based security mechanism by integrating it into Bluetooth Low Energy battery-free Wireless Sensor Network. The proposed approach leverages the Wireless Power Transfer link, traditionally used for energy harvesting, to generate additional identification signals without increasing energy consumption or computational demands. Experimental validation demonstrates the solution's functionality using compact, low-gain antenna, ensuring compatibility with size-constrained applications such as Structural Health Monitoring and smart transport. Furthermore, this work addresses the challenges associated with backscattering dynamic range and multi-node Wireless Sensor Network scenarios, discussing potential collisions between identification signals and proposing future improvements to enhance generalizability and scalability. The findings underscore the potential of the backscattering-based security mechanism for creating secure, sustainable, and scalable IoT deployments across diverse protocols and applications.