Energy harvesting in LoRaWAN for space communication

Abstract

LoRa’s low-power, long-range capabilities enhance data collection and monitoring in Internet of Things (IoT) and remote sensing across vast areas, driving its widespread adoption in industries like asset tracking, environmental monitoring, agriculture, and healthcare, especially in remote and infrastructure-constrained regions. Applications include soil moisture monitoring, wildlife tracking, and precision agriculture. However, terrestrial LoRa communication has coverage limitations due to line-of-sight constraints wherein sparse population density or complex terrain might block or reflect the signal. In addition, the devices require recurrent recharging or battery replacement which poses significant operational challenges and increases costs. To address these challenges, satellite-based LoRa communication emerges as a potential solution for global coverage. However, robust power management techniques are required due to the power requirements of direct-to-satellite communication and the challenging environmental conditions that are frequently encountered in remote regions. This research introduces a novel Ambient Energy Management (AEM) system designed for energy harvesting to power LoRa Internet of Things (IoT) devices operating in a Direct-to-Satellite (DtS) communication environment. This study explores how duty cycle, signal design, and energy harvesting techniques interact while tackling the difficulties of energy optimization in this setting. The objective of the research is to increase energy efficiency, prolong system lifespan, and broaden the possible uses of LoRa-based IoT systems while complying with regional regulatory standards, including those described by Independent Communication Authority of South (ICASA). This study contributes to the advancement of energy-autonomous IoT systems by introducing novel algorithms and insights into the management of harvested energy for satellite communication.