Researchers at MIT and other universities have developed a tiny, flexible chip that could make wireless devices much more energy efficient.
This new transmitter chip not only helps extend battery life but could also improve the reliability and range of connected devices—from smart home appliances to industrial sensors.
Even better, the technology is ready to be added to existing Internet of Things (IoT) systems and could also power the more advanced 6G networks of the future.
At the heart of the innovation is a clever way of sending data wirelessly, known as modulation. Modulation is how digital data—like text messages or sensor readings—is turned into a signal that can be sent over the air.
Traditionally, signals are sent in a uniform pattern to make it easier to avoid errors. But this method can waste energy, especially when the wireless environment is constantly changing.
The team’s new method uses a smarter, more adaptable pattern of signals called optimal modulation.
This approach adjusts the pattern to match the current wireless conditions, saving energy.
The problem with this technique has always been that it’s more prone to errors—especially in busy or noisy environments—because the receiver can have trouble telling where one piece of information ends and another begins.
To fix this, the MIT-led team added a small amount of padding—extra bits—between parts of the message so that every transmission is the same length.
This makes it easier for the receiver to spot the beginning and end of each message, even in noisy settings. Importantly, the device still keeps the energy-saving advantages of optimal modulation.
This breakthrough wouldn’t have been possible without a decoding method the researchers had previously developed. Called GRAND (Guessing Random Additive Noise Decoding), it helps the receiver figure out what noise may have affected the message and reverse the impact.
By using a GRAND-inspired algorithm, the system can guess the added bits and recover the original message accurately.
The result is a chip that delivers much lower error rates—about one-quarter the usual amount—with the added benefit of being smaller and more flexible than typical wireless transmitters. In fact, the chip even performed better than many current systems that use traditional methods, which was a surprise even to the researchers.
One of the lead researchers, Professor Muriel Médard from MIT, said this innovation shows the power of thinking differently about long-accepted technologies. Instead of following the traditional rules, they took a modular and adaptable approach, resulting in smarter, more efficient hardware.
This chip could have a wide range of uses—from factory sensors and smart fridges to future 6G mobile networks. It’s also compact enough to fit into small devices, making it ideal for the growing number of connected gadgets around us. Looking ahead, the research team hopes to combine this technology with other techniques to further boost wireless performance.
Experts outside the project are also impressed. Rocco Tam from NXP Semiconductors called the chip a “game-changing innovation” that could shape the next wave of wireless tech.
Source: MIT.
