Powercast’s Battery-Free RFID Sensor System Recognized as Finalist in Best of Sensors Awards 2025

Powercast’s Battery-Free RFID Sensor Condition Monitoring System Named Best of Sensors Finalist
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Powercast’s innovative wire-and-battery-free RFID sensor tags are designed for maintenance-free condition monitoring of critical server equipment housed in metal racks within data centers. Recently, Powercast announced that its RFID-powered sensor monitoring system, specifically tailored for data center equipment, has been recognized as a finalist in the **Best of Sensors Awards 2025** in the **Power & Sustainability** category.

The award presentation will take place at Sensors Converge, scheduled for June 24 – 26 in Santa Clara, CA, where winners will be disclosed on June 25. Powercast will showcase its technology at booth #835 during the event.

In collaboration with Asset Vue, Powercast customized its RFID sensing technology, which is known for its maintenance-free capabilities due to its ability to draw power from RAIN RFID inventory readers instead of relying on wires and batteries. This allows for the monitoring of temperature and humidity in mission-critical equipment stored in metal server racks without complicating the data center environment.

Charles Greene, Ph.D., COO and CTO of Powercast, explained, “Asset Vue sought an affordable and maintenance-free monitoring solution that didn’t involve hardwiring sensors or ongoing battery upkeep. They recognized that our technology could meet these needs and requested we tailor our RFID sensor tags accordingly.”

The customization included two key modifications:
1. Reducing the size of Powercast’s existing RFID sensors by half to fit within server racks, facilitating airflow to keep equipment cool.
2. Redesigning the RF receiving antenna to prevent interference from the metal racks while still delivering long-range wireless power to the sensors.

Currently, the system is undergoing beta testing at Asset Vue’s data center, with plans for a wider rollout to additional data centers later this year.

Greene further elaborated, “Powercast’s RFID sensor tags are passive, meaning they do not require batteries that need to be replaced. Unlike other passive tags, which can only track items due to the lack of a power source for condition measurement and data storage, our tags can harvest RF energy from standard RFID readers used in inventory management and logistics. This energy is converted from RF to DC to power sensor measurements and facilitate data communication. We refer to this as high-function passive RFID, which supports maintenance-free condition monitoring across various sectors, including healthcare, pharmaceuticals, and the food supply chain.”

### How Powercast’s RFID Condition Monitoring Technology Operates

Powercast’s technology leverages RFID readers as a power source. Standard RAIN RFID readers emit RF signals similar to those from Powercast’s wireless power transmitters, allowing them to serve as a power source. This eliminates the need for hardwiring sensors throughout facilities or changing batteries.

The Powerharvester® PCC110 receiver chip embedded in the RFID sensor tags captures RF energy transmitted from any RFID reader within a range of up to 40 meters, depending on the application. The Powerharvester chip converts this RF energy into usable DC power, enabling the microcontroller and sensors to operate, measure conditions, and communicate data back to the reader via a traditional RFID tag. A single RFID reader can power multiple tags simultaneously over a large area, provided they are within range. These readers can either be fixed installations in the ceiling or handheld devices used by staff. The peel-back adhesive on the RFID sensor tags makes installation straightforward.

### About Powercast

Founded in 2003 and headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA, Powercast Corporation is a leading provider of wireless charging solutions, offering a comprehensive range of technologies from short to long distances and from microwatts to kilowatts, supported by over 300 patents globally. The company designs, develops, and manufactures semiconductor chips and complete wirelessly powered products, facilitating various levels of customer integration. Powercast’s offerings encompass RF power-over-distance charging, high-performance short-range inductive charging, mid-range magnetic resonance charging, and low-power sensors with battery life extending up to 25 years, establishing Powercast as the most comprehensive source for wireless power technology.

For more information, visit [Powercast](https://www.powercastco.com).

### Media Contact
Ross Petrocelli
Powercast
1 (412) 455-5800
rpetrocelli@powercastco.com
[Powercast Website](https://www.powercastco.com)