System level simulation of passive and active backscatter devices

Abstract

Ambient Backscatter is a communications method for batteryless, carrier-powered radio devices which harvest the needed energy from ambient sources and send their information by backscattering the ambient radio signals. An ambient backscatter device sends data bit by bit by either backscattering or not backscattering the received carrier wave. This work studies the operation of an ambient backscatter communication system consisting of a transmitter, a number of ambient backscatter devices and a receiver by simulating it in MATLAB. This thesis aims to answer the research questions: when it is better to use either passive or active ambient backscatter devices and what factors primarily affect the maximum data rate, communication range and susceptibility to interference of the devices. A definite answer to the research questions could not be given, but the thesis results show that active aBS- devices have potential of reaching the same performance figures as passive ones in terms of achievable range.