Energy harvesting radio technology targeted for future Mars missions could make use of a single-chip microtransceiver being developed at Kansas State University. The device uses a silicon-on-sapphire CMOS process from Peregrine Semiconductor Corp. (San Diego) that was developed with NASA funding. The low-power integrated RF functions of the CMOS transceiver can operate in the harsh Martian environment. Commercial applications include using energy harvesting to power radios for remote wireless sensors.
Text: http://www.eetimes.com/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=212700793
Audio: http://homepage.mac.com/guitarmedia/interviews/rcjRFchip-09-01-06.mp3
