Enabling Agile Ambient IoT Networking via a Parameterized Hybrid Radio

2026-05-18

AI Summary

Existing testbeds for ambient Internet of Things (A-IoT) are hindered by isolated RF paths, high static power consumption, and complex control mechanisms, impeding agile physical-layer prototyping. This work proposes Janus—the first configurable hybrid active-passive RF architecture tailored for A-IoT—which unifies active and passive transmission paths through parametric design, enabling both modes to share a single RF front-end for the first time. Complex physical-layer behaviors are abstracted into concise, tunable parameters. Janus integrates a unified control plane with a multi-source energy management mechanism, supporting dynamic mode switching and fine-grained energy harvesting. Prototype evaluations across 3GPP A-IoT, IEEE 802.11 AMP, and Bluetooth SIG protocols demonstrate performance comparable to dedicated RF implementations while substantially reducing configuration overhead and accelerating standardization efforts for ultra-low-power networks.

Abstract

The emergence of Ambient IoT signals a paradigm shift toward massive batteryless networking. However, the absence of an agile physical layer substrate remains a fundamental barrier to research and standardization. Current testbeds are hindered by decoupled radio paths, high static power, and cumbersome control methods, which stifle rapid protocol prototyping. In this paper, we present Janus, the first hybrid active-passive configurable radio architected for agile Ambient IoT networking. Janus introduces a parameterized architecture that unifies passive and active transmission into a single RF front end, abstracting complex physical layer behaviors into concise parameters. This design enables a system-level control plane for dynamic mode transitions and an energy management plane for fine-grained harvesting across multiple sources. We implement a compact PCB prototype and evaluate its performance across diverse protocol landscapes, including 3GPP A-IoT, IEEE 802.11 AMP, and Bluetooth SIG. Our experimental results demonstrate that Janus achieves communication performance on par with dedicated radios while significantly reducing configuration overhead. Ultimately, Janus serves as a versatile enabler for validating emerging protocols and accelerating the standardization of next-generation low-power networks.

Problem

• Ambient IoT
• agile physical layer
• hybrid radio
• protocol prototyping
• low-power networking

Innovation

• Hybrid Radio
• Parameterized Architecture
• Ambient IoT
• Agile Networking
• Energy Harvesting