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Understanding RF Applications
RF Applications Primer Covering Wireless
Communications & More
RF technology is increasingly used
to connect, sense, and remotely
power devices as part of an ongoing
shift in human technology toward
converting existing mechanical,
pneumatic, and hydraulic systems
to electrical and electronic systems.
RF technology is affecting nearly
all modern transportation, personal
communication, utilities, robotics,
automation, enterprise facilities,
logistics, and facilities management
activities. Future predictions of
human civilization include cities,
industrial facilities, and agricultural
installations where virtually every
machine is wirelessly connected
and coordinated by advanced
artificial intelligence (AI) systems.
This chapter explores the most
common and significant current
RF technologies and describes
how they work at a high level, with
a particular focus on wireless
communications. Other topics
covered include radar, radio
navigation, RF imaging, RF
materials characterization,
wireless power transfer, and
energy harvesting.
RF Wireless Communication
Wireless communication is the
use of transmitted and received
signals passing through an
unguided medium, such as free
space or open air, without the use
of a physical conductor. Wireless
communications can be performed
using audio signals, ultrasonic
signals, vibrations, infrared (IR)
light, visible light, or other methods,
but presently, the most common
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