[bborud]

That bit reminded me of someone who wanted us to design a patch the size of a small postage stamp, at most 0.2mm thick, so you could stick on products. It was to deliver power for two years of operation, run an LTE modem, a GNSS receiver, an MCU, temperature and humidity sensor and would cost $0.10. And it would send back telemetry twice per day.

[jacquesm]

'A mere matter of engineering'.

[bborud]

The conversation went something like this (from memory):

- We can't do that

- Why not?

- Well, physics for one.

- What do you mean?

- Well, at the very least we need to be able to emit enough RF-energy for a mobile base station to be able to detect it and allow itself to be convinced it is seeing valid signaling.

- Yes?

- The battery technology that fits within your constraints doesn't exist. Nevermind the electronics or antenna.

- Can't you do something creative? We heard you were clever.

I distinctly remember that last line. But I can't remember what my response was. It was probably something along the lines of "if I were that clever I'd be at home polishing my Nobel medal in physics".

Even the sales guy who dragged me into this meeting couldn't keep it together. He spent the whole one hour drive back to the office muttering "can't you do something creative" and then laughing hysterically.

I think the solution they went for was irreversible freeze and moisture indication stickers. Which was what I suggested they go for in the first 5 minutes of the meeting since that a) solved their problem, and b) is on the market, and c) can be had for the price point in bulk.

[verzali]

All you need to do is make use of a higher dimension to pack stuff into. And then mass produce to bring costs down. How hard can that be?