VLC node based on photovoltaic detector and liquid crystal passive modulated retroreflector

This work explores a novel visible light communication system combining energy harvesting and low-power communication for remote sensing nodes. The innovation lies in integrating photovoltaic devices with liquid crystal modulated retroreflectors, enabling efficient uplink communication without active back-transmitters. This approach significantly reduces power consumption in vehicle-to-everything (V2X) networks. The system design and performance demonstrate high dynamic range modulation and low-power operation compatible with photovoltaic energy harvesting. Beyond visible light communication, the ability to dynamically control reflection properties suggests potential applications in stealth and optical cloaking. Future work will optimize the optical design for real-world sensing, communication, and defense applications.