Passively Powered and Programmable Sensor-RFID for ISHM Systems

To date there are several approaches for incorporating sensing capabilities into RFID. Active tags use batteries to power their communication circuitry, sensors, and microcontroller. Active tags benefit from relatively long wireless range and can achieve high data and sensor activity rates. However, the batteries required by active tags are disadvantageous for device cost, lifetime, weight, and volume. In contrast, passive sensor tags receive all of their operating power from external RF transmitting sources and are not limited by battery life. One attractive feature of passive sensor tags is the prospect of permanently embedding them in objects for structural monitoring. Another is their suitability for applications in which neither batteries nor wired connections are feasible, for weight, volume, cost, or other reasons. A limitation of purely passive sensor tags is the requirement of proximity to a RF transmitter. Since lower power consumption is one major trend in RF circuit design, a self-powered system by means of energy harvesting becomes very attractive. It can serve as the enabling technology for novel applications such as ambient intelligence. Using a power harvesting technique for wireless rechargeable battery smart sensor and enhanced RFID are the key elements for successfully distributing sensors across sensor networks.

The proposed passively powered and programmable sensor-RFID device may apply to many commercial applications: 1) Medical RFID, 2) In-vehicle network the device could be used to network drive train electronic control units and communication systems for body electronics, 3) Aircraft and aerospace electronics the device could be a backbone network in aircrafts for flight state sensors, navigation systems and research PCs driving displays installed in the cockpit, 4) Home control the device could be sensor centric for Internet-based home utility control. This application would create a new service from the Internet Service provider, 5) Energy management for cost saving the device is an idea platform to integrate various sensors for energy management to save cost, 6) Security (intruder detection), 7) Safety (sensing), 8) Utility remote meter reading, 9) Building automation systems real-time monitoring and control of security and surveillance systems, alarms, HVAC, 10) Manufacturing and distribution industrial automation using RFID.

Ground testing of propulsion systems is a critical requirement to enable NASA's New Vision for space exploration. The proposed power harvesting technology for sensor and RFID applications will enable a cost effective remote testing and health monitoring through shared sensor networks. Mobitrum anticipates the following applications that NASA will benefit from the proposed technology: 1) Data analysis, processing, and visualization for Earth science observations, 2) Rocket engine test, 3) Remote test facility management, 3) Field communications device for spatial data input, manipulation and distribution, 4) Sensor, measurement, and field verification applications, 5) RFID for identification and tracking, 6) Condition-aware applications, 7) Location-aware applications, 8) Biometric identification applications, 9) Data collaboration and distribution applications, 10) Wireless instrumentation for robotic manipulation and positioning for audio and visual capture, and real-time multimedia representation.

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 5) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.

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