Backscattering UWB/UHF hybrid solutions for multi-reader multi-tag passive RFID systems

Ultra-wideband (UWB) technology is foreseen as a promising solution to overcome the limits of ultra-high frequency (UHF) techniques toward the development of green radio frequency identification (RFID) systems with low energy consumption and localization capabilities. While UWB techniques have been already employed for active tags, passive tags solutions are more appealing also due to their lower cost. With the fundamental requirement of maintaining backward compatibility in the RFID domain, we propose a hybrid UWB/UHF architecture to improve passive tag identification both in single-reader and multi-reader scenarios. We then develop two hybrid algorithms: the first one exploits the UWB signal to improve ISO/IEC 18000-6C UHF standard, while the other one exploits UWB to enhance a compressive sensing (CS) technique for tag identification in the multi-reader, multi-tag scenario. Both solutions are able to improve success rate and reading speed in the tag identification process and reduce the energy consumption. The multi-reader version of the proposed approaches is based on a cooperative scheme in order to manage reader-tag collisions and reader-reader collisions besides the typical tag-tag collisions. Furthermore, timing synchronization non-idealities are analyzed for the proposed solutions and simulation results reveal the effectiveness of the developed schemes

Demo: Automatic Personal Identification System for Security in Critical Services: A Case Study

ISBN: 978-1-4503-0718-5International audienceThe demonstration proposal moves from the capabilities of a wireless biometric badge [4], which integrates a localization and tracking service along with an automatic personal identification mechanism, to show how a full system architecture is devised to enable the control of physical accesses to restricted areas. The system leverages on the availability of a novel IEEE 802.15.4/Zigbee Cluster Tree network model, on enhanced security levels and on the respect of all the users' privacy issues

Architectures and protocols for fast identification in large-scale RFID systems

Passive tags based on backscattered signals yield low energy consumption for large-scale applications of RFIDs. In this paper, system architectures and protocol enhancements for fast identifications in ISO/IEC 18000-6C systems that integrate UWB technology are investigated. The anti-collision protocol is studied by considering various tag populations. A novel algorithm is proposed to adapt the UHF air interface parameters with the use of UWB ranging information. The results show that the proposed algorithm yields up to 25% potential performance improvement compared to the ISO/IEC 18000-6C standard.QS 20140619</p

Sensors - Proceedings of the 2nd National Conference on Sensors, 2014

In recent years, there has been a growing interest for possible application of wireless smart sensor networks. One area in which these platforms can offer considerable advantages over classical solutions is the monitoring of civil structures. This work analyze possible benefits and critical issues associated with the use of wireless sensor networks for vibrational monitoring of civil infrastructures. On the basis of the analysis of an experimental setup for the health monitoring of an heritage structure, the main advantages and limitations of a wireless sensor network for vibrational monitoring are outlined. A possible approach for the design of a sensor node supporting on-board vibrational data processing is discussed. Possible advantages of the proposed architecture are analyzed and a preliminary characterization of a custom prototype is presented

The GRETA architecture for energy efficient radio identification and localization

This paper presents an overview of the innovative solutions developed within the Italian project GRETA (GREen TAgs and sensors with ultra-wide-band identification and localization capabilities), whose aim is the development of a distributed and comprehensive system for identification, localization, tracking and monitoring in indoor scenarios. The system is based on hybrid UWB-UHF RFID tags, and the realization and experimental validation of novel tag prototypes based on environmentally friendly materials is a major achievement of the project