RFID and Sensor Networksfor

Rural Environments

Alfio GrassoDeputy Director

Auto-ID Lab, ADELAIDE

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AUTO-ID LABS Agenda

Background on Auto-ID LabRFIDSensors

Conclusions

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AUTO-ID LABS

Adelaide, Auto-ID Lab

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AUTO-ID LABS The Auto-ID Laboratories

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AUTO-ID LABS Auto-ID Labs

One of 7 Auto-ID Labs around the world

MIT, USACambridge, UKAdelaide, AustraliaKeio, JapanFudan, ChinaSt Gallen, SwitzerlandICU, Korea

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AUTO-ID LABS Research ProjectsThe design of cost effective and small footprint tag antennas, suitable for attachment onto metal surfaces.Interference studies in high density reader environments.Electromagnetic propagation studies applicable to European RegulationsHigh security authentication tagsDual frequency tags, ones that employ UHF techniques for supply chain applications and then HF for item management applications.Passive RFID chip design (modules for implementation)Analysis and measurement of new forms of reader to tag signalling

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AUTO-ID LABS Commercial Activities

Undertake research projects outside the Auto ID Lab projectsSince forming the Auto-ID Lab 2003

Eight consultanciesOne Research ContractTwo Research Projects

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AUTO-ID LABS Contract Research

Separate from the EPCglobal funded workCommercial Infrastructure

Adelaide Research & Innovation Pty LtdIntellectual Property ProtectionPork CRC Research Contract

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AUTO-ID LABS Auto-ID Lab Advantage

RFID Lab has been operating for more than 3 decadesCommercial successes in RFID Commercialisation

RFID in Library, vehicle (toll, access), rail, waste managementInternational CollaborationASIC design, development and implementation

Collaboration with ChipTecSecurity & AuthenticationDesign of compact metal mount tags

Beer kegs, wine closures, animal tagsStandards Experience

ISO and EPCglobalIntellectual Property

21 patentsKnow how

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AUTO-ID LABS Editor of Security Book

Prof. Peter Cole and Damith Ranasinghe

Joint editors of a Springer-Verlag book, published Nov 2007

Networked RFID Systems and Lightweight Cryptography: Raising Barriers to Product Counterfeiting.

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AUTO-ID LABS RFID’s roleAutomatic Identification of assets

Returnable Assets (Pallets, totes, RTIs, etc)EPCglobal => low cost tags US$0.08 Qty 10m

Production monitoringAutomatic Identification of produce (based on RFID)http://www.rfidjournal.com/article/articleview/3748/1/1/

Visibility to farm operationsDetermine how long produce spends in any particular locationProvide traceability in the case of a recallAnalyse operational efficiency.RFID temperature sensorsMonitor the time a product spends waiting outside a coolerTrack the volume of products being harvested, and send notification down the supply chain to better prepare transporters, distributors and retailers about the volume of product they can expect to arrive.

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AUTO-ID LABS Sensor Work

Preparatory research on distributed sensors

Ad-hoc sensor network distributed in rural environmentsZero quiescent power sensors circuitsSensor Development

Sense parameters of interestType of sensors to be deployed to be determinedSome will need to be developed

Low power communication within ad-hoc networkCommercial sensors too much power, too expensive

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AUTO-ID LABS Proposed Sensor Network

Conclusions

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AUTO-ID LABS ConclusionsRFID has low to moderate technical riskAuto-ID Lab commercial success in RFID developmentsCommercial Sensors too expensive, both in cost and powerSignificant research already undertaken in RFID and some applicable to sensorsExperience ranges from user requirements definition, project planning and implementation to installation & commissioning

Thank you & Questions