Recharging RFID Tags for Environmental Monitoring Using UAVs: A Feasibility Analysis
ABSTRACT
RFID tags are used for different purposes. One of the major problems to be addressed, particularly for monitoring purposes, is their limited power autonomy. Tags must perform different tasks with limited power consumption and their batteries capacities are often too low, even if low power consumption techniques are implemented. In these operational situations tags should be kept in operation for long periods of time and the common solution is to go directly where they are installed and recharge them manually or change their batteries; alternatively, when possible, small photovoltaic (PV) panels may be adopted. This paper proposes a feasibility analysis of how it is possible to recharge a multipurpose RFID tag using a UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle), which is programmed to go above the tags and recharge them. This possibility is analyzed from an energetic point of view assuming to recharge a Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) using a common commercial UAV adequately instrumented using the wireless power transfer technique.
RFID tags are used for different purposes. One of the major problems to be addressed, particularly for monitoring purposes, is their limited power autonomy. Tags must perform different tasks with limited power consumption and their batteries capacities are often too low, even if low power consumption techniques are implemented. In these operational situations tags should be kept in operation for long periods of time and the common solution is to go directly where they are installed and recharge them manually or change their batteries; alternatively, when possible, small photovoltaic (PV) panels may be adopted. This paper proposes a feasibility analysis of how it is possible to recharge a multipurpose RFID tag using a UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle), which is programmed to go above the tags and recharge them. This possibility is analyzed from an energetic point of view assuming to recharge a Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) using a common commercial UAV adequately instrumented using the wireless power transfer technique.
Cite this paper
Allegretti, M. and Bertoldo, S. (2015) Recharging RFID Tags for Environmental Monitoring Using UAVs: A Feasibility Analysis. Wireless Sensor Network, 7, 13-19. doi: 10.4236/wsn.2015.72002.
Allegretti, M. and Bertoldo, S. (2015) Recharging RFID Tags for Environmental Monitoring Using UAVs: A Feasibility Analysis. Wireless Sensor Network, 7, 13-19. doi: 10.4236/wsn.2015.72002.
References
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http://dx.doi.org/10.3182/20080706-5-KR-1001.00753 [10] Allegretti, M. and Bertoldo, S. (2013) Cars as a Diffuse Network of Road-Environment Monitoring Nodes. Wireless Sensor Network, 6, 184-191.
http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/wsn.2014.69018 [11] Rorato, O., Lucianaz, C., Bertoldo, S., Allegretti, M. and Perona, G. (2012) A Multipurpose Node for Low Cost Wireless Sensor Network. IEEE APWC 2012, Cape Town, 2-7 September 2012, 247-250, ISBN: 9781467304030.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/APWC.2012.6324911 [12] Rorato, O., Bertoldo, S., Lucianaz, C., Allegretti, M. and Notarpietro, R. (2013) An Ad-Hoc Low Cost Wireless Sensor Network for Smart Gas Metering. Wireless Sensor Network, 5, 61-66.
http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/wsn.2013.53008 [13] Zhang, F., Liu, X., Meng, F., Wu, Q., Lee, J., Xu, J., Wang, C. and Kim, N. (2014) Design of a Compact Planar Rectenna for Wireless Power Transfer in the ISM Band. International Journal of Antennas and Propagation, 2014, 9 p.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/MWSYM.1992.187983 [15] IEEE Standard for Safety Levels with Respect to Human Exposure to Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields, 3 kHz to 300 GHZ, IEEE Std C95.1-2005
[1] Galluzzi, V. and Herman, T. (2012) Survey: Discovery in Wireless Sensor Networks. International Journal of Distributed Sensor Networks, 2012, Article ID: 271860, 12 p.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/271860. [2] Lucianaz, C., Rorato, O., Allegretti, M., Mamino, M., Roggero, M. and Diotri, F. (2011) Low Cost DGPS Wireless Network. IEEE-APS Topical Conference on Antennas and Propagation in Wireless Communications (APWC), Torino, 12-16 September 2011, 792-795. [3] Gabella, M., Notarpietro, R., Bertoldo, S., Prato, A., Lucianaz, C., Rorato, O., Allegretti, M. and Perona, G. (2012) A Network of Portable, Low-Cost, X-Band Radars. In: Bech, J., Ed., Doppler Radar Observations—Weather Radar, Wind Profiler, Ionospheric Radar, and Other Advanced Applications, Intech, Rijeka, 175-202. [4] Rorato, O., Greco, G., Bertoldo, S., Lucianaz, C., Allegretti, M., Curtaz, M., Roasio, A., Barone, S. and Perona, G. (2014) An Ad-Hoc RFID Tag for Glaciers Monitoring. IEEE-APS Topical Conference on Antennas and Propagation in Wireless Communications (APWC), Palm Beach, 3-9 August 2014, 864-867. [5] Martinez, K., Ong, R. and Hart, J. (2004) Glacsweb: A Sensor Network for Hostile Environments. First IEEE Communications Society Conference on Sensor and Ad Hoc Communications and Networks, Santa Clara, 4-7 October 2004, 81-87. [6] Bertoldo, S., Rorato, O., Lucianaz, C. and Allegretti, M. (2012) A Wireless Sensor Network Ad-Hoc Designed as Anti-Theft Alarm System for Photovoltaic Panels. Wireless Sensor Network, 4, 107-112.
http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/wsn.2012.44014 [7] Le Sage, T., Bindel A., Conway, P., Justham, L., Slawson, S. and West, A. (2011) Embedded Programming and Real-Time Signal Processing of Swimming Strokes. Sports Engineering, 14, 1-14.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12283-011-0070-7 [8] Keshtgari, M. and Deljoo, A. (2012) A Wireless Sensor Network Solution for Precision Agriculture Based on Zigbee Technology. Wireless Sensor Network, 4, 25-30.
http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/wsn.2012.41004 [9] Delgui, A. and Proth, J.M. (2008) RFID Technology in Supply Chain Management: State of the Art and Perspective, 17th IFAC World Congress, Seoul, 11-16 July 2008, 4464-4475.
http://dx.doi.org/10.3182/20080706-5-KR-1001.00753 [10] Allegretti, M. and Bertoldo, S. (2013) Cars as a Diffuse Network of Road-Environment Monitoring Nodes. Wireless Sensor Network, 6, 184-191.
http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/wsn.2014.69018 [11] Rorato, O., Lucianaz, C., Bertoldo, S., Allegretti, M. and Perona, G. (2012) A Multipurpose Node for Low Cost Wireless Sensor Network. IEEE APWC 2012, Cape Town, 2-7 September 2012, 247-250, ISBN: 9781467304030.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/APWC.2012.6324911 [12] Rorato, O., Bertoldo, S., Lucianaz, C., Allegretti, M. and Notarpietro, R. (2013) An Ad-Hoc Low Cost Wireless Sensor Network for Smart Gas Metering. Wireless Sensor Network, 5, 61-66.
http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/wsn.2013.53008 [13] Zhang, F., Liu, X., Meng, F., Wu, Q., Lee, J., Xu, J., Wang, C. and Kim, N. (2014) Design of a Compact Planar Rectenna for Wireless Power Transfer in the ISM Band. International Journal of Antennas and Propagation, 2014, 9 p.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/298127 [14] Yoo, T., McSpadden, J. and Chang, K. (1992) 35 GHz Rectenna Implemented with a Patch and a Microstrip Dipole Antenna. Microwave Symposium Digest, IEEE MTT-S International, 1, 345-348.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/MWSYM.1992.187983 [15] IEEE Standard for Safety Levels with Respect to Human Exposure to Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields, 3 kHz to 300 GHZ, IEEE Std C95.1-2005