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To Investigate the Incorporation of Active RFID Into a Smart Sensor Network
Aaron Wirth
Abstract
Radio Frequency Identification, RFID, is an emerging technology that has found many applications in today’s world. One possible application is for use in a smart sensor network. Active RFID tags contain their own power supply and communication capabilities. If a known amount of power is used for transmission, a receiver can use the received signal strength indicator, RSSI, to estimate the distance to the transmitter. When multiple receivers’ positions are known and fixed, the estimated distances can be used to provide tracking of the tag. Overall, the RFID system provides enhanced resolution in a smart sensor network. The RFID information can trigger or cancel events and alarms within the network. Another possible sensor network application is to provide training data for an artificial neural network.
The CC2420 is an 802.15 wireless development board that contains an ATMELMega128 microprocessor. Code for the micro is written using the c language and any c compiler. To use as an RFID system the boards are programmed to transmit and receive packets containing a time stamp, unique id number, and RSSI value. The boards used as receivers also relay the data to a pc via a serial port.
A Matlab script then compares the data from the RFID with other information from the sensor network. If the data correlates in time and location to another event, that event is tagged and the network takes the appropriate action.
Biography
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A Montana native, I earned my associates degree at UM in Missoula. I decided to continue my education and transferred to Montana Tech in 2003. I am currently a senior majoring in Electrical Engineering and will complete my Bachelors in the fall of 2007.
For the past year and a half I have worked on a smart sensor network project funded by the TSA and located here in Butte Montana. Highlights of the project include advanced tracking and identification algorithms and use of Ultra Wide Band Radar. The opportunity to work on the sensor network project was provided by Montana Tech and the Rocky Mountain Agile Virtual Enterprises Technical Development Center (RAVE TDC). My research project is closely related to the work done on the sensor network and combines my engineering knowledge with a real world work experience.
My hobbies include painting, writing music, snowboarding, wakeboarding, and flying RC or full-size airplanes. Currently I am the vice president of Montana Tech’s UAV club. My engineering goals are to work in the fields of: research, controls, robotics, and ic design. I enjoy learning and using my knowledge to make my ideas into realities.
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