Integrating RFID Transponders as Data Loggers in Wireless Sensor Nodes for Outdoor Remote Monitoring Operations

In this paper the integration of an RFID system into a wireless sensor node based on an Arduino board is discussed. The main purpose of the proposed solution is to use the memory of a passive RFID transponder to store the data retrieved by the sensors composing the node. This solution can be employed for remote monitoring operations, when no connection is available and then no remote data collection is possible. The RFID transponder allows the storage of a large number of sensor data sets, that can be then acquired simply removing the transponder from the node and reading it with a common desktop reader. Once collected, the transponder is replaced with a new one allowing a new period of data collection regardless of human intervention. An ad-hoc data structure has been studied to optimize the memory usage and then to increase the life time of a single transponder. The solution is especially thought for outdoor monitoring operations: contactless data transfer allows the sensor node to be sealed and then to be totally protected from atmospheric agents.

[1]  Ian F. Akyildiz,et al.  Wireless sensor networks: a survey , 2002, Comput. Networks.

[2]  Matt Welsh,et al.  Deploying a wireless sensor network on an active volcano , 2006, IEEE Internet Computing.

[3]  Neil M. White,et al.  Wireless Sensor Networks: Applications Utilizing Satellite Links , 2007, 2007 IEEE 18th International Symposium on Personal, Indoor and Mobile Radio Communications.

[4]  Hai Liu,et al.  Taxonomy and Challenges of the Integration of RFID and Wireless Sensor Networks , 2008, IEEE Network.

[5]  Robert Faludi.  Building wireless sensor networks , 2010 .

[6]  A. Alkandari,et al.  Water monitoring system using Wireless Sensor Network (WSN): Case study of Kuwait beaches , 2012, 2012 Second International Conference on Digital Information Processing and Communications (ICDIPC).

[7]  Maneesha V. Ramesh,et al.  Real-Time Wireless Sensor Network for Landslide Detection , 2009, 2009 Third International Conference on Sensor Technologies and Applications.

[8]  Lei Zhang,et al.  Integration of RFID into Wireless Sensor Networks: Architectures, Opportunities and Challenging Problems , 2006, 2006 Fifth International Conference on Grid and Cooperative Computing Workshops.

[9]  Adam Dunkels,et al.  Making TCP/IP Viable for Wireless Sensor Networks , 2004 .

[10]  Gian Marco Revel,et al.  A wireless sensor network for intelligent building energy management based on multi communication standards - a case study , 2012, J. Inf. Technol. Constr..

[11]  Stefano Chessa,et al.  A Data Logger for Wireless Sensor Network , 2013, SENSORNETS.

[12]  E. Abad,et al.  RFID smart tag for traceability and cold chain monitoring of foods: Demonstration in an intercontinental fresh fish logistic chain , 2009 .

[13]  Peter I. Corke,et al.  Monitoring Animal Behaviour and Environmental Interactions Using Wireless Sensor Networks, GPS Collars and Satellite Remote Sensing , 2009, Sensors.

[14]  John Anderson,et al.  Wireless sensor networks for habitat monitoring , 2002, WSNA '02.

[15]  Walter Lang,et al.  Spatial temperature profiling by semi-passive RFID loggers for perishable food transportation , 2009 .

[16]  Dimitrios Gunopulos,et al.  Data Acquisition in Sensor Networks with Large Memories , 2005, 21st International Conference on Data Engineering Workshops (ICDEW'05).

[17]  Xiao-jie Wang,et al.  Design and Realization of Wireless Sensor Network Gateway Based on ZigBee and GPRS , 2009, 2009 Second International Conference on Information and Computing Science.

[18]  Emily Gertz,et al.  Atmospheric Monitoring with Arduino , 2012 .