Innovative Method for Wirelessly Powering RFID Tags Located on Rotorcraft Navy SBIR FY2012.2 Sol No.: Navy SBIR FY2012.2 Topic No.: N122-126 Topic Title: Innovative Method for Wirelessly Powering RFID Tags Located on Rotorcraft Proposal No.: N122-126-0887 Firm: Technical Data Analysis, Inc. 3190 Fairview Park Drive Suite 650 Falls Church, Virginia 22042 Contact: Nagaraja Iyyer Phone: (703) 226-4070 Web Site: www.tda-i.com Abstract: TDA's research during this SBIR will incorporate the two main types of RFID technology: passive and active RFID systems. During previous research, TDA has shown that passive systems present challenges with respect to effective read range, as well as performance in a metal-rich environment. However, TDA believes that the performance of these systems can be enhanced via beam forming, impedance matching, and back scatter boosting techniques, as well as tag placement optimization. Similarly, TDA has shown that implementation of active tag systems is hindered by large tag form factors as well as undesirable battery maintenance requirements. TDA intends to research alternative means of powering these active tags, such as wireless power transmission. In addition, a major goal of this research will be to design and develop an ultra-low energy, solar powered active tag. By pursuing parallel lines of research in both active and passive technologies, TDA will be able to develop and recommend a complete and optimized system for the unique application of rotorcraft component tracking and sensing. Benefits: TDA's efforts on enhancing read range of passive tags through beamforming approach improves the effective range of the RF-based energy harvesting since it increases power delivered to the passive tags. Moreover, this approach does not require hardware changes to the tracked tags since only the additional tags have to be modified. Also, the additional tags are low-cost since they are slightly modified traditional passive tags. Research on adaptive beamforming will lead to tag designs to enable scattering mode (impedance) switching. Besides the rotorcraft parts tracking application, the long read-range abilities of passive tags in metal-rich environment will have numerous applications in industries, mainly aircraft and automotive manufacturing lines and assembly lines, oil and gas industries. The tag and antenna configuration placement algorithm developed in this effort will reduce manual labor involved in many trial and error correction efforts to determine optimum RFID configurations systems. Research on battery-less active tags will result in smart miniature active tags that are useful in rotorcraft parts tracking and its maintenance, repair and overhaul operations. In addition, this research work will help many other applications including bio-medical sensor implants. This research work will also break new grounds in remote powering technology for efficient powering of sensor devices and sensor system networks. This work will further advance the current research in wireless battery charging systems that would enable powering up small devices such as cell phones, pocket organizers, and even small tablets. Research work on the development of active tags that harvests energy from solar cells will help build smarter wireless sensor network that can be queried by a smart phone. Return