EE Capstone Spring 2008 Team RFID Mike Gauthiere Mike Loptien Chris Reid Kirk Spowart Vincent Wu

What are RFID tags? Two different kinds: transponders and beacons Passive tags or transponders are activated when receiving a signal from a reader, such as the toll payment system on E-470 Powered by the RFID reader Range from centimeters (ISO 14443) to a few meters (ISO ) to possibly a few hundred meters with new Hitachi chip Features non-volatile, writable EEPROM to store data

What are RFID tags? Beacons or active tags send a signal with a unique identifier at preset intervals, anywhere from once every few seconds to once a day depending on how important it is to know the location The beacon’s signal is often picked up by at least three different reader antennas to give accurate location information Powered by battery life of ~ 10 years Range of hundreds of meters Features non-volatile writable EEPROM with more functionality inside than passive tags

What will we do with RFID technology? We will create a General Purpose Handheld RFID reader This reader will be able to read RFID tags placed in multiple locations The reader will look up information related to these tags from a database stored on an SD card If the information is not found in memory, the reader will attempt to download the information via WIFI connection The information will be displayed in a user- friendly format on a touch screen LCD display

What will we do with RFID technology? Audio information will also be output through a standard stereo jack on the reader that can be used with headphones There will be an option to select which tag’s information to display out of all those in proximity Signal triangulation could be used to sense direction and distance to the detected tags

Artist’s Rendering #1 of RFID Reader

Artist’s Rendering #2 of RFID Reader

Artist’s Rendering #3 of RFID Reader

Real World Applications Museums Zoos Grocery Stores GPS Trips through State/National Parks Highway Signs

Required Function List Sense and read all RFID tags in vicinity Retrieve information tied to sensed ID’s from database Database stored on SD card or downloaded through WIFI connection User-friendly graphical interface, possibly touch screen controlled

Optional Function List Standards compliant device, works with off-the-shelf standardized RFID tags Ability to read both passive and active RFID tags Ability to evaluate approximate distance from tags using signal strength or triangulation Ability to read information from sensor type RFID tags

Block Diagram

Implementation of Hardware Processor: ARM 7 –May be needed to handle high data volume for screen RFID transceiver: ID-12 – 125 kHz module w/ RS232 Interface & Built-in antenna Screen: Sharp 4.3” 24bit Sony PSP screen –High resolution color screen for user friendlyness Touch sensor: 4-wire resistive layer –Designed to match size of PSP screen Battery: 7.4 V 2000 mAH 2 cell LiPo –Lightweight & space efficient, excellent capacity –Should be able to handle power needs & give good battery life

Implementation of Hardware RFID tags: 125 kHz passive (ISO ) –Simple to get started with –Would like to be able to read other standardized RFID tags after success with this one. (Active tags & other passive tags) Memory: 1 GB SD memory card –Non-Volatile & ubiquitious To Be Determined: –Audio controller/D to A converter –WIFI controller

Implementation of Software Operating system –Handle RFID data, touch device data, etc. User Interface –Friendly –Graphics intensive –Interpretation of touch information Local Database: XML File –Human Readable, Standardized Online Database –Web Server Running PHP Interface to MySQL Database –Send HTTP Response, receive XML formated file

Project Budget

Schedule

PDR: initial design CDR: order components, PCB design, board & processor familiarization, begin hardware modules Milestone 1: finish RFID transceiver, memory and screen interface, tag ID database Milestone 2: finish touch screen interface, identify higher priority tags Expo: finish WIFI interface, audio output, web database

Division of Responsibilities Embedded systems & microprocessors: Mike L/Mike G Power & batteries: Chris/Mike G RF & antennas: Kirk/Mike L Circuit construction: Chris/Vince Low level software: Kirk/Mike L High level software: Vince/Mike G/Chris Communications: Kirk

Potential Risks of Project Risk #1: No previous experience with RFID technology Recovery plan #1: Professor Mihran has a lot of experience with RFID technology, so would be a good resource Risk #2: Possible reader confusion in presence of many different RFID tags Recovery plan #2: additional programming may be needed to create an anti-collision algorithm

Potential Risks of Project Risk #3: RFID and GPS technology can be expensive Recovery plan #3: many possible sources of funding available such as UROP grants Risk #4: Difficulty in calculating the distance between RFID reader and tag Recovery Plan #4: Use other methods of assigning priority, could be left out if time is limited

Potential Risks of Project Risk #5: Possible touch screen feasibility issues Recovery plan #5: use soft buttons instead of a touch screen

Feasibility of Project RFID communication is a simple concept, so our project can have various degrees of complexity depending on time Many different options available such as touch screen interface, GPS integration, WIFI, etc. Many RFID peripherals and reader chips exist and are easy to use

Questions???