An ultra low power RFID sensor platform for launchers applications

Abstract

This paper presents an in progress development of a complete RFID measurement system for space in-vehicle sensor data transmission. The RFID measurement system utilizes the EPCglobal Gen2 protocol for the communications and allows connecting common launcher's sensors (thermocouple, resistance temperature detectors, strain gauge, and pressure sensor). An ultra low power microcontroller manages the analog front-ends, the supply distribution between all in-situ modules, and governs the RFID data transfers. The performance evaluation results in a sensor tag able to transmit 200 measurement samples per second in a 5m communication distance, with an energy consumption of 48μJ per sample.