Low-power and Compact Microwave RFID Reader for Sensing Applications in Space

Abstract

Radio frequency identification (RFID) is the driving technology behind many compelling applications, such as internet-of-things (IoT), smart cities, and particle tracking. However, it is always challenging to make small, low-cost transponder with little power consumption. RFID tags are useful for a host of distributed sensing applications because they do not require a wired power source and use very little power to communicate wirelessly. Such tags also have great potential for use in sensing applications onboard spacecraft including spacecraft structural health monitoring and sensitive field measurements. This paper proposed the design and characterization process of a low-power, compact RFID transceiver for sensing applications in space. This reader operates at the 5725-5850 MHz frequency ISM band with 31 dBm equivalent isotropically radiated power (EIRP) and -58 dBm to -82 dBm sensitivity in different conditions.