EE Capstone Spring 2008

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

2. 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 18000-6) to possibly a few hundred meters with new Hitachi chip • Features non-volatile, writable EEPROM to store data

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. Artist’s Rendering #1 of RFID Reader

7. Artist’s Rendering #2 of RFID Reader

8. Artist’s Rendering #3 of RFID Reader

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

10. 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

11. 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

12. Block Diagram

13. 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

14. Implementation of Hardware • RFID tags: 125 kHz passive (ISO 18000-2) • 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

15. 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

16. Project Budget

17. Schedule

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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

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

23. 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

24. Questions???