Patent — available for licensing
RFID Tag System for Precise Asset Tracking & Localization
A NASA invention available to explore as a licensing opportunity.
About this technology
Overview
Innovators at NASA Johnson Space Center have developed a low-cost means to refine localization and determine when specific assets have been attached or placed in set proximity of each other using radio frequency identification (RFID) technology. This innovation is comprised of both a novel RFID sensor tag that incorporates onboard microcontrollers and sensors to detect an influence, and a programmable influence tag that is attached to an asset for which RFID localization or attachment status is desired. Commercial RFID tags typically only communicate with a reader and utilize narrow spectrum frequency bands that can complicate the triangulation necessary for readers to determine an asset’s location. Additionally, an extreme radio frequency scattering environment further aggravates triangulation techniques commonly used in RFID. With this new RFID tag technology, an influence tag can provide data to a sensor tag which then feeds joint information to a reader. A proliferation of these tags in arrangement allows for precise localization of assets, is extensible to large distribution cells or monitored areas, and can provide confirmation of mated or associated parts. The RFID-Enabled Connections and Sensed Localization technology is at technology readiness level (TRL) 4 (component and/or breadboard validation in a laboratory environment) and is available for patent licensing. Please note that NASA does not manufacture products itself for commercial sale.