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Year Three
TASK 3:
Deployment of
Location-Aware Identification and Sensor Network:
RFID Sensors and
Networks to Refine Remote Monitoring Capability
3.1 Summary
This is a laboratory wide
deployment of an array of RFID sensors for fine-grained location sensing.
The current RFID sensor network developed in Year 2 will be deployed in
the home for precise localization of tagged object and select residents.
The effort will build on the accomplishments of Years 1 and 2 with special
emphasis on wider deployment and integration with applications.
3.2 Background
This sensor technology employs low-cost passive tags carried by users or
attached to objects. The embedded circuitry within these tags provides
identification information that can be detected by antennas at various
locations in the house. The system localizes the user when the passive tag
is within the range of an antenna. The main disadvantage of this system is
that its range is limited by the size and shape of the tag and the
receiver antenna. In Year 2 of this project we acquired a prototype RFID
system and installed this prototype system at one location in the
laboratory. Also in Year 2 we upgraded this prototype system with a
multiplexer in order to read signals from multiple antennas. Currently
fine-grained localization in the house cannot be achieved due to the
limited deployment of the system.
Another goal of this task is to integrate the network of switches, relays,
RF transmitters, RF receivers, pressure sensors, and motion sensors so
that applications can be built that utilize the data in a coherent
fashion. The primary goal is to provide personalized service applications,
such as, monitoring of tagged objects in the home, child monitoring,
customized service and entertainment to the residents and security. Other
related goals include customized HVAC controls for energy efficiency,
monitoring of household utilities and fault detection and prevention. This
task will build on the accomplishments of Years 1 and 2.
3.3 Objective
The objective of this task
is to deploy a network of RFID systems that is able to distinguish signals
from a number of antennas strategically located throughout the house and
provides fine-grained localization information for tagged objects and
selects residents. In addition, the proposed system will identify and
track objects as they are moved around in the house, and store this
information in a database on a server. The database could be available to
other applications, such as wireless PDA’s or Internet based applications.
This task will develop:
1) A network of sensors & video monitoring integrated into the home
network and accessible via the Internet for remote monitoring
applications.
2) The capability to monitor and control the home environment through the
existing home wiring using communication protocols, such as X10 and C-Bus.
It will also deploy frameworks to enable extending the home environment
beyond home boundaries.
