GE concocts battery-free RFID sensing platform, possibilities abound

Remember when RFID was the next big thing? When the world couldn't wait to have their luggage easily tracked at every airport? And when supply chain managers were all set to kick back and let these little tags do all the dirty work? Outside of a few exceptions, the wireless tags haven't really lived up to the hype thus far, but GE Global Research is doing its darnedest to change that by eliminating a few of the biggest drawbacks. Reportedly, the outfit has developed a battery-free RFID sensing platform -- one that can provide a highly selective response to multiple chemicals under variable conditions -- which could enable a "wide range of low-cost wireless sensing products in industries like healthcare, security, food packaging, etc." Put simply, the tags get their power from the sensor reader, which activates the tag's antenna and the RFID chip to collect meaningful data. There's no word on when these will leave the lab, but the sooner the better, we say.

[Via Gizmag]

[dhaarvi.blogspot.com @ Oct 16th 2008 5:24AM]

Technology are growing in Dramatic Phase

[why not the LS2LS7? @ Oct 15th 2008 1:21PM]

RFID is already battery-free in exactly this way.

What this does is instead of reading out a ROM value (like RFID does), it will return other data. But given RFID's proximity requirements and the fact that this circuit is unpowered all the rest of the time (preventing any kind of continuous monitoring and logging), I think the value of this is somewhat limited.

[cmonkey @ Oct 15th 2008 1:45PM]

While engadget certainly got their post wrong, GE actually is doing something new here. The key isn't that its passiver RFID, which has existed for eons, the key is that these RFID tags have built in environment sensors, like temperature, pH, toxicity, etc.

I imagine the point is that you could have one of these inside a package of meat or something, take an RFID reader up to it, and figure out if the meat has gone bad without having to open the package.

[dan @ Oct 15th 2008 3:16PM]

Haven't lived up to the hype? I disagree (http://www.boredomresearch.net/rsm/)

[james @ Oct 15th 2008 1:23PM]

"Put simply, the tags get their power from the sensor reader, which activates the tag's antenna and the RFID chip to collect meaningful data."
I was under the impression thats how rfid tags always worked

[Winterfreez @ Oct 16th 2008 1:12PM]

Ditto. I was under the impression that they have developed a reader that doesn't require a battery...

[james @ Oct 16th 2008 1:20PM]

oh I see, wasnt too clear from the blog on engadget. What they are saying is, you put the collector device near the rfid tag and as soon as the rfid tag is activated it is able to take readings, not just respond with a pre programed set of numbers, it gathers NEW data. amazing creation.

[loosely_coupled @ Oct 16th 2008 11:24PM]

thought the same thing...

[220v @ Oct 15th 2008 1:28PM]

wtf?

[Lowest Ranked @ Oct 15th 2008 1:29PM]

This is what made them great already. They've always been doing this.

[1989 @ Oct 15th 2008 1:30PM]

Hey engadget, 1989 called and wants this news story back...

[jabber @ Oct 15th 2008 1:40PM]

What did we tell you about talking about yourself in the third person, 1989?

[Matthew @ Oct 15th 2008 1:31PM]

You will want to probably just remove this story, because unfortunately it is not of value. As pointed out by the first two comments. "Passive" RFID has existed for years. Passive, by definition, does not have a in-built source of energy. Rather it uses the energy provided by the interrogator.

[seewright @ Oct 15th 2008 1:31PM]

I thought that's how they already worked, too. It's called a passive tag ( http://www.technovelgy.com/ct/Technology-Article.asp?ArtNum=47 ) ... what's the big deal, yo?

[StalematE @ Oct 15th 2008 1:32PM]

i'd track a penny with it.

[smakdown61 @ Oct 15th 2008 1:36PM]

Unless something important has been left out of the article, this technology has existed for a while. It's called a passive rfid tag.

[Johan S @ Oct 15th 2008 1:39PM]

They already left the lab, but then we lost track of where it went.

[lee @ Oct 15th 2008 1:41PM]

RFID is a blanket term for something that has been around for a long time. Initially it was all active tagging, like for tracking animals and stuff. These devices required batteries and could transmit long distances. However when we really started to hear about rfid is when they became passive. At the cost of shorter transmission lengths (sorry Tesla no useful wireless power), passive rfid devices do not require an internal power source and instead use the field received by the antenna to charge an inductance loop that then discharges through some ic containing the tags id, which is then retransmitted with the remaining power. Additionally the IC can do some meaningful work (ie calculate random hops to avoid transmit intersection with adjacent devices). GE appears to be using MEMs and other environmentally aware devices onto the rfid to allow for monitoring. This is very useful as it allows for passive devices to be placed in remote locations to be accessed more easily at any time.

[stan @ Oct 15th 2008 4:17PM]

My impression from the full story is that the sensing capability, not the freedom from batteries is the real innovation. It seems the detection of chemicals is the big deal, for example detecting the chemicals that appear in spoiled food. Not knowing a lot about RFID, this could be old news as well.

[Gridneo @ Oct 15th 2008 1:57PM]

Um. Either way, let's talk about RFID security. How about developing RFIDs with capabilities for longer/stronger keys? Or we could all be Elvis Presley.

[GreezyG @ Oct 15th 2008 2:02PM]

will this r.f.i.d. be able to penetrate my tinfoil underwear?!

[Wwhat @ Oct 15th 2008 2:15PM]

They are in fact developing RFID tags that can't be blocked by metal (unfortunately), not sure how far it is from production.

[jesus @ Oct 15th 2008 2:13PM]

i think i already have one of these revolutionary devices in my credit card. and my ez-pass. and my library book.

[Wwhat @ Oct 15th 2008 2:17PM]

Yeah what I need is some over-the-counter availability of metal-woven cloth and clothes.

[Wwhat @ Oct 15th 2008 2:17PM]

And carrying bags obviously.

[dg @ Oct 15th 2008 2:31PM]

Now, I'm no RFID-scientist, but isn't this exactly what most RFID chips already do? It's called Passive-RFID. Please explain the significant difference.

[bill @ Oct 15th 2008 3:37PM]

This is not just RFID it also sends along a chemical sensing signal with it's ID. Yes, RFID is old stuff but adding chemical sensing to it is new stuff.

[KevinT @ Oct 15th 2008 3:59PM]

Busted for drugs at the airport by my own passport. Oh the humanity!

[Todd @ Oct 15th 2008 5:10PM]

What GE has done is diffferent. We have developed a sensor that is battery-free, but that also is highly selective in being able to detect multiple chemicals under variable conditions. For more intelligence on this, check out GE's blog at www.grcblog.com. The lead scientist on the RFID sensor project blogs about this development in more detail.