Topology Optimization of Passive UHF RFID Systems for Constrained Environments
Keywords:
Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), Ultra-High Frequency (UHF), reading rate, reading range, physical topology configuration, optimization algorithmAbstract
Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), a remote identification and localization technology, utilizes electromagnetic and magnetic field properties and signal processing. However, this technology suffers from sensitivity issues such as the presence of liquid and metal, object movement, and collision, that negatively affect its reading rate. To address this complex problem, we first demonstrate the strong relationship between the physical RFID topology configuration and its reading rate, based on fundamental principles. Subsequently, we developed an application that determines the best possible reading rate in a hostile environment—where all RFID constraints are present—by optimizing the physical topology configuration. For this purpose, we used the simulated annealing algorithm as an optimization technique. These algorithms are structured methods implemented in programming languages to solve complex problems by maximizing or minimizing an objective function under specific constraints. The results are promising: the algorithm converged three times to the same optimal solution within a single run; it required 48.5% of total iterations to find this configuration, which achieved a reading rate of 42.5% in a hostile environment. This optimal rate is considered satisfactory, especially when compared to the initial configuration's reading rate of approximately 7.5% under the same conditions.
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