Wireless sensor prototype platform

This paper presents the design and performance measurements of a wireless sensor prototype platform (UbiSensor). UbiSensor combines techniques used in wireless microsensors and radio frequency identification (RFID) resulting a wireless sensor having sensing, data processing, network protocol execution, and energy scavenging capabilities. The platform design is driven by energy consumption minimization of given tasks. A commercially available microcontroller, low power RF transceiver, and power generator circuits are used. The measurements indicate 430 μW power consumption in typical operating conditions, using 1 Hz sample and transmit rate, which can be scavenged by a 29 mm² sized solar cell or using a transponder interface circuit in a near proximity to a RFID reader. UbiSensor performance results are promising, but further research is required.