Path-loss model of embroidered passive RFID tag on human body for indoor positioning applications

This paper presents a novel method for accurate indoor localization, utilizing the embroidered passive Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags. The feasibility of RFID tags for positioning and localization applications is studied here and a comparison to WLAN system is done. An indoor localization system based on the received signal strength (RSS) measurement requires the determination of the suitable path-loss model of the measurement environment for creating a low complexity positioning estimators. In this paper the path-loss model and its parameters, using an embroidered passive RFID tag is introduced. The backscattered power measurement of the embroidered passive tag on human body, for certain measurement points, in indoor environment, is performed. The path-loss model is calculated utilizing the collected RSS data and deconvolution approaches. We show that the RFID RSS values are slightly more stable than the WLAN RSS values (i.e., lower shadowing variance) and that the two-parameter path-loss models are suitable to characterize the RFID RSS fluctuations.