Antenna-based “smart skin” sensors for sustainable, wireless sensor networks

This paper introduces antenna-based “smart skin” sensors that are integrated with RFIDs for wireless sensor networks. Furthermore, the paper shows wireless energy harvesting capabilities to enable battery-less, or sustainable, wireless sensor networks with “smart skin” sensor nodes. These sensors are highly applicable for industrial applications: carbon-nanotube-based gas sensor, pressure sensor, and strain sensor. The low-profile, flexible sensors can be attached to surfaces as a “smart skin” with various sensing capabilities. These antenna-based sensors have the unique property of having a dual function of sensing and communication within a single device, which thereby enables RFID functionality to be integrated. Utilizing wireless sensor networking, it is possible to increase range and area of sensing. All prototypes have been designed, fabricated, and measured, the results of which show high sensitivity.