28 March 2012
Dual rfid ZigBee sensors enable nfc applications for Internet of Things
Wireless sensor network specialist, Libelium has announced the launch of a new rfid/nfc module for the Waspmote sensor platform.
According to Libelium, the new radio module extends Waspmote features allowing the sensor data to be used in location based services such as asset tracking, supply chain monitoring, intelligent shopping or access management.
The company claims that by using rfid/nfc passive sensors with ZigBee active sensors, asset tracking can be more accurate than ever along the whole supply chain process. Libelium adds that product management softwares, like ERPs, will have access in real time to information related to remaining stock, storage and transportation conditions, expiration dates and even consumer profiles.
Security applications, including access control, can also be covered with this technology as the Mifare rfid standard uses a 6 byte key to ensure maximum privacy and authentication requirements. The information given by the passive tags – such as cards, keyrings or stickers - is read by the rfid/nfc interface and then transmitted using the ZigBee radio to an Internet Gateway which will finally upload it to a Cloud server making it accessible everywhere. The identification data can also be sent to the Cloud directly using the Wifi radio which performs secure connections with the web servers.
Libelium's CTO, David Gascón, said: "Soon, we will scan products in the supermarket with our smartphones to check if they contain anything our family is allergic to and see nutritional information while our fridge will warn us about expiring dates and suggest shopping lists according to our preferences".
This RFID/NFC radio completes Waspmote connectivity - which already covers ZigBee, Wifi, Bluetooth and 3G/GPRS - making it compliant with any wireless technology in the market. "The new module is available in both 125KHz and 13.56MHz bands to ensure compatibility with previous rfid deployments," added Gascón.
An open source programming API and complete documentation with examples are provided in order to help developers to easily start working with the platform.
Author
Chris Shaw
Supporting Information
Websites
http://www.libelium.com/rfid_nfc_zigbee_sensors
Companies
Findlay Media Ltd
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