Passive UHF RFID tag achieving read ranges comparable to Battery-Assisted Passive tags for containers, vessels, vehicles, and aircraft applications

Abstract

A new, high-gain, high-efficiency, long-range passive metamaterial UHF-RFID tag is proposed. Measuring 16.1 × 8.1 × 1.6 cm, it integrates a modified taper-shaped dipole antenna with the NXP UCODE 8 chip and an artificial magnetic conductor (AMC) structure shaped like a double open-end wrench. This cost-effective tag achieves read ranges comparable to those of battery-assisted passive (BAP) tags, up to 64.7 m in a shipping container at 918 MHz and 56.7 m in free space at 928 MHz. Theoretical analysis shows moderate agreement with experimental validation in an anechoic chamber and outdoors. The proposed tag addresses challenging scenarios, enabling previously unattainable passive RFID applications. It supports vessel detection in maritime environments, with potential uses in automated access control at bridges, gates, and locks in smart waterways and premier marinas. It also supports multivehicle detection, allowing applications, such as streamlining emergency services and smart city traffic management. Furthermore, its capability extends to smart hangar applications, such as automatic updates to pilots' electronic logbooks and aircraft supervision.