Surface-Embedded Passive RF Exteroception: Kepler, Greed, and Buffon's Needle

Surface-embedded passive radio frequency (PRF) exteroception is a method whereby an action to be executed by a mobile unit is selected through a signal received from a surface-embedded external passive RFID transponder. This paper describes how Kepler’s hexagonal packing pattern is used to embed passive RFID transponders into a carpet to create PRF surfaces. Proof-of-concepts experiments are presented that show how such surfaces enable mobile robots to reliably accomplish point-to-point navigation indoors and outdoors. Two greedy algorithms are presented for automated design of PRF surfaces. A theoretical extension of the classic Buffon’s Needle problem from computational geometry is presented as a possible way to optimize the packing of RF transponders on a surface.

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2007
• Where: UIC
• Authors: Vladimir A. Kulyukin, Aliasgar Kutiyanawala, Minghui Jiang
• Keywords: Applied Computing, External Passive Rfid, Passive Rfid Transponders, PRF Surfaces, UIC 2007