Cost-Effective Wireless Sensors for Detection of Package Opening and Tampering

Abstract

There is a need to develop a simple cost-effective approach for wireless detection of whether package is or was open en route during transportation. Existing approaches rely on electronic devices that need sensors with on-board and continuous power source for sensing and data logging. This paper presents three different battery-free, cost-effective, Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID)-based solutions for the detection of tampering or package opening. The first solution is for real-time opening detection. Opening or closing the package leads to unfolding or folding of the flexible-based antenna, which activates or deactivates the RFID tag. The second solution is for recording and memorizing package opening using a printed switch that shunts the antenna of the RFID tag. Opening causes a permanent disconnection of this switch activating the RFID. This change is irreversible; thus, the sensor memorizes the specific opening event without any additional electronic memory device. The third solution is for all-around package security using an RFID-based thread. Opening the package from any side allows changes in the radiation profile so the package condition can be wirelessly sensed. The approaches have been simulated and validated experimentally.

Head motion classification using thread-based sensor and machine learning algorithm

“…With their increasing popularity, thread-based sensors have been used as means for non-obtrusive data collection methods for sweat and respiration monitoring as well as for joint and finger motion detection [23][24][25] . Extrinsically coated sensor thread has been used for gas detection purposes 26 and electromagnetic devices like antennas [26][27][28] . Our group has developed a carbon-coated strain sensor and demonstrated its use in gait monitoring [20][21][22] .…”

Informative and corrective responsive packaging: Advances in farm‐to‐fork monitoring and remediation of food quality and safety

“…Lee et al, 2015). It is widely accepted that RFID technologies can be utilized in food supply chains to detect package opening or tampering (W. Wang et al, 2020), facilitate continuous traceability (Badia-Melis et al, 2018;Fan et al, 2019), and ensure food products' safety, particularly for perishable foods (Soltani Firouz et al, 2021;L. Wang et al, 2019).…”

“…RFID tags can record some vital information about foodstuff (e.g., origin, process parameters, and nutritional information) and its surrounding environment (e.g., temperature and humidity) (S. Y. Lee et al., 2015). It is widely accepted that RFID technologies can be utilized in food supply chains to detect package opening or tampering (W. Wang et al., 2020), facilitate continuous traceability (Badia‐Melis et al., 2018; Fan et al., 2019), and ensure food products' safety, particularly for perishable foods (Soltani Firouz et al., 2021; L. Wang et al., 2019).…”

“…Wang et al. (2020) presented three flexible RFID‐based methods for monitoring and identifying package opening and tampering since an improper opening of packaging may result in a detrimental effect on food products quality. Additionally, an RFID system was designed for automatically recording the movements of cheese during the production, maturing, storage, delivery, and retailing (Barge et al., 2014).…”

Warranty Seal Deformation Identification for Product Warranty Violation

“…There are existing sensors for multipurpose functions [1][2][3][4]. More specifically, temperature sensor [5,6], humid sensor [7,8], current sensor [9], strain sensor [10,11], and more.…”