TLDR¶

• Core Points: A team of four Japanese organizations has advanced battery-free RFID technology, enabling continuous data streaming via the ISO/IEC 18000-65 standard, building on ISO/IEC 18000-63.

• Main Content: The development supports item management and identification through radio frequency without extra power sources, expanding RFID sensor capabilities.

• Key Insights: The new standard formalizes a battery-free, data-streaming method for RFID sensors, potentially broadening deployment in logistics, manufacturing, and asset tracking.

• Considerations: Adoption will depend on interoperability with existing RFID infrastructure, cost, and ensuring reliable long-range streaming in varied environments.

• Recommended Actions: Stakeholders should evaluate compatibility with current systems, pilot battery-free sensors in constrained environments, and monitor standardization progress and industry uptake.

Content Overview¶

Radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology has long powered devices and sensors through dedicated power sources or energy harvesting mechanisms, enabling these tags to assist with item tracking, inventory management, and real-time monitoring. A recent advancement, announced by four Japanese organizations, introduces a battery-free approach to RFID sensors that can stream continuous data without relying on additional power sources. This achievement is codified in the ISO/IEC 18000-65 standard, which extends the framework established by the ISO/IEC 18000-63 standard to enable new capabilities in wireless communication for item management and identification.

The broader context is that RFID systems typically consist of tags, readers, and a backend system. Traditional active devices carry their own power sources, while passive RFID tags rely on energy harvested from the reader’s radio waves to power their communication. The new standard focuses on sensors that can continuously deliver data streams without an onboard battery, leveraging the energy and signaling protocols defined in the ISO/IEC 18000 family. By formalizing this approach, the standard aims to improve reliability, interoperability, and scalability for industrial applications where battery maintenance would be impractical or costly.

The move is timely given the growing demand for real-time asset monitoring in sectors such as manufacturing, logistics, and healthcare. Battery-free RFID sensors can, in principle, enable longer-lived deployments with lower maintenance requirements, provided that the data transmission can be sustained under varying environmental conditions and reader density. The standard’s emphasis on continuous data streaming suggests that these sensors are capable of delivering ongoing measurements—such as temperature, humidity, position, or structural health indicators—without requiring frequent battery replacements or recharging cycles.

This development also reflects a broader trend in the Internet of Things (IoT) space: the push toward ultra-low-power, maintenance-free sensing technologies that can be deployed at scale. By aligning with established ISO/IEC standards, the battery-free approach gains legitimacy and is more likely to be adopted by industries that require rigorous certification processes and interoperability across suppliers and regions.

In-Depth Analysis¶

The ISO/IEC 18000-65 standard represents a formal specification for extending RFID systems into battery-free, continuously streaming sensor applications. The foundational ISO/IEC 18000-63 standard established a baseline for radio frequency identification communication, including the air-interface and encoding schemes used by readers and tags. ISO/IEC 18000-65 builds on that foundation by addressing how sensors attached to RFID tags can operate without their own power reservoirs while maintaining a reliable data stream to the reader.

Key technical considerations include energy transfer and utilization, data encoding, timing constraints, and error handling in a no-battery energy environment. In battery-free RFID sensors, energy must be harvested from the reader’s signal to both power the sensor electronics and modulate sensor data back to the reader. Achieving continuous streaming requires efficient energy management, low-power sensor operation, and robust communication protocols that can tolerate fluctuations in reader power, distance, and environmental interference.

Interoperability is a central motivation for standardization. By defining a common air interface and sensor communication approach, ISO/IEC 18000-65 aims to reduce fragmentation in the market, enabling devices from different manufacturers to operate within the same system. This is particularly important for large-scale deployments where interoperability can lower total cost of ownership and simplify maintenance.

The four Japanese organizations behind this development likely contributed complementary capabilities, such as sensor integration, radio-frequency (RF) front-end design, software for data extraction, and testing infrastructure to validate performance against the ISO/IEC 18000-65 requirements. While specific organizational names are not provided here, collaboration among academia, industry, and standards bodies is a common model for advancing such technologies.

From an applications standpoint, battery-free RFID sensors with continuous data streaming can transform asset management in environments where battery maintenance is expensive or impractical. For example, in cold-chain logistics, battery-free temperature and humidity sensors could provide real-time environmental data without requiring battery replacements, thereby reducing waste and improving traceability. In manufacturing, continuous sensing could enable real-time condition monitoring of equipment, offering early warning signals for maintenance and reducing downtime. In healthcare, sterile environments often require meticulous power management; battery-free sensors could enable passive monitoring of equipment or supplies without introducing additional power sources or replacement needs.

However, several challenges accompany this technology. The reliability of continuous streaming in harsh or densely populated RF environments remains a critical concern. RF interference, multipath propagation, and reader saturation can impact data integrity and timely delivery of sensor information. The range at which battery-free sensors can operate with sufficient energy harvest is another practical limit; as distance increases, the available power harvested from the reader diminishes, potentially affecting the sensor’s ability to measure and transmit data consistently.

Cost is another factor. While eliminating batteries reduces replacement costs and waste, the overall system cost—including readers capable of delivering the required power and processing the data on the backend—must be favorable for large-scale adoption. The standards-based approach helps by enabling equipment from multiple vendors to interoperate, but market adoption will hinge on demonstrated total cost of ownership advantages.

*圖片來源：Unsplash*

Beyond the technical and economic considerations, privacy and security considerations are essential in any RFID-related deployment. As battery-free sensors stream data that may include environmental conditions or asset data, measures to secure communications, authenticate readers and tags, and protect data integrity will be important. Standards bodies typically address some security aspects, but practical implementation often requires additional layers of encryption, access controls, and secure backend integration.

Perspectives and Impact¶

The unveiling of ISO/IEC 18000-65 could alter the trajectory of RFID sensor deployments by enabling new use cases that were previously constrained by power constraints. For industries that routinely handle a large volume of goods, the ability to monitor environmental and condition data continuously without battery maintenance could lead to more efficient supply chains, reduced spoilage, and improved asset utilization.

From a manufacturing perspective, the standardization of battery-free streaming could support predictive maintenance strategies that rely on continuous sensor input from critical equipment. This, in turn, could extend machinery life, reduce unexpected downtime, and enhance safety by providing real-time operational data to control systems and maintenance personnel.

In logistics and warehousing, continuous data streaming from battery-free RFID sensors could improve inventory accuracy and environmental monitoring during storage and transit. For cold-chain applications, precise, ongoing temperature tracking can help verify compliance with regulatory requirements and protect product quality. In asset-heavy industries like construction or energy, battery-free sensors embedded in infrastructure could provide ongoing health monitoring without the logistical burden of battery management.

Adoption of the standard will likely unfold in phases, beginning with proof-of-concept demonstrations and pilot deployments that target specific use cases where the benefits are most pronounced. Early pilots may focus on environments with controlled RF conditions or where the cost of battery maintenance is highest, such as long-term cold-chain monitoring or remote asset tracking. Over time, as the technology matures and reader infrastructure expands, broader deployments could become viable.

The standard’s impact may also extend to environmental sustainability. Reducing or eliminating disposable batteries for sensor nodes could lessen hazardous waste, contributing to corporate sustainability goals and regulatory compliance in regions with strict environmental standards. In addition, battery-free sensors can be designed for longer lifespans, further extending their utility in hard-to-reach or hazardous environments where battery replacement would pose safety risks.

Internationally, the ISO/IEC framework provides a harmonized baseline that helps manufacturers design interoperable products for global markets. This can accelerate cross-border deployment of battery-free RFID solutions, aligning with supply chain digitalization efforts and the broader push toward standardized IoT ecosystems. Nevertheless, the pace of adoption will be influenced by regional standards adherence, certification processes, and the presence of compatible hardware ecosystems in each market.

Looking ahead, ongoing research and development are likely to explore improvements in energy harvesting efficiency, sensor sensitivity, data throughput, and security protocols. Advances in materials science, low-power electronics, and RF design could expand the practical limits of battery-free streaming, enabling longer read ranges and higher data resolution. Partnerships between manufacturers, system integrators, and standards bodies will be crucial to translating the standard into deployable products and scalable solutions.

Key Takeaways¶

Main Points:
– ISO/IEC 18000-65 formalizes battery-free RFID sensors capable of continuous data streaming, expanding the ISO/IEC 18000 family.
– The standard builds on ISO/IEC 18000-63 to address continuous sensor data transmission without onboard power sources.
– Potential applications span logistics, manufacturing, healthcare, and environmental monitoring, with sustainability benefits.

Areas of Concern:
– Real-world reliability in noisy or highly dense RF environments.
– Cost competitiveness compared with battery-powered or energy-harvesting alternatives.
– Security and privacy considerations for continuous data streams.

Summary and Recommendations¶

The development of the ISO/IEC 18000-65 standard marks a significant milestone in RFID technology, enabling battery-free sensors to stream continuous data without the need for internal power sources. By formalizing the interface and communication protocols for continuous sensor data, the standard provides a pathway for interoperable, scalable deployments across diverse industries. This can unlock opportunities to improve asset tracking, environmental monitoring, and predictive maintenance while reducing maintenance burdens and environmental impact associated with batteries.

For organizations considering adoption, a structured approach is advisable:
– Assess compatibility: Review current RFID infrastructure and determine how battery-free sensors would integrate with existing readers and backend systems under ISO/IEC 18000-65.
– Pilot targeted use cases: Start with high-value or hard-to-maintain assets (e.g., cold-chain goods, remote equipment) to realize measurable benefits.
– Evaluate total cost of ownership: Compare life-cycle costs, including reader investments, maintenance, and potential efficiency gains, against traditional battery-powered solutions.
– Plan for security: Implement robust authentication, encryption, and data integrity measures to protect continuous data streams.
– Monitor developments: Stay informed about industry progress, vendor ecosystems, and certification processes related to the standard.

If these steps are pursued thoughtfully, organizations can harness the advantages of battery-free RFID sensors while ensuring interoperability and security within standardized architectures.

References¶

• Original: https://www.techspot.com/news/111359-new-iso-standard-enables-battery-free-rfid-sensors.html
• Additional references:
• ISO/IEC 18000-65 standard documentation and related RFID technology resources
• Industry analyses on battery-free RFID sensors and energy harvesting in RFID systems
• White papers on continuous data streaming in passive RFID sensor networks

*圖片來源：Unsplash*