TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER OPPORTUNITY: Hyper-Distributed RFID Antenna (HYDRA) System (MSC-TOPS-111)

NASA’s Technology Transfer Program solicits inquiries from companies interested in obtaining license rights to commercialize, manufacture and market the following technology. License rights may be issued on an exclusive or nonexclusive basis and may include specific fields of use. NASA provides no funding in conjunction with these potential licenses.

THE TECHNOLOGY: Innovators at NASA Johnson Space Center have developed a method and apparatus to multiplex Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) signals efficiently. The resulting Hyper-Distributed RFID Antenna (HYDRA) system enhances distribution of the RFID reader signal, providing improved coverage for large areas as well as for small, fixed regions requiring a high density of reader antennas.

This greater coverage translates into better RFID sensing capabilities, higher localization accuracy, and enhanced logistics awareness. Many conventional RFID applications require adding more readers and antennas to increase coverage in existing areas and to improve localization. Employing conventional multiplexer switches can reduce the need for additional readers but require additional control and power cabling.

Both conventional options will increase mass, size, and cost of the overall infrastructure to improve sensing performance. The HYDRA system, which uses microprocessor-based low-mass multiplexers, reduces the need for additional readers and cabling over the conventional prior art, and it operates with smaller-sized antennas.

As a result, the advantages of the HYDRA system include the ability to transmit data at low power, improve coverage performance, increased capability to localize RFID tags, along with reduced cost, complexity, and mass.

To express interest in this opportunity, please submit a license application through NASA’s Automated Technology Licensing Application System (ATLAS) by visiting https://technology.nasa.gov/patent/MSC-TOPS-111 If you have any questions, please e-mail NASA’s Technology Transfer Program at Agency-Patent-Licensing@mail.nasa.gov with the title of this Technology Transfer Opportunity as listed in this SAM.gov notice and your preferred contact information.

For more information about licensing other NASA-developed technologies, please visit the NASA Technology Transfer Portal at https://technology.nasa.gov/ These responses are provided to members of NASA’s Technology Transfer Program for the purpose of promoting public awareness of NASA-developed technology products, and conducting preliminary market research to determine public interest in and potential for future licensing opportunities. No follow-on procurement is expected to result from responses to this Notice.