A flexible tag combining RFID and sensor technology developed by Europe’s Catrene-Pasteur project could drastically cut food wastage. The tag attaches to bulk transportation containers and provides continuously updated data on how long the food they contain will stay fresh. According to news reports, this could help food distributors cut the amount of food spoiled before it reaches to the shops. The monitoring system integrates an RFID chip, microcontroller and sensor IC into a flexible tag. Researchers from Holst Centre and Imec played a role in integrating the ICs into the flexible tag. This involved developing new low-temperature encapsulation techniques that wouldn’t damage the low-cost plastic substrate used in the tag. To integrate the sensor IC the team developed a new process that protects most of the chip but leaves the sensing area exposed to make measurements. This process attaches the IC to the encapsulation material using an adhesive conductive film that is then machined to the required size and shape using lasers. This technique ensures the sensing area is left uncontaminated. Further models for food quality prediction are being developed based on available sensor data and will be translated into algorithms that can be implemented on the smart sensor tag.
