Thursday, November 19
9:00 am - 10:30 am
Diaper Wetness Detection Using Low-cost Hydrogel-Based RFID Tags
Embedding low-cost, wearable sensors in disposable diapers provides an opportunity for the automated monitoring of infants, the elderly, disabled individuals, and hospital patients, a class of population that may not be able to communicate distress or discomfort. Timely notification of insult events can enhance the care of this population by improving incontinence management, preventing rashes and infections, and avoiding embarrassment. Through this research, the team has developed a UHF RFID based sensor that utilizes super absorbent hydrogel (SAP), a material conventionally found in diaper construction, for the dual purpose of moisture sensing and as an antenna element for wireless communication. Adapting the SAP for both sensing and communication keeps the sensor costs low and amenable for easy integration in the diaper manufacturing process. The sensor has been characterized for smallest baby diaper geometry, with an ability to be extended to adult diapers too. It is demonstrated that the sensor design works reliably and repeatably, achieves a read range of > 1 m, a bend radius of < 20 mm and works in different body positions.
ยป Rahul Bhattacharyya, Ph.D.
Research Scientist, MIT
BIOGRAPHY
Rahul Bhattacharyya is a Research Scientist at the MIT Auto-ID Laboratory. He obtained a Bachelors and Masters Integrated Dual Degree in Civil Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay in 2006 and a Ph.D. in Systems Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2012. His research interests broadly encompass the development and integration of technologies that form the framework for the Internet of Things. He is particularly interested in low-cost, pervasive wireless sensor design using smart materials and novel antenna designs and predictive analytics for fault detection using machine-learning techniques. Rahul has served various roles on the organizing committee of the IEEE International Conference on RFID 2010-15 and was technical program co-chair of the 4th International Conference on the Internet of Things. He currently holds membership of the IEEE and the International Society for Structural Health Monitoring of Intelligent Infrastructure.
