RoSe: A sub-GHz wireless sensor platform with housing integrated overmolded antenna

A wireless sensor platform for use in ultralow-power wireless sensor networks (WSNs) is presented. The proposed round sensor (RoSe) node is physically robust, is resistant to humidity, and has a housing that can be in direct contact with food. These characteristics are achieved via injection molding technology which is investigated at both the component and the system levels. The results of injection molding tests on the node's electronic components are reported, while a housing-integrated overmolded antenna is conceived and realized. The radiator, operating in the subgigahertz industrial, scientific, and medical (ISM) band (ISM 868 or 915 MHz), has been characterized, and a good correspondence with theoretical predictions is observed. The proposed system enables industrialized mass production and results in a generic platform for wireless monitoring applications. In this paper, we present the RoSe node with a temperature sensor for use in food cold chain management, i.e., for use at temperatures down to -30 °C and in frequent contact with water due to condensation or cleaning. Its ultralow-power characteristics are demonstrated by the analysis of the charge consumption when the node performs specific tasks both in a test case and operating in a WSN. Long-term battery lifetime results while running a demo WSN are also presented.