According to a report, an estimated 91 percent of marine species have yet to be classified, and about 80 percent of the ocean has yet to be seen by humans. This tells us how much ocean and underwater aquatic life is yet to be discovered. Despite significant approaches to exploring underwater flora and fauna, major discoveries of the deep sea have yet to be made. Researchers are now relying on technologies that enable them to investigate the unknown secrets of the deep secret sea. Underwater sensor technologies with IoT, RFID, etc. are widely used.
To tackle the situation of lost assets and equipment in the marine environment, efficient tracking technology like RFID can lead the way to a successful seamless experience in the diverse challenging environment.
Besides, there are countless offshore facilities that extract useful resources like crude oil and natural resources that need technological support like RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) in tracking essential components like buoys, underwater machinery, and diving equipment.
Let’s explore the role of RFID tracking in the aquatic environment and the potential challenges of deploying RFID in underwater scenarios.
RFID in Underwater Asset Tracking and Marine Life Research
Tracking of assets available underwater is crucial as the ocean bed is filled with assets like network pipelines, man-made ruins, and crucial resources. Numerous activities take place underwater like resource extraction, underwater research, and maritime exercises. Thus, it becomes crucial to deploy technology that helps in tracking and locating the essential assets in the maritime environment.
Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology has long been a cornerstone in logistics, inventory management, and security. However, deploying RFID systems underwater presents unique challenges, particularly in tracking marine life and managing submerged assets. As researchers and industries push for better solutions, innovations in underwater RFID systems are overcoming technical barriers and unlocking new possibilities for marine applications.
RFID technology at 125 kilohertz (LF RFID) enables data reception at a penetration depth of 0.61 decibels per meter, with a maximum reception probability of 100 percent between static nodes when an antenna is positioned one meter above sea level. In other words, it is suitable for data exchanges in expansive marine environments. While UHF RFID is prone to more signal interference, it can offer better efficiency when it comes to marine asset tracking.
Innovations that Drive Underwater RFID Technology
Despite the harsh environment that water presents for RFID technology, advanced innovation and techniques enable the effective leverage of the technology. A few advanced counteracts are presented here:
1. Advanced Materials for RFID Tags
New tag materials, including corrosion-resistant metals, flexible polymers, and biofouling-resistant coatings, are enhancing RFID durability underwater. Encapsulation techniques using special resins and nano-coatings further extend the operational lifespan of RFID tags in extreme marine environments.
2. Sensing with AI Integration
RFID systems are being integrated with AI-powered analytics, IoT (Internet of Things) networks, and sensor-based data collection. By combining RFID with varied sensors like temperature, pressure, and salinity sensors, scientists can gather more comprehensive environmental data while tracking marine species.
3. Diver and Drone-Assisted RFID Scanning
To overcome limited read range issues, divers and underwater drones equipped with RFID readers are being deployed. Autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) and remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) can scan large areas efficiently, enabling real-time data collection for marine research and asset tracking.
4. Energy Harvesting for Extended Battery Life of RFID Tags
Innovations in energy harvesting such as kinetic energy from water movement or solar-powered underwater nodes are improving the longevity of active RFID tags. This enables long-term deployment without frequent battery replacements, reducing maintenance efforts.
Top Applications of RFID in Underwater Tracking
RFID helps underwater research and rescue teams by providing accurate identification and tracking of assets and individuals. RFID can track a number of assets specifically in an underwater environment. Various applications of RFID like tracking marine life, asset management at large oil rigs, application in search operations, improving ocean study, and maintaining underwater historical artifacts are discussed below comprehensively.
1. Tracking of Marine Life with RFID Tags
RFID tags help researchers monitor the migration patterns, behaviors, and health of marine species. Unlike traditional tracking methods such as satellite tracking, RFID offers a more cost-effective, passive solution for species with predictable movement patterns. This induces the researchers with new facts and information that can be leveraged in further studies.
2. Asset Management at Oil Rigs with RFID Solution
The offshore oil rig is a domain that deals with heavy equipment and machinery to extract vital resources such as crude oil (petroleum) and natural gas. These resources are then transferred to onshore facilities for processing and distribution.
Offshore rigs extract a significant portion of global crude oil, accounting for nearly 30% of total global oil production in 2015, with more than 27 million barrels produced offshore in over 50 countries.
From offshore oil rigs to underwater pipelines and shipwrecks, RFID aids in asset identification, maintenance scheduling, and security. Companies successfully use RFID to track the location and condition of submerged equipment and machinery, reducing the risks of malfunction and optimizing operational efficiency.
3. Search and Rescue Operations with RFID Tagging
RFID technology supports underwater rescue missions greatly by enabling rapid identification of objects and personnel in diverse environments. RFID-tagged diving gear, underwater buoys, and emergency beacons can enhance response times during maritime emergencies.
4. Underwater Archaeology and Conservation
In archaeological research, RFID assists in cataloging submerged artifacts and monitoring protected sites. This helps preserve historical underwater structures like the ruins of Titanic while ensuring minimal environmental impact from research activities.
5. Improves ocean drift study
Ocean drift study is the study of the ocean streams which helps us identify where the shipwrecks will end up in the ocean. This helps us identify the location of the accumulation of oil spills that keep happening in the sea. From this vantage, we can find a pinpoint location of currents and ensure a clean ecosystem is maintained.
With RFID, the kinds of objects scientists can track become much more diverse. They can trace something as small as a pebble on a gravel beach, monitoring the path it follows and the distance it covers. This way, they can find better ways to mitigate coastal erosion.
Challenges in Deploying RFID Underwater
Many challenges come with the successful implementation of RFID in the underwater environment. One of the most crucial challenges is dealing with signal attenuation underwater.
Let’s discuss some of the potential challenges that the underwater scenario holds for RFID:
1. Signal Attenuation in Water
RFID mainly relies on radio waves to transmit data, but water especially water with the presence of salt significantly absorbs and weakens these signals. High-frequency RFID systems (Ultra-high frequency) that generally operate on 13.56 MHz struggle to function effectively underwater, thus forcing dependency on lower-frequency alternatives like HF (high frequency) and LF (low frequency), which have better penetration but reduced data transmission rates.
2. Limited Read Range
Compared to air-based RFID systems, underwater RFID experiences a dramatically reduced read range. While a UHF RFID system can operate at 100 meters in the air, the same technology may only achieve a few centimeters in saltwater. This necessitates proximity scanning, which is impractical for tracking fast-moving marine life or monitoring assets in vast aquatic environments. While LF RFID is more efficient and invites less interference, the read range is significantly limited.
3. Tag Durability and Biofouling
Tags used for underwater applications must withstand high pressure, salinity, and prolonged exposure to harsh conditions. Biofouling the accumulation of microorganisms, algae, and barnacles can degrade performance and interfere with signal transmission. Advanced materials and coatings are needed to mitigate this issue.
4. Energy Constraints and Battery Life
Passive RFID tags rely on external readers for power, but due to weak signals underwater, active RFID tags with onboard batteries are often required. However, maintaining battery life for extended deployments poses a challenge, particularly for long-term marine research projects and long underwater diving sessions. BLE beacons, which are also considered active RFID, can be used for underwater tracking of assets.
5. Data Transmission and Interference
Environmental factors such as water currents, suspended particles, and varying temperature gradients can cause signal distortion. Additionally, interference from natural electromagnetic sources such as underwater volcanic activity can further impact RFID performance.
To summarize, RFID technology is proving to be a game-changer in underwater asset management and marine research. With real-time tracking, efficient data collection, and improved equipment security, RFID is paving the way for more effective and sustainable ocean exploration. By addressing current challenges through cutting-edge solutions, RFID technology is set to play a vital role in enhancing our understanding of the underwater world while ensuring sustainable ocean resource management.
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