Use of Radio Frequency Identifiers in Autonomous Mobility Systems
With a Focus on Safety
Keywords:
Autonomous mobility, RFID, traffic sign identification, redundant perception, intelligent transportation systemsAbstract
Autonomous mobility systems rely heavily on perception technologies to interpret road infrastructure and make driving decisions without human intervention. Among these technologies, camera-based traffic sign recognition systems are widely employed; however, their performance is significantly degraded under adverse conditions such as sign deterioration, partial occlusion, poor lighting, and vandalism. In countries with limited infrastructure maintenance, these conditions represent a critical safety risk. This work proposes and experimentally evaluates the use of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology as a redundant perception layer for traffic sign identification in autonomous mobility systems. Passive UHF RFID tags were integrated into traffic signs and detected using a vehicle-mounted reader system. The experimental evaluation was conducted in two stages: controlled bench tests and field tests in a real campus environment. Bench tests resulted in a mean recognition distance of 10.35 m with a 95 \% confidence interval of ±0.40 m, while field tests yielded a mean distance of 8.17 m with a confidence interval of ±1.05 m, influenced primarily by lateral sign offset and road geometry. All tagged signs positioned within the antenna’s effective coverage area were detected during dynamic tests conducted at speeds of up to 40 km/h. The results demonstrate reliable identification within a defined operational envelope, with recognition distances primarily influenced by lateral offset and road geometry, indicating that RFID-based perception is particularly suitable for controlled or semi-controlled environments.
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References
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