Ultra-miniature bluetooth tag with antenna on package for red palm weevil tracking

Abstract

Ultra-small tracking devices are necessary for monitoring small insects or pests such as Red Palm Weevil (RPW). Understanding movement and behavior of such pests is important because they create huge economic impact by destroying expensive crops. However, designing RF system and antenna mountable on such small insects is very challenging. Previously reported works in literature either have insufficient tracking range of few cm only; or are bulky (greater than 4cm); or are only capable of tracking one insect at a time. This paper reports a Bluetooth enabled ultra-miniature tracking tag which is detectable at a range of 78m and can be used to track multiple insects simultaneously. Presented tag uses a modified patch antenna-on-package design, and measures 6mm x 6mm x 3.5mm only.