Wireless Sensor Technologies in Food Industry: Applications and Trends

摘要

Wireless Sensors Networks (WSNs) have emerged as an exciting new computing technology in food industry, particularly with the proliferation in Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) technology providing advanced development of smart sensors. Such convergences of technologies which involve deploying self-contained sensor devices that sense and process data have opened up a revolution in the application domain of sensors in food industry. This includes the realization of more versatile systems in food industry regarding measurements, instrumentation and automation of functions. The vision of this technology is to develop a real time monitoring of in-door and outdoor environments. WSNs are deployed in various applications which enhance interaction between users and the physical environment. This has allowed physical environment in systems, such as in food industry, to be measured using a high resolution with the aim of increasing and monitoring the quantity and quality of real-time data and information collected for the applications. This paper reviews the application of wireless sensor technologies in food industry, looks into its application in real-time monitoring of food supply chain, food security and food intelligent packaging while discussing various challenges that should be addressed in order to push the technology further.