The processing of backscattered signals coming from RFID tags is potentially useful to detect the physical state of the tagged object. It is here shown how to design a completely passive UHF RFID sensor for strain monitoring starting from a flexible meander-line dipole whose shape factor and feed section are engineered to achieve the desired sensing resolution and dynamic range. This class of devices is low-cost, promises sub-millimeter resolution and may found interesting applications in the Structural Health Monitoring of damaged structures and vehicles as well as during extreme and adverse events.

A slotted patch is transformed into a wireless passive UHF-RFID sensor of uni-dimensional displacements by introducing a mechanic-electromagnetic modulation capable to convert sub-millimeter deformations into changes of the antenna's response, remotely detectable. A design methodology allows to obtain the desired sensitivity and dynamic range in a fully controllable way. The sensor and the methodology are discussed through the help of preliminary laboratory experimentations on a concrete brick, showing the possibility to achieve resolutions better than 0.1 mm with low cost readers.