TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INSTRUMENTATION AND TESTING - Preferred Components: (I) further comprises: an information storage device operatively connected to either or both the fuel cell and the controller; and an information communication link connecting the controller and the information storage device. The information storage device comprises a memory chip or an electrically EPROM (EEPROM). The information storage device comprises a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, and further comprises an RFID reader station disposed in proximity to the RFID tag. The sensor is hard-wired to the RFID tag to form a RFID package (where sensors transmit data to the RFID tag). The RFID package is: suspended within the fuel, or disposed on a surface of the fuel supply.The RFID tag reader station is disposed on the fuel supply or fuel cell. The sensor communication link comprises an electrical conduit, a radio frequency transmission and/or magnetic induction. The sensors comprise a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, a timing circuit, a strain gauge, a fuel gauge, a piezoelectric sensor, force sensor and/or an accelerometer. The fuel gauge comprises a thermistor, a thermocouple and/or an inductive sensor. The sensors are located on a chip. The sensors are removably insertable into the fuel supply. The sensors are located within or on a fuel supply housing. (I) further comprises a light source operatively connected to the controller; and at least one photodetector operatively connected to the controller, where the sensors are optical sensors. The optical sensors comprise interferometers, Michelson sensors and/or Fabry-Perot sensors. The RFID tag is suspended within the fuel or affixed to a surface of the container that comprises a metal material. The RFID tag is separated from the surface of the container by a minimum distance of about 5 mm. The RFID tag is separated from the surface of the container by an insulating material (ferrite).Preferred Method: The method for monitoring a condition of a fuel supply further comprises: relaying the information from the sensor to a controller; and storing the information in an information storage device, where the plurality of sensors is located in the fuel supply and the information storage device is located remotely from the fuel supply. The step of collecting data regarding at least one condition of the fuel supply further comprises: collecting information from an RFID tag operatively connected to at least one sensor; interrogating the RFID tag; and transferring data from the RFID tag to the controller (where the transferring of data occurs upon initial connection of the fuel supply and the controller; and the data (software) comprises calibration tables). The method for monitoring a condition of a fuel supply further comprises: interrogating the sensors; comparing the data collected from the sensors to control data; and altering a system parameter based upon differences between the collected data and the control data (where the system parameter comprises a fuel pumping rate, a state of a bleed-off valve and/or a fuel level monitor).    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - POLYMERS - Preferred Materials: The RFID tag is: operatively coupled to additional memory for storing the data, or encased in a material (preferably at least one of silicone oxide, xylylene, polyethylene terephthalate, silicon coated polyethylene terephthalatepolyvinyl alcohol, ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH), EVOH bonded to a polyester substrate, polyvinylidene chloride copolymers (Saran (RTM)), nylon resins, fluoropolymers, polyacrylonitrile, polyethylene naphthalate, poly(trimethlylene terephthalate), resorcinol copolymers, liquid crystal polymers, aliphatic polyketones, polyurethane or polyimide, or their blends or copolymers) inert to a fuel.