RFID Channel |
RFID Introduction
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Since a couple of years ago, news reports on RFID technology have been emerging on all kinds of media. RFID - a technology with several decades' history, is now of international interest. Businesses and governments are making their efforts as the revolution of RFID begins, from chain store giant - Wal-Mart to IT industry (IBM, HP and Microsoft etc.), from United States Department of Defense (DoD) to Standardization Administration of China (SAC).
l What is RFID?
n RFID stands for Radio Frequency Identification.
l What is RFID technology?
n The term RFID describes the use of radio frequency signals to provide automatic identification of items. RFID is a flexible technology that is convenient, easy to use, and well-suited for automatic operation. It combines advantages not available with other identification technologies. RFID can be supplied as read-only or read/write, does not require contact or line-of-sight to operate, can function under a variety of environmental conditions, and provides a high level of data integrity. In addition, because the technology is difficult to counterfeit, RFID provides a high level of security. RFID is similar in concept to bar coding. Bar code systems use a reader and coded labels that are attached to an item, whereas RFID uses a reader and special RFID devices that are attached to an item. Bar code uses optical signals to transfer information from the label to the reader; RFID uses RF signals to transfer information from the RFID device to the reader. Radio waves transfer data between an item to which an RFID device is attached and an RFID reader. The device can contain data about the item, such as what the item is, what time the device traveled through a certain zone, perhaps even a parameter such as temperature. RFID devices, such as a tag or label, can be attached to virtually anything - from a vehicle to a pallet of merchandise.
l What are the components of a typical RFID system?
RFID technology uses frequencies within the range of 50 kHz to 2.5 GHz. An RFID system typically includes the following components:
n an RFID device (transponder or tag) that contains data about an item
n an antenna used to transmit the RF signals between the reader and the RFID device
n an RF transceiver that generates the RF signals
n a reader that receives RF transmissions from an RFID device and passes the data to a host system for processing
n In addition to this basic RFID equipment, an RFID system includes application-specific software.
l How does an RFID system work?
n There are two kinds of RFID tags: an RFID device that actively transmits to a reader is termed an "active" tag; an RFID device that only reflects or backscatters transmission from a reader is termed "passive." Radio waves are used to transfer data between the RFID tag (transponder) and the read/write device (interrogator), which are tuned to the same frequency. The interrogator sends out a signal, which is received by all tags tuned to that frequency that are present in the RF field. Tags receive the signal with their antennas, and selected tags respond by transmitting their stored data. The tag can hold many types of data about the item, such as its serial number, configuration instructions, what time the item traveled through a certain zone, even temperature and other data provided by sensors. The read/write device receives the tag signal with its antenna, decodes it and transfers the data to the host computer system.
l What makes retailers are so enthusiastic about RFID?
Estimated benefits for Wal-Mart when RFID technology is deployed throughout its operations:
n $6.7 Billion: Eliminating the need to have people scan bar codes on pallets and cases in the supply chain and on items in the store reduces labor costs by 15 percent.
n $600 Million: Even with the most efficient supply chain on earth, Wal-Mart suffers out-of-stocks. The company boosts its bottom line by using smart shelves to monitor on-shelf availability.
n $575 Million: Knowing where products are at all times makes it harder for employees to steal goods from warehouses. Scanning products automatically reduces administrative error and vendor fraud.
n $300 Million: Better tracking of the more than 1 billion pallets and cases that move through its distribution centers each year produces significant savings.
n $180 Million: Improved visibility of what products are in the supply chain-in its own distribution centers and its suppliers' warehouses-lets Wal-Mart reduce its inventory and the annual cost of carrying that inventory.
l What are the typical applications of RFID?
RFID is used in applications such as:
n logistics and supply chain management
n manufacturing and assembling
n electronic toll collection (ETC )
n railway car identification and tracking
n intermodal container identification
n airport luggage processing
n mail/parcel handling
n asset identification and tracking
n item management for retail, health care, and logistics applications
n access control
n animal identification
n fuel dispensing loyalty programs
n automobile immobilizing (security)
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