RFIDRadio Frequency Identification

Groups 23 & 24

What is it?Radio frequency identificationSmall electronic device consisting of a

microchip or antenna containing up to 2 KB of data

Equivalent to a bar code, magnet on a credit card, or an ATM card

Must be scanned for information to be obtained

More efficient than bar codesMay work efficiently up to 20 feetSource: www.technovelgy.com

RFID CLIPhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Zj7txoDxbE

How it Works?RFID tags receive and send information through the

use of radio waves.The data collected from the tags is passed through

wireless networks to the main computer network.The RFID tag is programmed with informationIt uses an antenna of which puts out a radio-

frequency signalsLife span of RFID is extremely long(Decades)due to

the use of no batteriesRFID takes 100 milliseconds to read

www.technovolgy.com www.Zebra.com

History of RFIDRFID technology has been around for over 50

yearsIt’s been too expensive and too limited to be

practical for many commercial applications.In the 1970’s developers, inventors ,

companies, academic institutions, and government laboratories were actively working on RFID, and notable advances.

The 1980’s marked the time when RFID started to be implemented for use in transportation, personnel accesses, and animals.

www.transcore.com

RFID Until Now There are two main reasons why RFID technology has

been overshadowed by other technologiesFirst reason is most companies want to use UHF (Ultra

High Frequency) technology because it offers a longer read range UHF technology is a relatively new technology

Second reason is the issue of cost, RFID readers use to cost around $1,000+, and each product item needed an ID tag

Companies would need thousands of readers to cover all of their factories, warehouses, and stores

So the practicality for using RFID was irrelevant since the cost was greater than the return

www.rfidjournal.com

RFID Tags Vs. Bar CodesBoth are different technologies and different

applications, which can overlapRFID tags do not require a line of sight to be read, but

are read as long as they are within range of the readerA down fall they do have is that if an item is ripped or

soiled it is unreadableThis technology could be used to speed up self service

lanes at retail stores and to reduce theft as wellRFID tags will coexist with bar codes for years to come

because bar codes are inexpensive and easy to usewww.rfidjournal.com

RFID TagsEach tag has a microchip that can store a unique

serial number for any specific product manufacturerIf they can be made cheap, it can solve many

problems with bar codesRadio waves can travel through most nonmetallic

materials so the RFID tag can be placed inside the package for durability and protection from weather

RFID tags were fairly expensive (20 cents each) the price has been reduced to 5 cents today and will continue to drop

www.rfidjournal.com

RFID Reader Information The reader simply reads the serial number in

the RFID tags It can operate at different frequencies …

Low frequency ( less than a foot)High frequency ( within 3 feet)Ultra high frequency ( within 20 feet)With the help of batteries it can be read from a

distance of 300 feetThe reader is the medium between the RFID

tag and the main computer systemwww.rfidjournal.com

AdvantagesInventory Efficiency – because line of sight is not

required to read RFID tags, inventory can be performed in a highly efficient method

Return on investment- Though the cost may be high at the initial setup, the total cost of ownership will go down over the years and provide a ROI

Cuts down time spent on scanning items at checkout

RFID is able to track every item since each item has its own specific serial number

www.idautomation.com

Disadvantages Is expensive compared to the Bar Code, due to the embedding

of electronic components in the tag. However, with advanced techniques it is possible to reduce the size, and the weight of the tags

Security Concerns – Because RFID is not a line of sight technology like bar-coding, new security problems could develop.

High cost - Because this technology is new, the components and tags are expensive compared to barcodes. In addition, software and personnel support are needed to install and operate the RFID reading systems (in a warehouse for example) may be more costly to employ.

www.idautomation.com

What Can RFID Be Used For?• A chip the size of a grain of rice can be placed under the skin of a dog to track it if its lost• Anti theft tags on clothing prevent stolen goods•Some shipping companies

use RFID to keep track of large shipping containers and equipment•RFID allows for IPASS to pay tolls at highway speeds

Uses In IndustryThere are three main uses of RFID

technology in industry’sRFID technology can track work-in-progressJust-in-time inventory Improve shipping accuracy

It has also helped prevent internal shrinkage throughout the company

www.rfidjournal.com

RFID IssuesPossible health risks with electromagnetic

wavesLow frequency

Massive lay off of workersLess jobs for less skilledMore skills necessary to perform

Improvement of worker safetyBadge will allow only certain people accessCould become RFID certifiedwww.rfidjournal.com

Questions & Answers