Dr. C.L. Wang's RFIS webpage

(Prepared for CSIS/CE Final Year Project 2004-2005)

(Sorry ! Under Construction)

RFID stands for radio frequency identification. RFID tags are miniscule microchips, which already have shrunk to half the size of a grain of sand. They listen for a radio query and respond by transmitting their unique ID code. Most RFID tags have no batteries: They use the power from the initial radio signal to transmit their response. By 2005, Universal Product Code (UPC) bar code will be replaced by smart labels, also called radio frequency identification (RFID) tags. RFID tags are intelligent bar codes that can talk to a networked system to track every product.  Most tags are to operate 13.56 MHz. RFID can achieve ‘Near simultaneous’ multiple detection --  the systems can scan 10-30 tags a second (UHF & Microwave systems run 20-50 each second!)

RFID label

bar code

Tag Types - Read vs Read/Write

  • Read Only: Information can only be read from an RFID device – programmed at manufacture
  • User Programmable: WORM - Write Once Read Many - Ability to initialize an RFID device outside of the RFID manufacturer’s facility after manufacture
  • Read/Write: Information can be read from or written to an RFID transponder during the time it is presented to a reader/writer
  • Size (16 bits - 512 kBytes +)
An RFID eco-system has these main elements:
  • Tag (active or passive)
  • Read/write device
  • Software to connect with business
  • Software to analyse data

A Scenario

Imagine going to the grocery store, filling up your cart and walking right out the door. No longer will you have to wait as someone rings up each item in your cart one at at time. Instead, these RFID tags will communicate with an electronic reader that will detect every item in the cart and ring each up almost instantly. The reader will be connected to a large network that will send information on your products to the retailer and product manufacturers. Your bank will then be notified and the amount of the bill will be deducted from your account. No lines, no waiting.

RFID tags will soon be tracking trillions of consumer products worldwide. Manufacturers will know the location of each product they make from the time it's made until it's used and tossed in the recycle bin or trash can (smart labels will be tracked through the entire supply chain).

History

  • 1935: as an outgrowth of the work on radar, RFID transponders were used to Identify Friend or Foe (IFF) of approaching aircraft Versions of this same IFF system did not appear in civilian aircraft until the mid- 1950’s A modified version of this is still used today
  • In the late 60’s, the US Government developed RFID technology to tag and monitor nuclear and other hazardous materials
  • In 1972, Schlage Electronics (now Westinghouse) developed an RFID card. It contained several “tuned circuits” embedded in a military-grade fiberglass-epoxy card.
  • In 1977, Los Alamos Scientific Laboratories transferred their technology to the public sector. Two companies initially explored use of this technology : (1) Amtech in New Mexico and (2) Identronix Research in California

[Hot News]

Wal-Mart Announces 2005 Deadline
In mid-2003, Linda Dillman, Senior Vice president and CIO of Wal-Mart announced that Wal-Mart plans to begin rolling out RFID scanning technology for product receipt at Wal-Mart distribution centers. Initially, a group of about 100 Wal-Mart vendors is targeted to RFID mark at the pallet and case level to facilitate and improve the receiving process beginning in January, 2005.

From http://logistics.about.com/cs/logisticssystems/a/aa060303.htm  

In order for this system to work, each product will have to be given a unique product number. MIT's Auto-ID Center, created a couple of years ago, is working on an Electronic Product Code (EPC) identifier that could replace the UPC. Every smart label could contain 96 bits of information, including the product manufacturer, product name and a 40-bit serial number. Using this system, a smart label would communicate with a network, called the Object Naming Service. This database would retrieve information about a product and then direct information to the manufacturer's computers.
 

The information stored on the smart labels would be written in a Product Markup Language (PML), which is based on the eXtensible Markup Language (XML). PML would allow all computers to communicate with any computer system in a similar way that Web servers read Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML), the common language used to create Web pages.

Researchers believe that smart labels could be on your favorite consumer products by 2005. Once the technical challenges are overcome, the only obstacle might be the public's reaction to a network system that can track every thing that they buy and keep in their kitchen cabinets.

Automatically collect toll as car passes through toll barriers. Typically it is an active (embedded battery) transponder operating a very high frequency

Smart Groceries : Track products through their entire lifetime.

Smart Fridge : It can recognizes what’s been put in it, recognizes when things are removed, creates automatic shopping lists, and notifies you when things are past their expiration. Warehouse Management : (1) Uniquely identify, collect, sort and track more efficiently : Electronic receipt & dispatch, Wrong placement alert, Electronic marking, Pallet/container item tracking (2) Hard data on pallets, containers, fork-lift trucks, equipment & man-hours (3) Data collection in rugged environments where barcodes can’t

Other Applications

  • Transportation/Distribution : Pallet tracking, Load tracking
  • Inventory Management : Retail Stores, Grocery Chains, Hospitals, Library Systems
  • Security/Access : Personnel Badges, Anti-Theft Device, Contact-less Card
  • Government : Military, Toll Collection (I-Pass), Anti-Terrorist Technology, SAFETY ACT 2002
  • Animal Identification : Personal Pets, Breed Authenticity, Lab Testing
  • Industrial : Factory Assembly Line, Warehouse Management, Waste Management

Reference