What is RFID?
Radio Frequency Identification is a set of technologies that allow for short range, contact-less reading of information from a low cost, compact data source.
An RFID system will include data carrying transponders(TAGs) and devices to access data on the tag(reader/reader-writer).
Objectives of RFID
Automating the collection of data about stock, assets, components and customers, reducing cost and increasing accuracy and speed.
Benefits of RFIDs
- > Lower cost and higher productivity: automate collection of information about movements and location of assets (+accuracy)
- > Increased revenues: By reducing stock outs, avoiding the credibility gap
- > Improved quality of data capture: contact-less approach makes it easier.
- > Integration with other technologies (stock picking systems) shortens the process and time from order to despatch.
- > Improved regulatory compliance: restrict movement of unexpected devices can form part of a strategy to address health and safety issues
- > Security: Fight stock shrinkage and fight against product counterfeiting.
- > More Accurate management of information: real-time data capture. Information available for planning.
Applications
Electronic ticketing
Security guard patrol
Assets management
Identification for preventive maintenance
Explain “One size does not fit all”
Tags perform differently when attached to different materials and size of RFID tags antenna can affect reading speed, distance and success rates.
There is a wide range of possible technologies in the field.
Advisable to carry out a test or trial application.
RFID technologies
LF passive tags - 125/134 KHz HF passive tags - 13.56MHz UHF passive tags - 860to960MHz / 2.4GHz Battery assisted passive tags Active tags.
LF HF and UHF tags
Low cost. Have different transmission power
UHF allow a grater distance, but suffer more if signal is interupted.
LF tags need antennas with many turns. penetrate more, slower.
HF need antennas with less turns,.
Battery assisted
Signal from the reader activated a battery on the tag. Respond more quickly, greater distances but are larger , more expensive and have limited life time(5 years).
Active Tags
Transmit data with or without readers stimulus.
Greater distance. More expensive limited battery time. May also collect data on vibration temperature or radiation.
Operations Issues
Reader collision and Tag collision
