RFID Technology & It’s Uses

What is RFID? Radio Frequency Identification: RFID is an Automatic Data Capture technology that uses radio-frequency waves to read a movable item to identify, categorize & track... RFID is fast, reliable, and does not require physical line of sight or contact between reader/scanner and the RFID tagged item.

What is RFID? RFID comes in several technologies. Each technology has its own application however in some applications there can be a crossover of these technologies. Examples of Uses of the Technologies Companion Animals, Livestock and Access Control (low frequency) Used in Security, Access & Payment Systems (High Frequency) Used in Supply Chain, Asset Management, Mining, Retail and Livestock (Ultra High Frequency) Used in Manufacturing & Long Range Asset Management (100-200M) (Active - Battery Operated)

What is RFID? -- The Tags Tags can be attached to almost anything: pallets or cases of product vehicles company assets or personnel items such as apparel, luggage, laundry people, livestock, or pets high value electronics such as computers, TVs, camcorders

Data written to the tag What is RFID? -- The Tags Tags can be read-only or read-write Tag memory can be factory or field programmed and optionally permanently locked (security) Data written to the tag left unlocked, can be modified over more than 100,000 times, allowing the the tag to be reused or updated

RFID System Selection Basics How do we select a Technology How far do we want to read? How fast do we need the data? How much Data do we need to store on the RFID tag? Do we need to have specific data on the tag (write to the tag) How many? Attached to and surrounded by what?

Advantages of RFID Systems Ability to read data without visual access Ability to read data from moving objects Ability to read data at distance, from 3cm to 100 metres Ability to secure the tag data Ability to update data in the tag (write) Ability to have automated read of tags. Ability to have the tag form to suit the application

Manufacturing and Warehouse Applications Bill of Loading Material Tracking

Manufacturing and Warehouse Applications Limited number items at forklift speeds 8’ X 10’ doorways Electronic receipt & dispatch Wrong destination alert Electronic marking Pallet/container item tracking

Hand Held Application Categories Batch Wireless Fixed Station

Conveyor / Assembly Line Read speed up to 2.3 M/sec 60+ items per container Inexpensive tunnels Longer tunnel more reads more items Electronic receipt Sorting Electronic marking

RFID in Defence Applications Inventory and Asset management using long range RFID tags (6 metres) Securing and sealing slow moving inventory High accuracy in location and quantity of Inventory Automatic confirmation for picking and deployment of inventory, using fixed and mobile readers Inventory user identification Allocate inventory to individual users automatically

RFID in Defence Applications Inventory tracking system is designed and implemented by BCDS into the Australian Defence Logistics Branch The difference to other systems? Utilises a unique method of layered and nested locations The database is available across the Australian defence network Interfaces to the Australian Defence ERP

The readers for the application are supplied in different forms Document Tracking Traceability of Highly Sensitive Documents Each document is tagged with a high visibility RFID tag, and the document ID stored in a database. Personnel are also issued with RFID identification cards for issue and tracking The readers for the application are supplied in different forms o Desk readers for the document repository (labelling & issuing documents) oPortal readers for the document repository & specified entries and exits.

Accurate knowledge of who has and where the document is in real time Document Tracking Advantages Accurate knowledge of who has and where the document is in real time Alarms if the document is copied or is not visible to the system for a set period of time Alarms if the document is in a wrong location Alarm if the document is removed from an office or building Ability to read stacked documents by any reader Automatic secure document return

So Where is RFID in Smart Technology? Although RFID has been slow to take off due to manufacturing problems and the subsequent costs, those problems have been overcome to a degree and have given the technology the chance to be implemented. RFID in the Smart World is providing automatic identification across the board, from a cashless society, tracking of people, animals to assets and inventory. Applications are now available for IOS, Android and Windows smart phones, Tablets and Industrial Computers making it a mobile world

Smart Applications Retail Automation - in apparel, electrical goods and white goods, with auto inventory control for quantity and location, and auto Point of Sale. Retail applications today do not need dedicated mobile computers, smart phones and tablets are being implemented reducing cost and increasing user comfort. Asset management internal and external with tracking and security. For high security areas the integration of CCTV provides asset ID, user ID, location ID with immediate access to video for assurance.

Smart Applications Defence, Law Enforcement and Fire Fighting – asset management for arms ammunition, ordinance and accessories communications, batons, breathing equipment etc . Real time automatic asset management for user issue and deployment.

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