Radio Frequency Identification Any System Identifying Objects Remotely via Radio waves Different applications have different performance characteristics RFID incorporate transponders (tags), readers (interrogators), network infrastructure and software We will outline performance characteristics, standards, strengths, weaknesses and common applications for each type of RFID System. Todd

3 Major types of RFID Systems Passive RFID Systems – A passive RFID system is one in which a transponder has no power source and cannot broadcast a signal. That is, the transponder can only reflect back a reader’s signal. Active RFID Systems – an active RFID system is one in which a transponder has a power source and broadcasts a signal to a reader. Battery-Assisted RFID Systems – A battery-assisted transponder is one that reflects back a signal to a reader like a passive tag, but has a power source to run the microchip and attached sensor, if exist. Todd

Passive RFID Tags powered by transmitted reader energy Short range Limited multi-read capability Very small onboard cache (~128 kb) Virtually infinite lifetime High powered reader is needed Very low cost (~20 cents) Todd

Passive Low Frequency RFID Systems Operates at 125 khz or 134 Khz Standards: ISO 11784 & 11785 Pros: Works well around metal, and the well-defined read field can be important for some applications Weaknesses: Very few companies now make LF systems. Short read range makes it unsuitable for most applications Applications: Access control, animal identification, identification of metallic objects such as meat hooks and car chassis Erildo

Passive High Frequency RFID Systems Operates at 13.56 MHz (Most Countries) Standards: ISO 15693, 14443 & 18000-3 Pros: Has a well-defined read field, meaning the radiated energy can be controlled. Can also work around Metal but not as well as LF. Can operate around water. Weaknesses: Short Read Ranges unsuitable for some applications, particularly warehouse Applications: Access control, animal identification, identification item-level inventory management, smart cards and ticketing. Erildo

Passive Ultra High Frequency RFID Systems Operates at 856 MHz and 960 MHz Standards: ISO 18000-6 & 18000-6C Pros: Passive UHF systems provide a longer read range that is critical in supply-chain applications. Weaknesses: Requires an experienced systems integrator to install a UHF system is it reliably Applications: Tracking pallets, cases, items and totes in the supply chain; tracking IT assets, tools and parts bins; managing inventory in retail apparel stores. Also available in a Real Time Location Systems Configuration. Made by Modix. Erildo

Passive Ultra-Wideband Frequency Real Time Location Systems RFID Operates at 6.7GHz (Transmission) Standards: Currently no standard – “Tangent’s” Pros: UWB RTLS are Cheaper than battery-powered tags for active systems, Small Tag size, ability to locate items to within 6 inches (Plus for small items) Weaknesses: Read range is shorter than conventional RTLSs that use active tags & No standard Applications: Tracking pallets, cases, items and totes in the supply chain; tracking IT assets, tools, surgical instruments, test tubes and items too small to track with conventional RTLS Systems. Erildo

Chipless RFID Path to low cost RFID TDR based versus Spectral Signature based Use of chemicals and resonant materials Encoding using Amplitude and Phase Can easily printed Applications Nathan -Thought to be the path to low cost RFID because: high cost of silicon compared to barcodes -Challenge is to do traditional data encoding without a chip -TDR - time domain reflectometry: interrogated by reader in the form of a pulse. Surface acoustic wave propagates across the piezoelectric crystal and is reflected by a number of reflectors which create a train of pulses with phase shifts. This is converted back to EM and back to the reader. Delays using gaps in the strips can add to the signature. Crystal is not printable but same can be done with thin film transistor circuits. -Spectral signature-based chipless tags encode data into the spectrum using resonant structures. Can be chemical, resonant materials like fibers, use of Nanometric materials -As signal is passed through resonator, phase and amplitude modulated and sent back to reader. -Example: Tattoo - high frequency microwave signal (>10 GHz) and is reflected by areas of the tattoo which have ink creating a unique pattern which can be detected by the reader. The reading range is claimed to be up to 1.2 m (4 feet). -Like a musical instruement right?

Active RFID Tags have internal power source Larger computational capability and memory Sensors can be added on board Several thousand can be read by a single reader More expensive (several dollars to >$200) Life cycle limited by power Long range Todd

Active Dash7 RFID Systems Operates at 433 MHz Standards: ISO 18000-7 Pros: Global Standard used since 1990, Long read range, long battery life, good penetration through materials, can be used worldwide Weaknesses: location accuracy to within 10 feet, so it will not be suitable for applications requiring precise locations. Must beacon for location unless in range of reader. Applications: tracking shipping containers in supply chain; locating tools, vehicles, subassemblies within a facility. Erildo

Active Ultra-Wideband Frequency RFID Systems Operates at 3 GHz to 10GHz Standards: Proprietary Pros: Greater location accuracy than other RTLSs available. Weaknesses: Companies are locked in to one provider. Applications: Tracking assets, tools, containers and individuals. Brian

Active Wi-Fi Frequency RFID Systems Operates at 2.4 MHz or 5.2 GHz Standards: IEEE 802.11 Pros: Uses a company’s existing Wi-Fi infrastructure so it is less disruption to operations during installation Weaknesses: Achieving full coverage might require adding more access points, and additional hardware. Relatively short battery life. Applications: Tracking assets, tools, Containers and individuals. Brian

Active RuBee Frequency RFID Systems Operates at 131 KHz with a 4-bit CPU Standards: IEEE 1902.1 Pros: Works extremely well on metal objects and in the presence of water. Weaknesses: More expensive than passive tags with a read range of no more than 100 feet, some companies would prefer passive tags. Applications: Tracking metal objects, such as weapons and tools; monitoring the condition of assets via tags with sensors. Nathan

Active Zigbee Frequency RFID Systems Operates at 2.45 GHz Standards: IEEE 802.15.4 Pros: Lost Cost and covers large area with many rooms good location accuracy. The Mesh network is easy to manage. Weaknesses: Not designed to locate objects over long distances in open spaces Applications: Tracking assets, tools, containers and individuals. Nathan

Battery Assisted RFID A BAP RFID tag is a tag that has its own integrated power source that is used to “wake” or “activate” it when communicating with a RFID reader. They use a “Reader Talks First” approach, meaning they are only activated when scanned, then the battery takes over. Brian

Battery-Assisted RFID Systems Operates Can employ HF or UHF Tags Standards: ISO 15693 & ISO 18000-6C Pros: Longer Read Range and more consistent reads than passive tags; the ability to power an onboard sensor. Weaknesses: Much more expensive. Applications: Tracking assets, tools, containers and individuals, temperature monitoring. Brian

Industry Solutions Todd

RFID Example Healthcare Todd Wi-Fi-Based RFID – Pervasive hospital-wide visibility Chokepoints – OR/ED workflow automation (bay level separation), immediate safety and theft alerts Sensors – Temperature and humidity monitoring for drugs, vaccines, tissues, blood, food, etc. Passive RFID – Specimen tracking, OR small equipment and trays

RFID Example Healthcare Indoor Location & Status Outdoor Location & Status Todd Wi-Fi-Based RFID – Indoors and outdoors pervasive hospital-wide visibility Chokepoints – Gate and dock arrivals/departures for supply chain Sensors – Cold chain temperature and humidity monitoring of pharmaceutical products GPS – Disaster emergency

Choosing the Right RFID System Todd 10 step process: 1.) Determine whether you want to deploy RFID as a point solution to Solve one problem or as an infrastructure approach to solve multiple problems 2.) Determine which objects and/or people you would like to track 3.) Determine over what distance each object or person needs to b identified and tracked 4.) Determine the location accuracy required for each item being tracked, as well as the layout of the environment. 5.) Create a table within which you can place each item on your list 6.) Consider other factors that might influence which system is most appropriate 7.) Prioritize the benefits of tracking and managing the objects, or groups of objects, on your list 8.) Engage the service of a good systems integrator 9.) Pilot the system 10.) roll out the system and expand as needed.