RFID

R F I D

Radio

Frequency

IDentification

History

Léon Theremin In 1945 invented an espionage tool

Predecessor of RFID

Used in World War II to identify friendly aircrafts. (1939-1945)

Mario Cardullo's device in 1973

The first true ancestor of modern RFID

Commercial applications began in 1980

Applications of RFID

TRACKING

SECURITY

ANIMAL HUSBANDRY

SPORTS

(RACE TIMING)

Libraries

Inventory systems

Product tracking

Applications of RFID

Basic components of a RFID system

Tags

•This is the unit that goes with the product or its label.

•Tag consist of a microchip and an antenna.

•Task of a tag is to send the information to the interrogator.

•There are two types of tags-Passive tags and Active tags

Passive tag

Most common type of tag.

These tags do not operate with batteries.

The microchip in the tag will activate with the signal of the Interrogator/reader.

These tags are less expensive but they can only be used within the interrogators zone.

Active Tags

Highly expensive than the passive tags.

Operate with a battery-because of that it has a higher data range and efficiency.

Data transmission rate is high.

Because of the battery life this tag has a finite lifetime.

Interrogator/Reader

o Gives power to the microchip in the tag by antenna.

o Receives the signals from tags.

o This is connected to the host computer

Types of Readers

Hand held RFID reader

The fixed RFID reader

Mobile phones with RFID reader

RFID printer

This is a special type of a label printer which prints usual bar code and other data but also adding a RFID chip.

This can write the RFID chip by way of radio transmission.

The label which has bar code and also a RFID component is termed as a Smart Label.

Middlewareo Middleware is the interface between the interrogator

and the existing company databases and information management software.

o Middleware manages the information flow.

o Middleware is considered as the heart of the RFID system.

o This can be connected with other databases to keep up to date information in the system.

• Absence of line of sight- RFID reader can read a tag through

obstructing material that is RF-lucent for frequency use as a

line of sight is not required to read a RFID tag.

• Contactless- A RFID tag can be read without any physical

contact between the tag and the reader.

• Support for multiple tag reads-it is possible to

use an RFID reader to automatically read

several RFID tags in its read zone within a

short period of time.

• Sustaining through rough operational

environment conditions- such as heat,

humidity, cold, corrosive chemicals, and

mechanical vibrations to a fair extent.

• Writable data- The data of a read/write (RW)

RFID tag can be rewritten up to 100,000 (or

more) times

• Variety of read ranges- An RFID tag can have a

read range from a few inches to more than 100 ft,

depending on the frequency of the tag.

• Wide data capacity range- A passive RFID tag can

store from a few bytes of data to hundreds of bytes.

Active RFID tags can store virtually any amount of

data and are not limited in their capacity range

because the physical dimensions and capabilities of

active tags are not limited.

• Smart tasks-the tag can be designed to preform

other duties like measuring temperature

Limitations of RIFDPerformance- An RFID reader could partially or

completely fail to read the tag data as a result of RF-

opaque material, RF-absorbent material, or frequency

interference.

Environmental factors-Depending on the frequency, the

read accuracy of the tags could be affected if the

operations environment has large amounts of metals and

liquids.

Actual tag reads- Because the reader has to use some

kind of anti-collision algorithm, the number of actual

tags that a reader can uniquely identify (per unit of time)

is limited.

Hardware interference- If the RFID readers are

improperly installed, then it is possible for the readers to

show evidence of reader collision.

Penetrating power of the RF energy- it depends on the

reader’s transmitting power and its duty cycle. For

example, if cases on a pallet are stacked too deep, then it

is possible that a reader may fail to read some of the

cases

An organization set up to achieve worldwide adoption and standardization of Electronic Product Code technology.

Objectives

•Create worldwide standards for RFID.

•Use internet to share data via the EPCglobal network.

Services Provided by EPCglobal to Its Subscribed Companies

Assignment, maintenance and registration of EPC manager numbers.

Participation in development of EPCglobal standards via EPCglobal’s actions and working groups.

Access to EPCglobal’s standards, research and specifications.

Opportunity to influence the future direction of research.

EPC Tag StandardsUniform Code Council, a governor of EPCglobal sets standards how basic product information are encoded in RFID.

A tag structure consists with a number made up of a header and three sets of data.

Header- identifies the EPC’s version number

Second part- identifies EPC manager (manufacturer)

Third part- object class, refers to the exact type of production most often the SKU

Fourth part- the serial number, unique to the item

EPCglobal Architecture FrameworkA collection of inter related standards in the aim of enhancing the supply chain through electronic product codes.

Overview of Few StandardsEXCHANGE

EPCglobal certificate profile standard

Ensures broad interoperability, rapid deployment while ensuring secure usage.

Pedigree standard

Maintenance and exchange of electronic pedigree documents for use by pharmaceutical supply chain participants.

CAPTURE

Application level events standards

An interface for clients to obtain filtered and consolidated EPC data.

Reader management standards

To monitor the operating status and health of RFID readers.

IDENTIFY

EPC tag data standards

How EPC tag data are encoded on the tag and for the use of information systems.

EPC tag data translation

Interpretation of machine readable version of EPC tag data standards.

Issues

Technical

Environmental

Security and Privacy

Financial

Operational

Operational IssuesTo meet global standards, companies are being required to label cases and pallets, and sometimes individual items.As more individual items are being tagged, the challenge becomes positioning tags so they can be read within a case or pallet.Automate the tagging process because of the huge volume of individual items.Some rate of failure to read can happen.

Ex-metals and liquids. Tagging of liquids and biological materials will be challenged due to the space issues on the exterior of bottles.Effect of radio waves on these products.

Ex-In hospitals and health care services, RFID systems have the potential for interference with other wireless communication devices

Technical IssuesThe lack of consensus on standards.

Establishing global standards is the real challenge.

Ex-In the United States and Europe, EPCglobal is thestandard. Asian countries use their own classificationsystem, such as the NPC (National Product Code) inChina. Japan uses a different standard that does notcommunicate with EPCglobal standards.

Challenge of RFID implementation comes from theintegration of RFID systems and the data they generatewith other functional databases and applications. Thischallenge increases as companies integrate with supplychain partners

Financial IssuesCost is a major factor in determining the speed at which RFID technology is adopted.

An RFID system requires expenditures not only for tags, readers, hardware, and software, but also for system maintenance and training.

Ex-While consulting firms have estimated an investment of $13–25 million to implement RFID systems, it should be noted that costs are coming down. The costs of tags have steadily been decreasing from $1 per tag to around 10 cents (depending on volume purchases). The cost of readers and equipment has also decreased significantly.

Environmental Issues

As the tag prices come down and individual items being tagged proliferate, the tags also proliferate.

RFID are not biodegradable.

Contain poisonous metals.

A proposed solution is to set up reverse supply chains for the recycling or reuse of tags.

Why concern about security and privacy?

RFID- still in maturity stage

Entire success in appliance and adoption depends on this

Big players are involved

Security Threats

Unprotected tag issues

Vulnerable databases

Rogue RFID readers

Clone tags

Privacy Threats

Secret tag reading

Firm’s sensitive data hacking

Customer details pirating and misusing

Customer purchases and habits monitoring

Physical movements trackingDisrupting and misleading firm’s activities

SolutionsKill commands

Metal cage approach

Active jamming

Blocker tags

Rewritable memory

Private networks

Onion routing

BUSINESS OPTIONS APPROACHPresent Future

Offers number of OPTIONS

• Growth - capacity to grow

• Flexibility - multiple uses

• Innovation& learning - gaining knowledge + improve data collection

• Waiting - adopt universally

• Abandonment - walk away from the technology

COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS

PRODUCTIONSuppliers- raw materials components

components

Work- in-progress

Peterbilt trucks

20000 parts

Customer Specified

Finished Goods

WAREHOUSINGBetter Inventory Management

Bulk Reading- time and cost for counting stocks

Reduce idle inventory

Reduce Inventory shrinkage

Reduce Theft and loss

Real Time Information

RetailerManage Stock Keeping Units

Easy inventory Handling

Reduce Out of Stock – Wal Mart

reduce out of stock by 30%

Just In Time Method

Demand Forecasting , Customer Trends

Automated Cashier System

WHY RFID FOR LIBRARY?• Fastest, easiest, most efficient way to track, locate

& manage library materials

• Efficient Book issue management

• Automatic Check-in and Check-out

• Library inventory tracking in minutes instead of

hours

• Multiple books can be read simultaneously

• Unique ID of the RFID tag stops counterfeiting

• Automated material handling using conveyor &

sorting systems

LIBRARY PRODUCTS FOR

RFID• Staff station – For entry of new

books or borrowers and

issue/return of books at

circulation desk.

• Gate Detection System – For

detecting unauthorized tagged

items passing through it.

• RFID Tags – For tagging library

materials.

HF Handheld Reader – For

performing activities such as shelf

order checking, shelf-reading,

searching, inventory scanning in

library kind of environment

self check in/ check out Kiosk –

For self issue and return of books

in Library.

Book Return Station - For

returning of library books.

BENEFITS OF USING RFIDFor Libraries

Stock Management

Improved patron services

Flexibility and modularity

Security

For Library Staff

Less time needed for circulation operations

Efficient Inventory management

Reducing Repetitive Stress Injuries (RSI)

• For Patrons

• Patrons will spend less time waiting in check-out lines by

using Self Check in - Check out systems

• Patrons find what they are looking for quickly & easily

• Reminders for due dates allows patrons to submit borrowed

materials in time

• Use of book drops & return chutes for returning library

material, allows for flexible timings

• RFID enabled patron cards allows for easy patron

identification

In early time inability to track logistics assets caused many problem for companies.

Returnable assets were often misplaced

Early system cost extra expense for employees for manual counts and quality checks.

RFID Assets-tracking solutions enable companies to better manage their returnable assets.

Assets track includes location tracking, detailed inventory reports, configurable workflow and alerting features.

In 2007 Australian business organization completed two month pilot-test of EPC gen 2 RFID tags fixed to wooden palets

During the pilot-test AAM software was used to manage and share the data collected

Pallets were sent through a fixed RFID reader to read the information of pallets

RFID can be used it serve as proof of deliver and take away any uncertainly

Case Study 1

Rewe Group reported approximately $72 billion in revenue in 2008, completed a test in which it employed a RFID real time location system to track returnable assets

In Rewe distribution center’s their drivers use RFID RTL to identify the correct item is to be moved

Case study 2

Benefits of using RFID to track returnable assets

Reduces human error Reduces labor and time cost Decrease the misplacement, loss, theft Quicker, more accurate inventories and

assets searching Alert when there are suboptimal shipping

conditions