Radio Frequency Identification

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology is one of the most recognized, rapidly developing, easy-to-use technologies that will re-shape the world and the human everyday life. It offers a means of transmitting data through wireless transmission through very small and low cost devices, which makes this technology very popular among the industries. This opportunity arises from the confluence of the continued march of electronics miniaturization and recent innovations that dramatically drive down the cost of manufacturing microelectronic devices. Some complex applications of RFID technologies are missile guidance, aircraft identification transponders, automatic toll way identification, access control, central locking systems in automobiles and asset identification and tracking. This technology is also used in supply chain management in order to eliminate human errors, reduces their inventories, reduce the loss and waste and improve the safety and security of the process.

How this system works

A typical RFID system is composed with RFID tags, RFID readers, RFID antenna/middleware and RFID application software. In this system, the RFID tags are attached to the objects. Each tag has an internal memory which it stores the information about the object, such as the unique serial number, manufacture date, product specification and etc. The tags start to transmit the data once they pass via the field which is generated by the antenna. The reader captures the information and sends them to the RFID application software to process the data and then identify the object and the data in it. The goal of the RFID technology was  on readers and tags which are used to transmit low volumes of information which are used by systems.  But this has been changing as, today RFID technology is used in supply chains to transmit huge volumes of data and these information can goes through new RFID application called the savants.

Active and Passive RFID

There are two types of RFID technologies: Active and Passive RFID. Active and passive RFID systems have the similar working mechanism. The major advantage in active RFID system is its long reading ranges and its larger storage of data, whereas the passive RFID systems can only be used up to three to five meters, and its storage is less than 128 bytes. Active RFID system uses its own internal power, which is provided from its internal tagged battery, whereas passive RFID does not have its own power to generate its signals.  Passive RFID tags some sort of external power to generate its signals.The main advantage of active RFID and passive RFID is that it enables multi-tag reading. The active RFID can recognize thousands of tags at once, whereas with passive RFID will recognize only few hundreds. These tags can be recognized at a very fast pace.

Advantages in using RFID technology

The major advantage of using RFID technology is that it is much more powerful than other AutoID technologies such as the bar codes. An organization can easily implement this technology into their process, since it is cheaper than other technologies. The RFID tags can stand at any harsh and hazardous environments such as near highways or even under the surface of the earth. They enable the multiple tags reading and writing at long ranges. This technology is most suitable for the identification of mass productions.

I think, this blog will help you a general idea about the RFID technology which is widely used in our organizations today. This technology will help to change the global supply chain and the human life will also be affected in many ways such as grocery, shopping, lodging, anti-counterfeit of ID card and etc. Therefore in my opinion, I think it is always good know about these developments and how they are used.

Thanks.

Source:

• Automation Production systems and computer-integrated manufacturing by Mikell P. Groover
• http://www.microwavejournal.com/articles/7632-rfid-the-next-generation-auto-id-technology
• Stewe Lewis, (2004). A basic introduction to RFID Technology and its use in the supply chain.. e.g. Jet Powered Motors. (), pp.