RFID in the postal logistics

1
RFID in the postal logistics

• Ing. Radovan Madlenák, PhD.
• doc. Ing. Juraj Vaculík, PhD.
• University of Žilina
• Department of Communications

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Introduction

• In the transportation and logistics industries,
  RFID is found in a wide array of applications, as
  more companies begin conducting new pilots and
  implementations.
• Even applications within the same market may
  differ drastically from one another.
• This presentation focuses on the use of RFID in
  the area postal services.

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What is it RFID ?

• Radio frequency identification (RFID) is a
  generic term that is used to describe a system
  that transmits the identity (in the form of a
  unique serial number) of an object or person
  wirelessly, using radio waves

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Types of RFID

• RFID systems consist of three components in two
  combinations
• a transceiver (transmitter/receiver) and antenna
  are usually combined as an RFID reader.
• A transponder (transmitter/responder) and antenna
  are combined to make an RFID tag.
• An RFID tag is read when the reader emits a radio
  signal that activates the transponder, which
  sends data back to the transceiver.
• There are two types of transponders, which
  correlate to the two major types of RFID tags
• Passive transponders and RFID tags have no energy
  source of their own, relying on the energy given
  off by the reader for the power to respond.
  Cheaper, passive RFID tags are the most likely to
  be used for consumer goods.
• An active transponder or tag has an internal
  power source, which it uses to generate a signal
  in response to a reader.

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Concept of RFID

• A transponder (a microchip with an antenna) is a
  placed on an item and then a reader (a device
  with one or more antennas) is used to read data
  off of the microchip using radio waves.
• The reader passes the information to a computer,
  so that the data can be used to create business
  value.

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Structure of RFID trasponder

• Antenna
• Major driver of read performance
• Determines how well an RFID label works with a
  certain product

• Chip
• Contains data

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Postal market and RFID

• The potential market for RFID in the postal and
  courier service is second only to that for the
  retail supply chain

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Postal RFID application model

• Postal RFID application model was proposed for
  the adoption of RFID technology in postal
  logistics environments
• The main environments are
• Mail Office
• Mail Collection Distribution Center
• Delivery Office
• Monitoring Center

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RFID application model for postal logistics
B
A
C
D
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Mail Office environment

• A mail office that can conduct parcel
  registration through issuing an RFID tag and
  label printing sends parcel issue data such as a
  postal code and address automatically using an
  RFID reader with an Internet connection to a
  postal logistics system via a local server.
• The mail office also receives mail trace data
  such as parcel processing and delivery data from
  a local server after the registered parcel has
  moved to the mail center.

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Mail Collection Distribution Center

• A mail center that can conduct RFID tag
  recognition at docks and has a sorting machine
  for the auto-sorting, sending, and arrival
  processing of parcels and pallets sends RFID tag
  recognition data of the parcels and pallets, such
  as mail center code and parcel processing data,
  automatically using an RFID reader with an
  Internet connection to a postal logistics system
  via a local server.
• The mail center also receives mail trace data
  such as parcel processing and delivery data from
  the local server after the parcels and pallets
  have moved to the delivery office.

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Delivery Office environment

• A delivery office that can conduct RFID tag
  recognition for the delivery of parcels and a tag
  data reset for the reuse preparation of parcel
  and pallet tags sends RFID tag recognition data
  of the parcels and pallets, such as delivery
  office code, delivery persons ID, and delivery
  data automatically using a hand-held RFID reader
  with wireless LAN and CDMA connection to a postal
  logistics system via a local server.
• The delivery office also receives processing data
  such as parcel registration and sorting data from
  the local server after the sorted parcels have
  moved to the delivery office.

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Monitoring Center environment

• The monitoring center can do a real-time trace
  and tracking of parcel processing and pallet
  management via a local server and postal
  logistics system.
• The monitoring center can also check how many
  parcels are registered in real time, how many
  pallets with parcels have moved among mail
  centers, and how many empty pallets are stored in
  each mail center.
• This is also important for the effective use of
  parcel and pallet management, customer service
  parcel upgrades, and for knowing which mail
  center has a problem with parcel processing and
  pallet management.

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Example of RFID using in the postal logistics
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Examples of RFID devices
Examples of RFID devices used in postal logistic
systems
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Future of RFID in postal logistics

• The global market for RFID systems, including
  tags, in this sector will grow extremely rapidly
  to be 3 billion
• Demand may be much larger if current efforts to
  tag individual items gain widespread acceptance.
  In due course, over one trillion postal items
  will be tagged yearly, making this the second
  largest application of RFID in the world after
  the retail supply chain.

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Referencies

1. Peter Harrop RFID in the Postal and Courier
   service
2. Jeong-Hyun Park, Jong-Heung Park Postal RFID
   Application Model and Performance
3. Juraj Vaculík RFID in postal services
4. Libor Švadlenka RFID in Postal and Courier
   Services
5. Radovan Madlenák Optimal model design of postal
   items processing technology
6. Lucia Madlenáková Improving of the quality of
   postal services by the monitoring transit time