Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Technology

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Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Technology

• Jeffrey K. Brecht, Ph.D.
• Horticultural Sciences Department
• University of Florida
• Gainesville, FL

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What is RFID?

• RFID is a method of identifying unique items
  using radio waves. A reader communicates with a
  tag, which holds digital information (e.g., a
  serial number) in a microchip.
• RFID is like a bar code reader, but the reading
  is done remotely.
• RFID doesnt require line of sight.

A carton tag
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How Does RFID Work?

• The microchip, attached to an antenna, picks up
  signals from and sends signals to a reader.
• Each tag contains a unique serial number, the
  Electronic Product Code (EPC).
• The antenna enables the chip to transmit the
  identification information to the reader.

Antenna
Readers
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How Does RFID Work?

• The reader converts the radio waves returned from
  the RFID tag into a form that can then be passed
  on to computers that can make use of it.
• Once the EPC is retrieved from the tag, it can be
  associated with dynamic data such as from where
  an item originated or the date of its production.

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Whats the Point of RFID?

• Inventory Management
• More accurate, immediate (i.e., real time)
  information about
• the location of items
• the history of items
• the number of items in the supply chain
• Cost savings come from automating what is now a
  manual, not too accurate task.

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Real Time Inventory Visibility
http//www.franwell.com/
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Current Uses

• Sunpass toll collection is an RFID system
• British Airways uses RFID to track luggage
• Livestock tracking (ear tags) in Australia and
  Europe
• Wal Mart, Target, and the Dept. of Defense are
  requiring their suppliers to have RFID tags on
  all pallets and cases they deliver by 2005

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Current Uses

• RFID has been used in libraries for several
  years.
• As a security solution
• For inventory management
• For self-checkout
• For automated return systems.
• The Eugene Public Library in Oregon has sorters
  and conveyer belt systems that deposit returned
  books into specified bins that are linked through
  an RFID number to specific sections of the
  library.

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Future Examples

• Retailers envision scanners placed on shelves to
  speed restocking, and installed at building exits
  to prevent theft.
• Food producers predict faster and more targeted
  recalls of defective or unsafe products.
• Hospitals imagine using RFID tags to help prevent
  medical errors by, for example, transmitting the
  correct medicine dosages to nurses.

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How is RFID Being Implemented?

• By EPCglobal, a joint venture between EAN
  International and the Uniform Code Council (UCC)
• EPCglobal is leading the development of
  industry-driven standards for the Electronic
  Product Code (EPC) Network to support the use of
  RFID.

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Why Do Your Clients Care About RFID?

• Privacy Concerns A Brave New World, 1984 (Big
  Brother), etc
• RFID systems enable tagged objects to speak to
  electronic readers over the course of a product's
  lifetime all the way to the consumers home?
  Yikes!
• Will it happen??

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Privacy Concerns

• RFID technology's primary use is for carton and
  pallet tracking item-level tracking of consumer
  products isn't likely to happen for many years.
  
• A "kill" command is included in the EPC
  specifications, so the RFID tags will be
  permanently disabled at checkout.

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Privacy Concerns

• RFID signals can be read from only 10 to 15 feet
  away, maximum, and are reflected by metal.
• Consider the costs
• Why would companies invest in the infrastructure
  needed to read RFID tags everywhere?
• Their competitors could read the same tags.

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Privacy Concerns

• Read an opinion piece, RFID SECURITY SCARES
  IGNORE FACTS
• http//www.itworld.com/nl/it_insights/12102003/

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Are There any Health Risks Associated with RFID
and Radio Waves?

• No, RFID uses the low-end of the electromagnetic
  spectrum. The waves coming from readers are no
  more dangerous than the waves coming to your car
  radio.
• Some RFID systems use microwave frequency.

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Future Uses/Research

• RFID doesnt work around metal and water
• Tracking metal products or those with high water
  content is problematic
• Metal containers reflect radio waves
• Produce, meat, fish, and dairy products have high
  water content and absorb radio waves
• Research at the UF/IFAS RFID Lab (with Franwell)
  is addressing this issue

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Future Uses/Research

• Combining RFID tags with sensors
• Temperature sensors
• Biological sensors
• The same tags used to track items moving through
  the supply chain may also alert staff if they are
  not stored at the right temperature, if meat has
  gone bad, or even if someone has injected a
  biological agent into food.

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Thank You!

• Questions?