Radio Frequency Identifications

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Radio Frequency Identifications

• What is RFID
• Who is using RFID
• What is RFID being used for

Presented by Wayne Gowen I.T. NY Power
Authority VP Programs, HDI Local Chapter Hudson
Valley, New York
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RFID tags can be either active, semi-passive
(semi-active) or passive.

• A simple way of explaining what RFID is and how
  it is being used is,
• EZPass (Semi active)
• Fleet (truck/car) Yard tracking system ( active
  )
• ID badge for work ( passive)
• the item carried out of the store, then all of a
  sudden the alarm goes off. (passive)

RFID products fall into two basic categories
Passive and Active. Passive tags do not have
batteries and have indefinite life expectancies.
Active Tags are powered by batteries and either
have to be recharged, have their batteries
replaced or be disposed of when the batteries
fail.
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A Brief History of RFID
RFID is not a new technology. It has been used
for identifying enemy warplanes since World War
II(1940)and was used extensively during the Gulf
War(1991). Civilian applications include highway
toll tags, the control of paroled criminals, the
prevention of missing kids and many more, but the
wide application of RFID was not possible until
the initialization of the Auto-ID Center in 1999.
The Auto-ID Center was a partnership of almost
100 global companies and five research
universities the Massachusetts Institute of
Technology in the United States, the University
of Cambridge in the United Kingdom, the
University of Adelaide in Australia, the Keio
University in Japan and the University of St.
Gallen in Switzerland. (The Fudan University in
China became the center's sixth research
university in August 2003) The goal of the center
was to apply the technology to objects in our
daily lives so computers would be able to "see"
the identities of these objects. Although first
used in World War II to identify friendly
aircraft, RFID technology began to materialize in
the 1980s and 1990s. In 1997, Mobil introduced
its Speedpass system that lets you wave the tag
in front of the pump to record your transaction
and debit your credit card. Automatic highway
toll collection systems are RFID, and General
Motors' OnStar vehicle tracking system is a
satellite-based version of it.
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What Is RFID?

• RFID Radio Frequency Identification
• RFID tags chips, inlay, antenna, reader
• Multiple frequency ranges
• Low (125KHz)
• High (13.56MHz)
• UHF (868-954 MHz 915MHz in N. America)
• Microwave (2.45GHz)
• Common uses of RFID today include
• Security access cards
• Mobil Speedpass
• Toll road transponders

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RFID products are then broken up into different
frequencies. Tags and Antennas are tuned or
matched much the same way as a radio is tuned to
a frequency to receive different channels. These
frequencies are grouped into Four basic ranges

• Each frequency range has its advantages and
  disadvantages.
• Europe use 868 MHz. for its UHF applications
• US uses 915 MHz. for its UHF applications
• Japan does not allow the use of the UHF
  frequency for RFID applications.
• Low Frequency tags (LF) are less costly to
  manufacturer than Ultra High Frequency (UHF)
  tags. UHF tags offer better read/write range and
  can transfer data faster then other tags. HF tags
  work best at close range but are more effective
  at penetrating non-metal objects especially
  objects with high water content.

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Various Types of Tags (above) Once a frequency
range is determined, then it is time to choose an
antenna that best fits the application. Antennas
come in all sorts of sizes and shapes. The size
of the antenna determines the range of the
application. Large antennas used with Active Tags
can have a range of 100 feet or more. Large
antennas used with Passive Tags generally have a
range of 10 feet of less. There are dock door
antennas (some times called Portals) that allow a
forklift driver to drive between two antennas.
Information can be collected from the tags
without the forklift driver having to stop.
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Various types of readers and antennas
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What Is RFID for Retail Supply Chain?

• Tagging pallets, cases, and items with RFID
• Today, focus on pallets and cases
• Electronic Product Code (EPC)
• UHF
• N. America 915MHz
• Europe 865.5867.6MHz
• Japan 950956MHz (likely)
• Passive tags
• Read-only, read-write
• Item-level tracking second wave, not first

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Major RFID Initiatives

• 2005, 2006 mandates

• 20052010 phase-in

• Spring 2005, 2007

• April 2005

• Nov 2004 mandate

• April 2004, Sept 2004

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RFID Standards in Progress

• EPC
• Class 0 (today)
• Class 1 (today)
• Class 1 Generation 2 (mid-late 2004)

• ISO
• 18000-1, -2, -3, -4, -5, -6, -7

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RFID Ecosystem in Retail
Source IDC, 2004 (30490, U.S. RFID for the
Retail Supply Chain Spending Forecast and
Analysis, 20032008)
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Middleware software
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Timeline 20032008
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
Source IDC, 2004 (30490, U.S. RFID for the
Retail Supply Chain Spending Forecast and
Analysis, 20032008)
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U.S. RFID for the Retail Supply Chain, 20022008
M
1.3B
1.27B
91.5M
Source IDC, 2004 (30490, U.S. RFID for the
Retail Supply Chain Spending Forecast and
Analysis, 20032008)
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Five Myths About RFID
Here are five myths about RFID that this proposed
article/op-ed will explode with careful, calm
explanations about what RFID is, and how simple
it is to install with your current ERP and WMS.

• Its expensive.
• Wrong. There are low-cost (lt50k) RFID packaged
  solutions that offer
• everything needed for an RFID pilot and vendor
  tagging compliance, including
• middleware software, RFID readers and RFID tag
  printers. Since these
• systems leverage your existing ERP or WMS,
  integration costs are
• dramatically reduced.

2) Its inexpensive. Wrong. Though RFID software
is affordable, the hardware devices that users
are required to purchase to enable RFID label
management / tag burning can be pricey and
varied, depending on a) the environment theyre
used in, b) how many devices you need, c) the
read range and speed tags, and d) if you need to
read multiple tags. After the tag burner devices
are in place there are the tags themselves to
consider. RFID smart labels cost 0.50 to 1.00.
The are companies out there of every size that
use RFID today and the range of costs for all-in,
turn-key solutions.
WMS warehouse management system
ERPEnterprise Resource program
ClearOrbit
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3) RFID will replace bar codes. Wrong. RFID and
bar code will live side by side in the supply
chain for years to come. Certain transactions
will be executed as goods pass through
RFID portals, other operations will take place by
workers scanning bar code labels. But adding RFID
to legacy barcode operations does not require a
tear-out the legacy software and the
implementation of a new end-to-end solution. RFID
can be layered-in on top of existing ERP or WMS
solutions, letting both forms of data capture
transact with a single system of recordwith out
disruption to the ERP or WMS system.
4) RFID requires a separate system to store all
of the tag data Wrong. Although RFID tags can
generate hundreds of reads each second, through
the use of smart filtering technology and
business rules, the business transactions enabled
by RFID can be stored in your current ERP or
WMS system. Your ERP was designed to be the
primary system of transactional data for your
company -- building a separate bolt-on RFID
database and attempting to synchronize the tag
data to your ERP on the back end is a recipe for
disaster.
ClearOrbit
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5) My suppliers will never be able to comply with
my RFID tagging Requirements Wrong.
Collaborative RFID printing technology exists
today to allow suppliers to burn RFID tags per
their customers exact specifications over the
Internet. Suppliers simply place an RFID label
printer on their shipping dock, connect it
to their internal network, and log into a
customer printing web page. The RFID tag formats
and data stored on the customers ERP are sent
via the web to the suppliers printer, ensuring
100 tagging compliance with zero
software investment required by the supplier.
ClearOrbit
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Top ten guide to risk-free RFID Zebra
Technologies outlines how to, and when to
use RFID technology
As the hype surrounding Radio Frequency
Identification (RFID) intensifies, many retailers
and suppliers are finding themselves overwhelmed
by alien vocabulary, fast-breaking updates on
standards or the latest compliance requirements.
This guide is designed to enable you cut through
the wealth of information to understand how the
technology applies to your business. Before
reading on, you may wish to complete the
five-point RFID self assessment check-list below
to assess whether or not RFID is right for you
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Five-point RFID self assessment check-list below
to assess whether or not RFID is right for you

• Would your business benefit from better inventory
  management?
• 2. Do you need to know more about whats on your
  shelves or in your
• warehouse?
• 3. Do you need greater visibility of your
  products through the supply chain?
• 4. Do you have disparate or remote logistics
  providers who find it difficult to
• access central databases?
• 5. Is your organization part of a bigger supply
  chain where RFID might
• become mandatory

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Top ten truths about RFID
1. RFID is not a flash in the pan Contrary to
popular belief, RFID has been around, and in use
by companies, for many years. One of the reasons
the technology is receiving such attention at the
moment is because at the beginning of 2005
Wal-Mart issued a mandate to its suppliers. This
dictate to the organization's top 100
suppliers meant they needed to achieve pallet and
case-level tagging by the start of the year, with
the rest of its suppliers on board by 2006.
2. RFID is happening today RFID is likely to
achieve quicker adoption rates than other auto ID
technologies because the solution is able to
leverage existing bar code systems, which have
demonstrably, paved the way for RFID technology.
3. Implemented correctly, RFID yields measurable
ROI Many retailers and suppliers still falsely
regard RFID as expensive, but the reality is,
with planning it can soon show attractive returns
on investment which is mutually beneficial for
both retailers and suppliers. The
automated reporting of real-time accurate data
can provide a significant advantage to
all retailers.
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4. RFID can improve inventory management,
customer service and improved supply process
Inventory Management Inventory control is often a
costly and time-consuming process. RFID
can enable the automation of inventory
management, helping you to optimize stock
levels. Customer Service RFID tagged items can
offer store-to-store visibility, so customer
requests can be handled quickly and easily
through access to a centralized database.
Faster consolidation of orders Proven efficiency
in raising advance shipping notices (ASNs) by
using RFID passive smart labels has allowed
suppliers to improve delivery schedules which in
turn have reduced picking failures in the supply
chain.
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5. It is getting cheaper RFID costs are
decreasing rapidly as seen by recent
announcements surrounding costs, and will
continue to reduce rapidly as more
companies adopt the technology in addition,
standardization is bringing the cost of RFID down
drastically. Despite the relatively high cost
now, retailers should start researching and
trialing RFID solutions as soon as they can, in
order to reap maximum benefit.
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6. RFID and bar-coding both have a place in the
market RFID and bar-coding both have their uses,
and it is likely that they will continue to
co-exist. However, there are limitations to
bar-coding that RFID addresses
Line-of-sight Barcode readers can only read
barcodes within line of sight, unlike
RFID readers. RFID tags can be read inside
pallets or through other products, allowing an
accurate determination of whats inside.
Product data only Bar-coding only identifies the
Unique Product Code (UPC). RFID tags assign a
unique number to each individual item. In
addition, read/write RFID allows you to update
information about the item as necessary
this feature could be beneficial in tracking
repairs on a part, identifying specific items for
recall or managing products with a dated shelf
life. Increased velocity With truly unattended
automatic read capability the opportunity to
increase velocity of packaging such as pallet and
cases. The efficiency on the supply chain can be
improved.
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7. Its not a waiting game If you put off
implementing RFID to see what happens in the
market, you could find yourself left behind. If
you are not currently trialing RFID then you can
bet that your competitors are, and when the
technology starts to deliver benefits that give
them a business advantage, your learning curve
will hold you back.
8. Not all RFID tags are the same RFID tags are
not one-size-fits all. There are different types
of tags, each with its own usefulness depending
on the application Active tags Active tags
have a battery included on the tag, providing
greater read range. The battery increases the
basic cost per unit. Passive tags These tags
use the magnetic field generated by the RFID
reader to power themselves. Though the read range
is lower, the price per unit is cheaper
than active tags.
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8. Not all RFID tags are the same (continued)
Write once/read only tags Once written, no
information on the tag can be modified. To get
the most benefit from these tags, they need to be
connected with a database that has detailed
history and information about that item. These
tags are the cheapest, making them the most
appropriate for inexpensive items. Read/write
RFID tags The flexibility of read/write tags
helps in remote storage situations where
the relating database is out of range.
9. RFID can be gradually integrated into the
business It isnt about an all-or-nothing
approach. You can carefully control the
impact and measure the benefits of RFID
deployment by incorporating the technology into
the business gradually. Typically retailers may
wish to begin with high value product lines such
as electrical equipment before rolling this out
to other areas of the business. Equally you dont
need end-to-end RFID technology in order to start
reaping the benefits typically the supply
chain will comprise a combination of RFID,
smart-labels and traditional barcodes.
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10. There are no significant barriers to
implementation that cant be Overcome In order
to achieve optimal performance from an RFID
system, a product may need to be re-packaged, or
in special cases, business processes may need
to be changed in order to remove obstacles that
prevent RFID being used. However, creative
thinking can help many you share in the benefits
of RFID.
Zebra Technologies
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RFID asset tracking
The use of RFID Technology in asset tracking
applications provides the end user with much more
accuracy, efficiency, and is very cost
effective. Fixed Assets - building furniture,
fixtures, machinery, equipment etc. Most
businesses have hundreds of thousands of dollars
rapped up in fixed assets and have no idea
actually how much these assets represent. PCs ,
printers, monitors, mobile equipment / handhelds
are asset that can be tracked using either active
or passive tags. By using a RFID label printed,
for example, by a RFID Printer (Datamax, Sato,
and/or Zebra) and TagManager software, a business
can affordably track every asset in each location
they may have. When multi read points are
available throughout an office or building,
assets can easily be tracked as they are moved
throughout the facility.
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RFID File Tracking
One application that lends itself VERY well to
using RFID technology is file tracking.
Businesses that rely heavily on paper files have
always had a need to track and locate files
faster. Now a RFID label can affordably be placed
on a document or a file jacket. When multi read
points are available throughout an office or
building, files can easily be tracked as they
move throughout the facility. RFID technology
is different from bar coding. A bar code label
requires the reader to be in the line of sight of
the reader to be read. Not having to position a
label to be read allows the RFID system to
function easily. Locating a misplaced or lost
file is easy with RFID. A handheld File locator
allows an employee to search a file cabinet or an
associates office quickly and easily. Just enter
what file is missing and run the File locator
over the top of a file drawer or group of files
in an office. When the File locator gets within a
certain distance of the missing file it lets you
know that you have located it.
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RFID Access Security
Another area that RFID plays an important roll in
is access to restricted areas such as, Data
centers, call centers (helpdesk), building
facility areas, security rooms, building parking
etc . . . Visitor (s) in unauthorized areas

• Another area that is all to often forgotten is
  safety.
• Fire evacuation ( did the 231 people that
  entered the building this morning, exit the
  building when the fire/evacuation alarm sounded)
• Hard hat damage zones

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Access Control with RFID
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Principles of RFID The Tag Passive, Active,
Read Only Read Write versions programmed with
a unique identifier or programmed data from the
host system. The Reader/Decoder This is used
to generate the RF signal, read the data and
interface to the host system. The Antenna The
point at which the RF field is generated to read
the tag, this is often remote to the main
reader.
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Active vs Passive comparison
The requirement will dictate the RFID
technology Lower Cost Passive Shorter range
from proximity to three meters Slower read
rate Higher reader power Active Tags
Longer range seven to two hundred meters Fast
read rate Less reader overhead
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Active vs Passive

• The requirement will dictate the frequency
• Longer range will require a higher frequency
• A water laden environment will probably require
  an LF solution
• A fast read requirement will probably require
  an HF solution
• The requirement will dictate the silicon chip
  choice
• Multiple tag reads will dictate an
  anti-collision tag protocol
• Memory requirement read only, read write, high
  memory
• The environment will dictate packaging
  frequency
• A metallic environment will require special
  packaging and RF Shielding
• Electrical noise considerations
• Tag orientation to antenna, fixed orientation,
  changeable

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Tag Issues
An active tag is powered by a battery. A familiar
use of these tags is the vehicle identification
systems that are used for automated highway toll
payment systems. These tags power their
electronics by battery and are able to transmit
back a relatively high level of signal giving
them a range of 25 feet or more. A passive tag
collects the energy it receives from the radio
wave transmitted by the electronics box and saves
this up on a capacitor. This energy is then used
to power the electronics and the transmitter that
sends the signal back from the tag. As a result,
the signal transmitted by the tag is only a small
fraction of the signal level it receives. As a
result, the interrogation range of passive tags
is limited to a few feet. The benefit of passive
tags is that they are an order of magnitude less
expensive than active tags and they do not have a
battery which will wear out after a couple of
years. Tags come in a variety of frequency
ranges. Three of the common frequencies used
are 13.56 MHz Passive VHF (Very High
Frequency) Band used primarily in Europe
for material tracking. Also used in Europe and
the USA for assembly line tracking 433 MHz
Used for Active Tags on Shipping Containers
860930 MHz Passive UHF (Ultra High Frequency)
band tags used by the DOD (US Department of
Defense) and WalMart.
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The next set of slides will show you some of the
different type of tags hardware and how they
may be used in different environments
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This is an example of a jail system
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Different types of RFID hardware
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These are examples of a active reader with
different antennas and some of the active tags
what work with this specific active reader.
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What was the future in inventory management, is
the reality today
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Five Steps to RFID Implementation The successful
implementation of an RFID strategy depends on a
clearly understood and well-supported plan in the
company. These six steps should each be carefully
understood and applied for a successful
implementation
1. Create an RFID Policy for the company. This
basic step requires the company to agree on the
objectives of RFID implementation, the technology
to be deployed, define the data structure - ie
what information needs to be stored about each
item. This document should be regularly reviewed
to ensure that it is updated as implementation
issues are resolved, but it should be treated as
the company policy for implementation to avoid
different departments addressing the issues in
their own ways. Obtain high level backing for the
strategy and plan - at Board level if possible.
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2. Document the Reasons for Adoption. This
document should describe and quantify why the
company is implementing RFIDs. These could
include a mandate from a key customer, a desire
to increase efficiency of internal processes, a
move to integrate information between suppliers,
the company itself and it's customers, and the
financial costs and benefits of adoption should
be estimated and documented. Remember that the
benefits can include both direct benefits in
labor savings as well as indirect savings or
benefits to customer relationships in being able
to accurately track their shipment throughout the
manufacturing and delivery processes.
3. Develop an implementation model. This document
will define the implementation strategy, covering
such items as the proposed technology provider
(and second supplier in case the first can not
deliver the required capability on time), safety
issues associated with implementation,
discussions and agreements with unions, staff
communication plan, testing processes etc.
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4. Deployment Plan. Choose the easiest and
fastest implementation application so that the
company can see an immediate gain, and the
initial teething troubles will be manageable.
Avoid the temptation to work on the area of
maximum pain for this first implementation as the
issues and problems may cause the whole project
to flounder. Choose a small facility, where as
many variables as possible can be controlled. Get
the hardware implemented and properly tested and
operational, and sort through the software issues
in this test environment.
5. Manage the Constituents. Ensure that the plan
is fully supported at all levels - from the
Executive Board down to the shop floor, so that
those directly involved or impacted by the
introduction know what the aims are and are
supportive of the changes. Make sure that the
technology suppliers are fully involved as
Partners in the plan, to maximize their support
and have the ownership of the plan clearly
understood. Publicize the progress and gains
made, and confirm the results against the initial
Reasons for Adoption.
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Conclusions
Each RFID application needs to be considered
from the users fundamental requirement. The
specification should be approached with the
technology limitations and benefits in mind.
Consider, but dont specify on tag performance
just because the tag has Read/Write capability
doesn't mean you need it.
Can it be done with a barcode? If so , will it
accommodate, Bulk reading no Harsh
Environments no High Speed no True hands
free no Consider the application carefully,
dont over specify. RFID is less predictable
than barcode, the benefits can be great so can
the cost of failure Keep it simple and real.
And finally New RFID technologies and better
understanding has opened up many new benefits and
improved the payback potential.
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