Rfid Will Have A Dramatic Impact On The Operation Of Global Supply Chains Over The Next Ten Years

Introduction to RFID

無線寬頻網路應用服務 2

RFID Will Have A Dramatic Impact on the Operati

on of Global Supply Chains Over the Next Ten Years.

Scott Lundstrom, Chief Technology Officer, AMR Research


Labor55%

RFID vs. Barcodes

Barcodes•Low Cost

•Broad Utilization

•Human Readable

RFID / EPC•No Line of Sight

•Large Memory – Data Moves with Product / Asset

•Dynamic Data Reads

•Data Transfer Requires Line of Sight

•Data Storage is Limited

•Environmentally Sensitive

•Higher Costs

•Read Sensitive to Product Attributes

•Limited Adoption

+

-


• What is RFID ?• What can it do ?• Where is it used ?• Why all the recent hype ?• How to get started ?• What are the REAL costs ?• What are the problems ?


RFID BEGINNINGS

• IFF Beacon Radar - 1930’s • Civilian Air Traffic Control - 1950’s• RFID Tags - Government ID - 1960’s• Animal ID - 1970’s• Ignition Immobilizers - 1980’s• HF Smart Cards - 1990’s• Open Supply Chain RFID - 2000’s ??


-v-

The Business Case for RFIDReturnable Tag Items Provides a Good ROI

Effectively for FREE RFID offers greater functionality range, storage, use in heavy industry or dirty environments

Typical Retailer - 400 stores, 8 distribution depots, 300 suppliers

Barcode

Labelling Cost: 1.5 million containers in circulation, 2 cycles per week with random return. Therefore 150 million labels a

year at a fully absorbed cost of around £6 per thousand - Say £400,000 per annum

Labour Cost: To affix 30 labels per minute, at £5 per hour - Say £400,000 per ann

um

Reading Costs: 150 million individual portable device scans a year, at £5 per hour.

Say £400,000 per annum

Remote database maintenance Costs: Barcode is read only; dynamic data cannot

be stored on the asset. Say £100,000 per annum

TOTAL £1.3 million per annum.

RFID

Capital Cost: 1.5 million tags, for repeated use over a minimum 5 years, at 60p per

tag

Annual depreciated cost of £190,000.

This is 14% of the cost of the barcode operation each year. A saving of

£1.1 million a year!

Source: http://www.intellident.co.uk


WHAT IS RFID ?

RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION

What is RADIO ?• WAVES• FREQUENCY• AMPLITUDE• VELOCITY• WAVELENGTH• ENERGY


RFID 是什麼？ RFID 是 Radio Frequency Identification 的簡稱，一

般翻譯為「無線射頻辨識技術」或「無線射頻自動辨識系統」

RFID 主要應用於自動辨識物件自動資料蒐集

非常類似於條碼 (BAR CODE)

識別的位元較條碼多，可定義追蹤物件


• RFID is used for unique identification

• Contains a unique code• Code can be read by a

suitable reader• Capable of storing a great

deal of data

• EAS does NOT have a unique identity

• Limited in applications• Mainly used for security• Particularly in retail for

anti-theft

RFID is NOT EAS

• Both of these technologies are a subset of Automatic Identification and Data Capture (AIDC) technologies

• These include biometrics, smart cards and bar-coding as well as many other contact and contact-less technologies.


RFID Characteristics

Can be read from and written to…

Item attendantData…

One tag has a Lifetime of

Around 10 Yrs…

Chem/Temp/PhysicalResilience…

Anti-collision allows multiple

Item scan…

No line-of-sight required to read…


RFID 技術原理 (RFID 系統組成 )


RFID Basicshttp://www.printronix.com/uploadedFiles/Laran_WhitePaper_RFID.pdf


RFID Technology Technology ‘Stack’ Consists of Four Elements

Tags: Microprocessor with antennae, memory encapsulated or

embedded on substrate, active tags have battery, new technology includes sensors

Readers (fixed and mobile): Excites tags (termed ‘inductive coupling’ passive only) and

reads data encoded on tag Savant / RFID Data Management Systems :

Intelligent controllers that filter, buffer and apply business logic to RFID reader data for transmission to business applications

Application Software: Business software which utilizes RFID data


RFID – Sampling Tags / Readers

Pallet tag, UHF (Matrics)

Cardboard-case tag, MW (Matrics)

Plastic crate tag, UHF (Rafsec)

Sample Tags Sample Readers

Stationary reader and antenna (Alien)

Signpost activator (Savi)

Stationary reader (Matrics)

Handheld reader (Checkpoint)

Doorway antenna (Checkpoint)

Stationary reader and antenna (SAMSys)

Stationary readers are typically deployed at

warehouse portals or loading docks, on conveyor belts or

forklift arms, on store shelves, check-out lanes, etc.


EPC Class 1 UHF Tags

D / M Tag• Approximate Size: 95mm x 20mm• Low environmental sensitivity• Low orientation sensitivity• Good for general use and liquids

U tag• Approximate Size: 99mm x 44mm• Lowest environmental sensitivity• Lowest orientation sensitivity• Good for liquids

Squiggle tag• Approximate Size: 95mm x 10mm• Small UHF form factor• Very low cost UHF tag• High gain in controlled orientation

I2 tag• Approximate Size: 134mm x 13mm• Highest gain in a controlled orientation• Best for controlled environment & orientation


E-M SPECTRUM

ELECTRO MAGNETIC SPECTRUM

LF HF UHF MICROWAVE LIGHT XRAYS

134 KH

z125 K

Hz

AM FM. TV

13.56 MH

z

CELL RADAR

900 MH

z

2.45 GH

z

InfraRed

Rainbow

UltraV

iolet

Cosm

icG

amm

aX

Rays


WAVELENGTH

FREQ

LF 134 kHz HF 13.5 MHz UHF 900 Mhz MW 2.45 GHz

Wavelength (m) = Speed of Light (m/s) / Frequency (Hz)


RFID 技術原理 ( 頻率使用 ) Low Frequency: 125 ~134KHz （ TAG 電力來源：電磁轉

換）Short range; inexpensive; Access control, animal ID , automobile key-and-lock

..

High Frequency: 13.56MHz （ TAG 電力來源：電磁轉換）Medium range; Access control, Smart cards, library book tracking, airline bagga

ge tracking, apparel item tracking ..

UHF:400 ~1000 MHz （ TAG 電力來源：共振）Long range, high reading speed; Toll collection, pallet / container management

Microwave: 2.4GHz （ TAG 電力來源：共振）Line of sight; expensive; Access control for vehicles, Toll collection, harbor ma

nagement


RFID is not just RADIO WAVES• technical limitations• requires in-depth knowledge• chose the right components• consider the environment


Volume of Data

Early RFID technology trials have established that the amount of data generated by pallet, case and item tracking via RFID tags will be 100 to 1,000 times the volume that companies currently retrieve when using traditional bar coding systems.

About 50 percent of organizations believe that their current infrastructure can accommodate anticipated RFID data volumes.

In October 2005, Teradata announced that Wal-Mart’s data warehouse exceeded half a petabyte.

Before

RFID

After

RFID


How ready is your firm to operate in an RFID environment?

August 2004


How ready is your firm to operate in an RFID environment?

January 2005

RFID Readiness

Have not started57%Around 5%

ready14%

Around 75% ready29%


Do you know how the implementation of RFID will

impact your systems? August 2004


Do you know how the implementation of RFID will

impact your systems? January 2005

No43%

Yes57%


Do you know how the implementation of RFID will impact

your supply chain processes? August 2004


Do you know how the implementation of RFID will impact

your supply chain processes? January 2005

No29%

Yes71%


Do you believe that the investment your firm will likely make in new technologies, systems and

processes will be worthwhile in the long run? August 2004


Do you believe that the investment your firm will likely make in new technologies, systems and

processes will be worthwhile in the long run? January 2005

Not certain57%

Yes43%


What are your greatest concerns related to acquiring and implementing RFID?

(Please rank the following with 1=greatest concern and 10=least concern)

ConcernMean 1-05

σ1-05

Mean 8-04

σ8-04

Cost of technology 2.7 1.7 3.5 3.0

Unclear benefits 3.0 3.0 5.5 3.0

Invest in wrong technologies and processes 4.2 1.9 3.9 2.6

Requirements are a “moving target” 4.7 2.5 4.0 2.7

Required changes to current processes 5.3 2.1 5.6 2.2

Inadequate resources to successfully complete project 5.3 2.9 6.6 2.9

Do not know “where to start” 5.7 4.5 8.5 2.7

System adjustments 6.3 0.8 5.0 2.4

Management inattention 7.8 2.0 5.9 2.8


How much would you estimate the cost acquiring and implementing RFID

will be?

Responses ranged from $75K to “Hundreds of Millions.”

Most of the respondents have little idea what the final costs will be.

Cost uncertainty is a concern.Clearly an area for additional research.


ROI Suppliers less sure of benefits than they were a few mon

ths ago. Many suppliers say a real return on investment is

currently years away Ninety percent of those firms surveyed say that "a timely

and substantial ROI" is a prerequisite for launching any major RFID initiative in their organizations.

A large portion of RFID investment is expected to occur during 2005.

A little over half of suppliers believe that RFID system deployment will reduce labor costs and boost process efficiencies in their firms


Read Rates

Many users report that RFID read rates are currently below acceptable levels.

Rates below 70% are not uncommon with specific products/processes.


Progress Update Fifty-three suppliers started shipping cases and pallets with RFID

tags to the Wal-Mart DC outside Dallas in the beginning of January 2005.

Wal-Mart expects to have 108 suppliers shipping cases and pallets with RFID tags by the end of January 2005. The remaining 29 (out of 137) are expected to come online by the end of February 2005.

Wal-Mart is on schedule to expand its RFID initiative to 12 distribution centers and 600 stores by October 2005.

In January 2005, Wal-Mart has installed RFID equipment in 104 stores.

By the beginning of 2006, Wal-Mart's top 300 suppliers will be required to tag cases and pallets of selected products with RFID tags. By the end of 2006, the retailer expects its entire supplier base (up to 20,000 suppliers) to be "engaged in RFID in some form or fashion."

Tesco is deploying RFID equipment across 35 distribution centers and approximately 1,300 retail outlets by Fall 2005. Tesco plans to implement more than 4,000 readers and 16,000 antennae.


Software Requirements

The volume of data, and the need for precise control and monitoring of RFID readers, requires deploying customized middleware that links readers with corporate ERP systems and other supply chain infrastructure.

Concern about overwhelming network loads likely to mean firms will implement middleware solutions to mitigate redundant volumes and excess reads.


RFID Roadmap

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

PilotsImplementatio

nFully Operational

Followers

Late Followers

Early Adopters

• The number of pilots increases rapidly

• EPC standard Class 1 Generation 2 is published

• European legislation on UHF is amended

• EPC global becomes operational.

• Reliable UHF products become available

• The first RTI pool organisers offer crates fitted with RFID tags.

• Large retailers such as Wal-Mart and Tesco start a large-scale roll out,

• The number of followers starting pilots increases quickly.

• Early adopters are fully occupied with implementation

• The first followers start their implementations.

• The late followers are also slowly starting the first RFID pilots.

• Price of a passive RFID tag falls to 5 Euro cents.

• Followers now occupied with implementation, followed by the late followers who had a relatively short pilot phase.

• The first early adopters complete their RFID implementation with logistics applications.

• In the years after 2007, interest slowly shifts towards item level tagging, but it will be some time before this is used.

There is a relatively short window in which it is forecast that RFID will be adopted, however following early adoption a wave of implementation will occur

Source ; LogicaCMG


EPC ， EPCglobal and EPCglobal Network

EPC （ Electronic Product Code ）是 EPCglobal 所訂定的 RFID 編碼的標準，目前最新的版本是 EPC Class1 Gen2.( 之前已訂定 Class 0 及 Class 1 Gen1)

EPC 碼被喻為新一代條碼 (Next Generation Barcode) ，編碼結構延伸自現行的傳統條碼，在物件信息描述上，更為豐富、詳細，並更具時效優勢。

EPCglobal Inc. 是由 EAN International 及 Uniform Code Council 共同組成之非營利組織，推動 RFID 全球運籌之共通技術標準與運作規範發展。 http://www.epcglobalinc.org/

EPCglobal Network 是一個全球架構的資訊體系，提供 EPC 全球資訊的交換平台目前 EPC 支援的編碼

GTIN (Global Trade Item Number) GIAI (Global Individual Asset Identifier) SSCC (Serialized Shipping Container Code) GRAI (Global Reusable Asset Identifier) GLN (Global Location Number)

http://www.epcglobalinc.org/


RFID 資料標準 EPC (Electronic Product Code)運用 RFID 技術，在供應鏈提供資訊蒐集與分享之應用

由 MIT Auto-ID Center 發展

判定下列序號之編碼結構

識別負責維護下列號碼之公司或單位(2.68 億 )

辨識代表特定產品之物件種類 (1600 萬 )

唯一的物件身分證明(680 億 )


GTIN 與 EPC

例： GTIN-13 471 1240 12863 1 EPC 轉換為 SGTIN-96 後為 30.6bits.4711240.12863X*( 註 1).38bits( 註 2)

註 1 ： ITEM 可比現在 GTIN-13 多編一位註 2 ： 38bits 可識別 2748 億個 serial number( 建議分為三段生產單位、批號、物

件序號 )


EPC 的應用範例


EPC TAG

Class 0

只供讀取 (Read Only)

提供在出廠時以制訂號碼的唯讀標籤。標籤在出廠時即寫入一組不可更改之號碼，提供簡單的服務辨識。

Class 1

只寫一次 (Write Once)

可供一次寫入之唯讀標籤 Wal-Mart 便要求供應商於 2005 年 1 月在供來的貨棧上，貼上 EPCClass1 標籤。

Class 2

重覆讀寫 (Read/Write)

具可重複讀寫功能之被動式標籤

Class 3

重覆讀寫 (Read/Write)

內設感應器的半被動標籤，更包含額外的感應器：可偵查溫度、濕度、動向變化記錄在 RFID 標籤，內建電池增加讀取距離。

Class 4

研發中是一種半被動標籤，可主動與其他標籤溝通。


EPC Class I - V

Class V tags Readers. Can power other Class I, II and III tags;

Communicate with Classes IV and V.

Class IV tags: Active tags with

broad-band peer-to-peer communication

Class III tags:semi-passive RFID tags

Class II tags: passive tags with additional

functionality

Class 0/Class I:read-only passive tags


EPC Class 1, Gen 2

TDS 1.3 2006/03/08


Tag Technology

Passive Tags

Power for transmission from inductive coupling, excited by reader and sends data

Active Tags

Contain embedded power source, e.g. battery, tag initiates transmission

ATTRIBUTE PASSIVE ACTIVE

Power Inductive Battery

Frequency LF (125 KHz), HF (13.56 MHz), UHF (868-930 MHz), Microwave (2.4 GHz)

HF (303, 433 MHz), Microwave (2.4 GHz)

Read Distance < 25 feet ~ 15 to 1,500 feet

Memory 128 bits – 8 k 64 bites - ?

Life Unlimited 2 to 7 years

Cost ~ $0.10 to $10 $10 to $20

Type Class 0, 1, 2 Class 3, 4, 5


EPCglobal Network ™與國際接軌資料透通

EPCglobal Network ™Secure Internet Exchange

企業 A

企業內部系統（如 ERP…）

EPC

Middleware

EPC reader

EPC IS

(Information server)

ONS

(Object Name Service)

AuthenticationAuthorization

企業 B

企業內部系統（如 ERP…）

EPC

Middleware

EPC reader

EPC IS

(Information server)


Case Study I

Beaver Street Fisheries, 是美國最大的冷凍海鮮及肉品的配銷商之一

初期導入是將冷凍魚、螃蟹與龍蝦的盒子上貼上具有 RFID 的標籤

長期的目標則是希望她的供貨商能將捕撈方式、捕撈重量以及地點等資訊透過 RFID 共享資訊。

該公司循序的將 RFID 推展到盒子及棧版的層級在 2004 年該公司開始將裝有 RFID 的棧板及盒子運到 W

al Mart ，並獲得 Wal Mart 的推薦成為其他供貨傷的標竿。


Case Study II

日本農業部 (Ministry of Agriculture) 進行的一項測試計畫

將標籤張貼於每個測試的西瓜上面。消費者透過手機裝置有 RFID 讀取器讀取 RFID 內存的

資料標籤的上面則做為廣告區塊以區隔競爭者。標籤內則詳細的記載生產及運銷的紀錄。本計畫仍在測試中。


Case Study III

澳洲 Moraitis 公司，是處理農作物的批發包裝及處理的公司本計畫是針對處理蕃茄的紙箱 (Tray) 標示 RFID 做追蹤，總共投入 60

萬個 ( 年 ) 在輸送戴上面裝設固定隧道式 reader. 透過本系統，每天追蹤四噸蕃茄包含紙箱的來源、包裝時間、種類、

數量及分級品質公司可以追蹤每批貨品丟棄的數量以及準確追蹤蕃茄的生產者在出貨的部分，員工使用手持式 reader ，確認出貨的對象及數量，與

公司既有的資訊系統連接該公司分享相關資訊給上游的生產者，其他經銷商及零售超市通路在蕃茄分級時進行標籤的張貼識別


Case Study IV

日本迴轉壽司店做為快速結帳使用不到一秒鐘算出總共的金額並列印帳單


Case Study V Maruetsu 是日本最大的零售通路之一，本計畫為建

構其供應鍊的食物追蹤系統 TAG 追蹤的標的是食物產品的 Item Level ，從出貨

開始將 RFID 標示，提供生產者、批發商、零售商以及消費者均能查詢追蹤，品項包含了水果、蔬菜、肉品、魚以及加工食品

相關的 Reader 則普及的建置於整個流程需要讀取的地方

相關資訊平台則由 NTT Data 公司建置提供參與的合作伙伴分享

相關資訊儲存如食品成分組成、產地、生產者的資訊以及流通的過程，甚至包含烹調的相關建議。以保障食品的安全


RFID 系統資料流程

擷取 tag 資料

從 RFID reader 讀取 tag 資料Tag 資料為一串代碼Reader 相關管理工作

設定讀取或寫入 tag觸發事件處理

對應物件之實際資

料

將 tag 之代碼轉換為物件實際資料

物件名稱 (貴重設備品名 )位置資料 (教室、會議室… )出現時間

寫入資料庫

將物件實際資料寫入資料庫事後或例行分析 (貴重設備借用情形及使用位置 )即時事件觸發 (貴重設備被移至不當位置 )

資料分析

事後或例行分析貴重設備借用情形貴重設備移動位置

即時事件觸發即時事件觸發貴重設備被移至貴重設備被移至不當位置不當位置警示警示

即時事件處裡即時事件處裡


RFID 解決方案架構

RFID Reader ( 位置 C)

Tag 資料擷取 (RFID Anywhere)

1. RFID tag 資料擷取2. RFID 網管3. Tag 資料過濾

核心資料庫(ASE)

動態資料複製(DODS)

1. 將核心資料庫資料複製到資料倉儲2. 支援資料分析系統3. 降低核心資料庫負載

資料倉儲及

決策支援系統(IQ)

資料分析(AP1)

1. 分析資料2. 產生報表或追蹤物件

即時資料服務(RTDS)

1. 事件觸發2. 應用程式連接

Message Bus

報表、分析

RFID Reader ( 位置 B)

RFID Reader ( 位置 A)

物件移動路徑追蹤

管理中控台

Web/XML

對應資料

完整資料

tag tag

tag 區域網路LAN

A

B

C

物件位置警示

其他應用程式

…

…

…

資料對應(RFID Enterprise)

1.Tag 對應至詳細資料2.完整資料輸入資料庫 a. Tag 讀取時間 b. RFID 位置3. 相關管理

MQ


RFID Capabilities – Metal and WaterOPERATING FREQUENCY 13.56 MHz 915 MHz 2450 MHz (2.45 GHz)

Wavelength In the FM frequency band 22m, near field effect

Similar to the GSM mobile phone frequency. 33cm, plane wave

Similar to WLAN frequency (ISM band). 12cm, plane wave

Tag to Reader Field Interaction

Near field effectWaves circumvent around conductive substrate unless it is several meters wide and length

Far field effectWaves “bounce” around conductive substrates in most substrates

Far field effect. Waves “bounce” around conductive substrates in almost all substrates

Water and Liquid Sensitivity

Insensitive to water, snow and other liquids even when immersed

Read distance greatly affected by water, snow, and other liquid either in front or behind the tag.

Read distance is dramatically affected by water, snow, and other liquid.

Reflection v. Absorption Transmit through surfaces and substrate that contain moisture and water . Circumvent small conductive subject. Reflection from conductive surfaces larger than wavelength

Absorption on surfaces that contain moisture and water. Reflection and bounces back from conductive surfaces that are invariably larger than wavelength

Absorption on surfaces that contain moisture and water . Reflection and bounces back from conductive surfaces that are invariably larger than wavelength

Applications Can place directly on containers that contain water. Not subject to attenuation and thus read rate reduction when placed under substrates that contains moisture. Cannot be placed on metal surfaces. Longer read distance of several feet only for larger tags

Cannot place directly on containers that contain water May be subject to attenuation and thus read rate reduction when placed under substrates that contains moisture Cannot be placed on metal surfaces. Longer read distance of several feet

Cannot place directly on containers that contain water. May be subject to attenuation and thus read rate reduction when placed under substrates that contains moisture. Cannot be placed on metal surfaces. Longer read distance of several feet

Source: Low Cost and Reliable RFID Tags for All Frequencies, Kevin Chung, Ph.D.


Standards and Regulations Summary Table

Category Standard

Identification Cards – Contactless Integrated Circuit Cards

ISO 10536 (ISO SC17/WG8) (1) - Close coupled cards ISO 14443 (ISO SC17/WG8) - proximity cards (2) ISO 15693 (ISO SC17/WG8) - vicinity cards (3) ISO 10373 (SC17/WG1/8) Identification cards - Test Methods (4)

Item Management

ISO 10374 (ISO TC 104) - Freight containers - Automatic identification ISO 15960 (SC31 WG2/4) - RFID for Item Management; - Transaction Message Profiles ISO 15961 (SC31 WG2/4) - RFID for Item Management; - Ho st Interrogator - Tag functional commands and other syntax features (standard under development) ISO 15962 (SC31 WG2/4) - RFID for Item Management; - Data Syntax (standard under development) ISO 15963 (SC31 WG2/4 - Unique identification of RF Tag and Registration Authority to manage the uniqueness (standard under development) (5) ISO/IEC TR 18000 (SC31 WG4/SG3) - RFID for item Management; Air Interface (standard under development) (6) ISO 18001 (SC31 WG4) -Information technology - RFID for Item Management - Application Requirements Profiles

Animal ID ISO 11784 (ISO TC 23/WG19) Radio-frequency identification of animals - code structure ISO 11785 (ISO TC 23/WG19) Radio-frequency identification of animals - technical concept ISO 14223 (ISO TC 23/WG19) Radio-frequency identification of animals - Advanced Transponders (standard under development) (7)

Other standards

IATA: (ISO 15693) (standard under development) UPU: "contactless stamps" ANSI MH10.8.4 (ISO TC 122)- RF Tags for Unit Loads and Transport Packages (U.S. TAG Project) (standard under development) ANSI MH 10/SC 8 (TC 122) - RF Tag for Shipping, Receiving, and Warehouse Management Applications (standard under development)

CEPT CEPT/ERC 70-03 Recommendation 70-03, relating the use of short-range devices (SRD) CEPT T/R 60-01 Low-power radiolocation equipment for detecting movement and for alert (EAS) CEPT T/R 22-04 Harmonisation of frequency bands for Road Transport Information Systems (RTI)

Radio Regulation

ETSI (standard under development)

EN 300 330 ERM: Short Range Devices (SRD) Radio equipement in the frequency range 9 kHz - 25 MHz and inductive loop -systems in the frequency range 9 kHz - 30 MHz (8) (standard under development) EN 300 220 ERM: Short Range Devices (SRD) Radio equipement to be used in the 25 MHz - 1 GHz frequency range with power levels up to 500 mW (standard under development) (9) EN 300 440: Radio Equipment and Systems (RES); SRD; 1 GHz - 25 GHz (standard under development) EN 301 489 ERM: ElectroMagnetic Compatibility (EMC) standard for radio equipment and services (standard under development) (10)


RFID Markets

Not just Manufacture and Logistics! - This a multi-billion dollar market and growing!!

Distribution centres,HealthcareFood distribution,Bulk waste disposal,Garbage centres,Airport freight terminal,Harbours,Access control in industrial areasSupply chain logistics,Container handling.


RFID Delivers Newborn Security

Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital uses RFID to track the location of its newest patients and ensure they won’t be removed without permission. The same system is being used to track assets.

ChevronTexaco Takes RFID Offshore

A field test at one of ChevronTexaco's offshore platforms in the Gulf of Mexico provides insights into how RFID can be used in shipping/receiving operations. ChevronTexaco is now looking at other pilot projects.

Tracking Assets from Prairie to Peak

Within months of deploying RFID to keep tabs on its IT equipment, Colorado's vast El Paso County expects to soon recoup its investment.

Airport Says Payback Is in the Bag

When its RFID luggage-handling system goes online in January, the Hong Kong Airport expects to lower labor costs, increase capacity and improve security.

RFID Revs Up Hummer Plant

AM General needed to boost production of its Hummer H2 to meet demand, but its manufacturing facility had limited space for parts. The automaker turned to RFID to keep the plant humming.

NASA Creates Thinking RF Sensors

Low-cost wireless sensor networks developed by NASA can detect environmental changes and take action in response to what they detect. Now RFID is set to make them even more effective.

RFID Gives Racing a Winning Edge

Using active RFID tags, the Indy Racing League not only times and scores 16 events, it also provides critical data to drivers and race crews, and helps engine, tyre and chassis makers develop products.

Soap Maker Cleans Up with RFID

Canus, a maker of goat's milk soap, is deploying RFID to cut distribution costs, keep products from spoiling in transit and meet Wal-Mart's tagging requirements ahead of schedule.

RFID Brings Order to the Law

After a national law firm installed an RFID system to track legal files at its Boston location, accuracy in locating files jumped from 35 to 98 percent—saving tens of thousands of dollars in time spent looking for documents.

Chip Maker Tries ‘Snack and Trace’

By using RFID to track shipments within its supply chain, KiMs, a Danish potato-chip maker, not only spiced up its sales but also cut the fat from its inventory and workforce.

Example RFID Markets

Source : http://www.rfidjournal.com/article/archive/4/


The Future of RFID and the Challenges - Applications

The Electronic Wallet – middleware and security

Cradle to Grave tagging – standards and middleware

Source Tagging - size, cost and technology, mass production applications

Tag Pollution


The Future of RFID and the Challenges - Tags

Reducing the cost of tags Technology

Plastic RFID: They're not here yet and probably won't be available in even the 13.56 MHz range for another 5 years. But the technology to produce very cheap, useable RFID tags is getting closer.

Nanotechnology, genomics, or even chemistry – quartz paper, for example

Multiple Access TechniquesFuture Multiple Access Techniques include CDMA – from

mobile communications and possibly OFDM in the future – but expensive to implement, IFFT, DSP etc

Tag Packaging Tag Pollution


The Future of RFID and the Challenges – Middleware and IT Support Structures

Network ArchitectureWill be several orders of magnitude larger than the number

of nodes on the Internet Peer to Peer computing

Data is disbursed across one or more enterprises, and often across the globe

Distributed computing techniques Will even impact upon microprocessor design

Sun Microsystems - Chip Multi-Threading (CMT) – parallel computing at the microprocessor level


Sokymat - Putting Its Know-How to Work

The Swiss company, one of the largest tag producers in the world, provides RFID solutions for three target markets: logistics, access control and animal identification.

IBM - Bulks Up Its RFID Initiative

Big Blue has made RFID a top priority, adding the technology to its manufacturing operations, rolling out industry-specific RFID deployment services and rolling out RFID test labs.

Hewlett-Packard - Putting RFID Know-How to Work

Hewlett-Packard was an early adopter of RFID technology. Now, the IT and computer powerhouse wants to put knowledge gained internally to work for its customers.

ADT Will Monitor Your RFID Readers

The security company wants to leverage the engineering and services units of parent Tyco Fire & Security to create an organization that can install and service large-scale RFID deployments.

Escort Memory Systems Zeroing In on the Closed-Loop

Since 1985, Escort Memory Systems has flourished by providing closed-loop RFID systems for manufacturing plants and industrial operations—a market that remains strong.

Sun Microsystems

Four years after becoming the first technology company to sponsor the Auto-ID Center, Sun Microsystems says its focus on network computing and peer-to-peer EPC platform will beat out the competition.

Texas Instruments TI-RFid Broadens its Spectrum

Texas Instruments has been a major player in the RFID market for more than a decade, but it watched competitors selling UHF systems steal the limelight. This Vendor Profile explains TI's new market strategy.

SAP Takes RFID into the Enterprise

The enterprise resource planning vendor's Auto-ID Infrastructure aims to help companies leverage RFID data. This Vendor Profile looks at SAP's strategy for using RFID to enhance supply chain applications. AWID: Accessing New RFID Markets

Applied Wireless Identification, an access control specialist, wants to be a player in the market for RFID supply chain systems. It plans to develop custom chipsets for handheld and low-cost fixed readers. SAMSys: A Reader for Every Need

SAMSys Technologies sells readers that cover the common RFID frequencies and protocols and fit specific applications, such as conveyor systems. Now it's educating the market about how they should be used.

RFID Vendors - www.rfidjournal.com

Source : http://www.rfidjournal.com/article/archive/6/