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REAT ; RFID Electronic Asset Tracking

- RFID Basics
- Barcode vs RFID
- What Product Are Selected?
- Challenges
- How to overcome challenges?
- RF Footprint Overview
- RFID Standard

RFID Electronic Asset Tracking

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RFID Basic

RFID - Radio Frequency Identification

a means of identifying an asset using a radio frequency transmission.
RFID tags are affixed to asset
Each RFID tags are pre-encoded with EPC (Electronic Product Code)

Tags can be read remotely when they detect a radio frequency signal from a scanner
over a range of five feet to twelve feet

RFID Electronic Asset Tracking

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Barcode vs RFID

Barcode RFID
Ability to read one tag at a time Ability to read multiple tags
Efficiency simultaneously
(line of sight required) (no line of sight required)

Tags less susceptible to damage

Dependability Labels easily damaged
Can be used in harsher environments

Easily copied to create fake

Counterfeit barcodes Impossible to copy EPC

RFID Electronic Asset Tracking

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What Product Are Selected

UHF Long Range

865MHz to 928MHz @ 1W
ISO/IEC 18000/6C Gen2 EPC
REAT is composed of three parts
Invengo AT911N (a) RFID Tags/Label
Long Range RFID Scanner (b) Handheld Scanner
Android Application (c) Asset Data Server
Intel Computer
Microsoft Windows, IIS 7.0
Microsoft ODBC

RFID Electronic Asset Tracking

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Challenges
[1] Relatively high cost
[2] Lack of standards
[3] Occasional no-reads and mis-reads
[4] Requisite physical infrastructure
[5] Software integration hurdles
RFID Electronic Asset Tracking
RFID can be more costly:
Whether it be software or hardware,
RFID requires more costly equipment
that needs to be maintained through
the life of the solution.
Additionally, tags, whether they be
Active, Passive or Semi-Passive,
can set a business back a ways.
Although prices have fallen since the 2000,
From 3 USD per tag to 1 USD per tag.
Still taking a pass because of the steep prices.
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Challenges
[1] Relatively high cost
[2] Lack of standards
[3] Occasional no-reads and mis-reads
[4] Requisite physical infrastructure
[5] Software integration hurdles
RFID Electronic Asset Tracking
Understanding the different tags and frequencies
as well as how to use RFID equipment can be a
challenge. R&D, Application Designers need to be
up on the technology so they can take maximum
benefits outs of RFID and a new work flow.
RFID readers & tags collisions are common.
With reader collision, a worker might come across
interference from another reader in the field.
Tag collision is a little different, in that workers with
readers face issues in reading an abundance of tags
at one time. It happens when more than one tag
reflects a signal, and it confuses the reader.
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Challenges
[1] Relatively high cost
[2] Lack of standards
[3] Occasional no-reads and mis-reads
[4] Requisite physical infrastructure
[5] Software integration hurdles
RFID Electronic Asset Tracking
Mis-Reads & No-Reads … !
… is very common. It happens when multiple RFID
Tags & labels existed in close vicinity. This situation
Are avoided using “Anti-Collision” method built around
RFID Scanner by manufacturer.
However, most of time – it might be possible that
Few tags are not read in by the scanner.
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Challenges
[1] Relatively high cost
[2] Lack of standards
[3] Occasional no-reads and mis-reads
[4] Requisite physical infrastructure
[5] Software integration hurdles
RFID Electronic Asset Tracking
RFID Tags, Labels and Scanners worked on
Radio Frequency waves.
Just like any other radio equipment, its
transmission and receipt highly depends on
environment.
The electrical, mechanical and electromagnetic
radiation between a RFID tag and RFID Scanner
causes disturbances and destroy digitally
encoded EPC – this often causes “mis-read” and
“no-read”
The efficiency highly depends on environment.
The more interference – The more losses
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Challenges
[1] Relatively high cost
[2] Lack of standards
[3] Occasional no-reads and mis-reads
[4] Requisite physical infrastructure
[5] Software integration hurdles
RFID Electronic Asset Tracking
RFID based solution is composed of
(a) Back-End Application Software and
(b) RFID Scanner Application
Both application software can be easily
designed using any environment and
For any operating system.
However, the hurdles comes when a
particular RFID scanner is replaced with
some other scanner from a different vendor
Due lack of standards; each manufacturer
designs their own propitiatory protocol that
Creates “hurdles” for software integrators.
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How to overcome Challenges?
Can be easily overcome by selecting several
[1] Relatively high cost Various types of labels in large quantity
[2] Lack of standards
[3] Occasional no-reads and mis-reads Prepare a list of item types based on following;
[4] Requisite physical infrastructure 1. Paper items
[5] Software integration hurdles 2. Plastic items
3. Wooden items
4. Cloths
5. Liquid and
6. Metals

Each type of items may require different types

of RFID tags & labels. The cheapest labels would
work for paper types items but shall not work
for metal type items.

It might be possible that end-user needs fewer

tags for metal items and more tags for other
Items.

RFID Electronic Asset Tracking

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How to Overcome Challenges?
[1] Relatively high cost
[2] Lack of standards
[3] Occasional no-reads and mis-reads
[4] Requisite physical infrastructure
[5] Software integration hurdles
RFID Electronic Asset Tracking
Select just one type of standards.
Avoid RFID Tags/Labels and Scanners with
multiple standards.
There are two standards for Frequency
(a) FCC (902-928 MHz)
(b) Global (860-960 MHz)
Why buy RFID labels that supports both frequency?
When you can have just one type.
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How to Overcome Challenges?
[1] Relatively high cost
[2] Lack of standards
[3] Occasional no-reads and mis-reads
[4] Requisite physical infrastructure
[5] Software integration hurdles
RFID Electronic Asset Tracking
Mis-Reads & No-Reads … !
… is very common.
It is very difficult to overcome this phenomenal effect.
However, it can be minimized by implementing a
general rule of operation.
Stay a longer time at a location where multiple tags
are expected to be existed.
Change the direction of RFID scanner to capture
and cover more area without moving to new location.
If possible, power OFF & ON twice to get more
scan at the same place to minimize mis-reads.
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How to Overcome Challenges?
[1] Relatively high cost
[2] Lack of standards
[3] Occasional no-reads and mis-reads
[4] Requisite physical infrastructure
[5] Software integration hurdles
RFID Electronic Asset Tracking
To overcome environmental effects that
causes mis-reads and no-reads;
Place the scanner nearer to the item.
Avoid metallic bodies in the vicinity of scanner.
Select the scanner; which can read faster, e.g.
A RFID reader/scanner that can scan 100 tags/second
would scan more tags as compare to a scanner
Which can scan 50 tags/second.
Always consider the RF footprint of RFID Tags, Labels
and Scanners to achieve optimum result.
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How to Overcome Challenges?
[1] Relatively high cost
[2] Lack of standards
[3] Occasional no-reads and mis-reads
[4] Requisite physical infrastructure
[5] Software integration hurdles
RFID Electronic Asset Tracking
RFID based solution is composed of
(a) Back-End Application Software and
(b) RFID Scanner Application
Selecting the software environment is
a very critical state in the implementation
Of RFID based solution.
Software development is a time-consuming
process and posses a considerable cost.
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RF Footprint Overview
RFID Radiated Energy in air varies with distance from label fixed on a metal surface.
Using Omni-ID 600
Labels, we can achieve
3 meters when facing
straight to label. The
range drops when the
scanner is moved on
either sides of the
fixed label.

The scanning range

is good when the user
stands 3 meters away
In the line of sight of
the RFID label.

RFID Electronic Asset Tracking

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RFID Standard
Standard used for REAT is;
Long Range RFID components
are used to obtain maximum
performance.

Following are the specs;

EPC Global UHF Class 1
Gen 2 (ISO 18000-6C)
FCC (902-928 MHz)
Global (860-960 MHz)
Detection range is over 3 meters

RFID Electronic Asset Tracking

RFID Electronic Asset Tracking