What Is Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)?

Radio frequency identification (RFID) is a kind of wireless communication technology, which can identify specific targets and read and write relevant data through wireless signals without establishing mechanical or optical contact between the identification system and specific targets.

The radio signal is transmitted from the tag attached to the article through the electromagnetic field adjusted to the radio frequency to automatically identify and track the article. Some tags can get energy from the electromagnetic field emitted by the identifier during identification, and do not need batteries; There are also tags that have their own power supply and can actively emit radio waves (electromagnetic fields tuned to radio frequencies). Tags contain electronically stored information that can be identified within a few meters. Unlike the bar code, the RF tag does not need to be in the line of sight of the identifier, and can also be embedded in the tracked object.

Many industries use RFID technology. Attach the label to a car in production, so that the factory can track the progress of the car on the production line. The warehouse can track the location of drugs. Radio frequency tags can also be attached to livestock and pets to facilitate positive identification of livestock and pets (positive identification means to prevent several livestock from using the same identity). The RFID card can allow employees to enter the locked part of the building, and the RF transponder on the car can also be used to collect the fees of toll roads and parking lots.

Some RF tags are attached to clothing, personal belongings and even implanted in the human body. Since this technology may read personal information without my permission, this technology may also infringe on personal privacy.

1. Characteristics of RF Technology

The most important advantage of the RFID system is non-contact identification. It can read labels in the harsh environment where snow, fog, ice, paint, dirt and bar codes cannot be used, and the reading speed is extremely fast, less than 100 milliseconds in most cases. The sketch ability of active RFID system is also an important advantage. It can be used for interactive business such as process tracking and maintenance tracking.

The main problem that restricts the development of RFID system is incompatible standards. The main manufacturers of RFID systems provide special systems, which leads to different applications and industries adopting different manufacturers’ frequency and protocol standards. This confusion and separation has restricted the growth of the entire RFID industry. Many European and American organizations are working to solve this problem and have made some achievements. Standardization will stimulate the rapid development and wide application of RFID technology.

2. Applicability of RF Technology

The essence of logistics management is to reduce costs and improve service level through the management of the whole logistics process. How to ensure that the right customers get the right products at the right time and at the right place at the right cost and under the right conditions has become the highest goal pursued by logistics enterprises. Generally speaking, the value of enterprise inventory accounts for about 25% of the total assets of the enterprise and more than 50% of the current assets of the enterprise. Therefore, the core of logistics management is the management of inventory in the supply chain.

In terms of transportation management, radio frequency identification technology is adopted. It is only necessary to install electronic labels on the outer packaging of goods and set readers at the transportation inspection station or transit station to realize the visual management of assets. At the same time, the cargo owner can access the in transit visualization web page according to the authority to understand the specific location of the goods, which is of great significance to improve the service level of logistics enterprises.

3. Performance characteristics of RF Technology

3.1. Fast scanning. RFID reader can read several RFID tags at the same time!

3.2. Miniaturization and shape diversification. RFID is not limited by size and shape in reading, and does not need to match the fixed size and printing quality of paper for reading accuracy. In addition, RFID tags can be miniaturized and diversified to be applied to different products.

3.3. Anti pollution ability and durability. The carrier of traditional barcode is paper, so it is easy to be polluted, but RFID has strong resistance to water, oil, chemicals and other substances. In addition, since the bar code is attached to the plastic bag or the outer packaging carton, it is particularly vulnerable to damage; The RFID volume label stores data in the chip, so it can be protected from contamination.

3.4. Reusable. Today’s barcode cannot be changed after it is printed. The RFID tag can repeatedly add, modify and delete the data stored in the RFID label to facilitate the update of information.

3.5. Penetrating and barrier free reading. When covered, RFID can penetrate non-metallic or non transparent materials such as paper, wood and plastic, and can conduct penetrating communication. The bar code scanner must be in close proximity and there is no object blocking it before it can read the bar code.

3.6. Large memory capacity of data. The capacity of one-dimensional bar code is 50bytes, the maximum capacity of two-dimensional bar code can store 2 to 3000 characters, and the maximum capacity of RFID is several trillion characters. With the development of memory carriers, the data capacity is also expanding. In the future, the amount of information that items need to carry will be larger and larger, and the demand for the expansion capacity of the label will increase accordingly.

3.7. Safety. Since RFID carries electronic information, its data content can be protected by password, so that its content is not easy to be forged and altered.

RFID has attracted much attention because of its long-distance reading and high storage capacity. It can not only help an enterprise greatly improve the efficiency of goods and information management, but also connect sales enterprises and manufacturing enterprises, so as to receive feedback information more accurately, control demand information, and optimize the entire supply chain.

Click links to view more articles about RFID technology:

https://www.misterpoll.com/forums/114827/topics/333543

https://uberant.com/article/1858753-application-of-rfid-tag-in-footwear-and-clothing-industry/

https://www.thefreeadforum.com/postclassifieds/for-sale/computers-hardware/classifieds_for_free/rfid-management-system-realizes-digital-management-of-power-grid-tool-warehouse_i3909040/classifieds-for-free/andrews-afb

https://dailygram.com/index.php/blog/1147608/rfid-technology-ushers-in-an-explosive-period/

https://www.awkwardzombie.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=286798

http://www.blog-directory.org/BlogDetails?bId=66628&catId=6&t=Smart%20Shelf%20Of%20Rfid%20Lib…&v=

https://lexcliq.com/4-advantages-that-rfid-should-be-applied-to-low-temperature-inventory-management/

http://clashofclansbuilder.com/forums/thread/426372

https://fortunetelleroracle.com/computer-accessories/rfid-technology-realizes-differentiation-breakthrough-of-clothing-industry-641050

https://gotartwork.com/Blog/what-is-the-difference-between-barcode-technology-and-rfid-technology-/46969/

https://www.atoallinks.com/2022/rfid-warehouse-asset-management-based-on-rfid-technology/