In general, liquids tend to absorb UHF RF energy while metals tend to reflect it. 

Liquids:  As stated above, liquids absorb UHF RF energy.  What is important to note is that the liquid does not have to actually be in liquid form.  If the item has the ability to hold or attract moisture, you will have to take that into consideration.  For example, a large paper manufacturer found out that because paper has a high moisture content, their large rolls of paper proved more challenging than expected.

Metals:  In most cases, metals reflect UHF RF energy.  This can be a positive or a negative.  In some cases, the metal may reflect the signal in random and unwanted directions. If done correctly, it can help reflect the signal back to the antenna thereby improving performance.  There are many items that have metal content that are not easily apparent.  For example, the shiny packaging you see on grocery items is metallic. 

Therefore, it is important to test your RFID solution thoroughly in your environment with your items as liquids (or high moisture content) and metals (or mineral compounds) will definitely affect the UHF RF energy.  Neither of these should stop you from implementing RFID technology.  With proper system design and engineering, the issues can be addressed and overcome.

I sometimes wonder how successful companies got that way when I see some poor choices they make.  In my previous post I discussed why the RFID market has not seen the dramatic growth that was predicted.  There was another factor that has lead to the slow growth.  The companies who tried to implement RFID and failed for all the wrong reasons.  They hired a systems integrator or a consultant that was not a RFID expert. 

BlueBean receives calls frequently from panicked project managers that has a failed RFID project on his or her hands and needs to be rescued.  At this point their budget is usually busted, the project is not near completion and the read accuracy is poor.  The only out for this project manager is to blame the technology.  He tells his boss that RFID technology is not ready. 
Result: RFID gets the bad rap for a company hiring an inexperienced RFID vendor

The lesson is that RFID projects require an experienced RFID consultant or systems integrator. Companies beware of bar code companies or IT shops pretending to be RFID experts. They can hide behind their technical expertise and be convincing but RFID is a very different animal.  I would recommend asking questions like:
1. What percentage of your annual revenue is from RFID projects?
2. How many complete implementations have you done?
3. How long have you been implementing RFID?
4. Do you have any RFID certifications?

There are few pure RFID consulting and integration companies in the United States.  BlueBean is one of them with over 150 clients.

Did you know that in many countries, RFID is being used on vehicle license plates in order to ensure drivers are registering their cars appropriately?

 

It’s true.  These systems are called electronic vehicle registration (EVR) or electronic vehicle identification (EVI).  How does it work?  RFID tags are embedded in decals on windshields or license plates.  Then, RFID readers are set up at intersections and officials can even use handheld RFID readers when they make a traffic stop.  The system allows these countries to make sure that the vehicles are insured, the registration is up to date and any taxes or fees are up-to-date.

 

And, according to the RFID Journal, “Another potential benefit of deploying EVR and EVI systems is their ability to count the number of cars that drive on a particular roadway during a specified period of time. Many cities worldwide have increasing levels of traffic, but were not designed to accommodate vehicles.”

 

RFID’s use is indeed widespread.  What do you think?  Should the US consider a similar program?  Let me know your thoughts!

Let’s talk now about how RFID is being used to improve healthcare and how RFID can be used in hospitals.

 

The RFID technology allows verification of the patient and procedure as well as surgical site.  This can be verified pre-op and in the operating room.

                        

We hear about it on the news all to often that the surgeon performs an operation on the wrong appendage or even performs the wrong operation. 
This use of RFID technology would eliminate any confusion.  This is good news for people like you and me.  Now, the question is, does your hospital use RFID at all?  You may want to check into it!

 

And, by the way, if your hospital doesn’t currently use RFID, BlueBean has great solutions for healthcare systems looking to use RFID in their facilities.  To find out more, check out RFIDHealthcare.com.

So, we’ve talked about how RFID works and how you can get the technical help you need.  Now, let’s talk about a really great RFID product that is simple and easy to use (even for a non-techie!).

                                                         

The BlueBean Simple Conveyor Portal is a radio frequency identification (RFID) conveyor portal/tunnel solution that is specifically designed to be used with existing conveyors.  The portal uses T-slot technology (if I can do it, so can you!) for easy modifications and assembly.  It’s so easy that only one hand-tool is required and it’s even included with your kit!

 

And the best part is that you can use your existing RFID equipment to get this portal up and running.  And, if you don’t have existing RFID equipment, you can order that at RFIDSupplyChain.com too!

 

Additionally, the BlueBean RFID Simple Conveyor Portal Solution kit allows for adjustable antenna mounts and four-side read capability  -- that means less errors and greater productivity.  Even better, the BlueBean RFID Simple Conveyor Portal Solution can be customized for your specific application.  Now that is simple!

We’ve talked a lot about the various components of an RFID system and how they work.  Now, let’s talk a little about marketing these products.

 

One of the best ways to get your company name out in public view and without spending a whole lot of money is a press release.  Press releases can be distributed to industry publications and other niche publications that apply to your specific product.  In addition, there are a number of submission sites online that will distribute your release for free.

 

We also use a number of pay sites that guarantee inclusion on google and a number of other search engines.  Everyone has heard the old adage…the best publicity is free publicity.  Press releases are a great way to do that. 

Here is an example of a press release that we sent to industry publications.  Material Handling Management picked up our press release on the BlueBean Dock Door Kit and featured it on their website.

 

This was great publicity for our company and our product and the only cost was our time and effort to write and send out this release.  Pretty cool.  Let me know if you have any tips or tricks on getting free publicity…I look forward to hearing from you!

It seems I hear less and less each week about how High Frequency (HF) is the best frequency for item level tagging. As near field UHF (Ultra high frequency) continues to mature one by one the advantages and myths continue to disappear. 

1. UHF RFID tags are affected by liquids

• UHF far field is affected by liquids - TRUE
• UHF near field is affected by liquids - FALSE
• UHF near field not only works on water but in water!

2. UHF RFID tags won't work on tags in close proximity

• UHF Gen 2 singulation and anti-collision algorithms are superior to HF protocols - TRUE
• UHF can read >1000 tags/sec - TRUE
• UHF has more reliable reads on large tag populations - TRUE

Stay turned for at least one more posting in this series on HF vs. UHF.  If you are interested in experimenting with near field technology you can contact BlueBean or if you are ready to purchase a RFID Reader or RFID Kit you can go line at www.rfidsupplychain.com

Now that we know all of the components of the RFID system, don't you wish you could simply order one kit that contains all of the pieces you need to RFID-enable your system?

Well, BlueBean has done just that for any company looking for Dock Door Kits.  These kits can be ordered with components from the top RFID manufacturers including Alien, Impinj, Intermec, Motorola and Omron.

BlueBean's Dock Door kits include the following:

• portal
• reader
• power supply
• antenna
• cables
  
  
  It couldn't be easier!  The portal uses T-slot technology for easy assembly and modifications and needs only one simple hand tool to assemble (this is included).  In addition, adjustable antenna brackets allow users to optimize antenna placement.
  
  Wow...did you ever imagine RFID could be so easy?  I'll tell you more soon...stay tuned!

We've talked about many of the RFID system add-ons that enhance the performance of the system.  Now, let's talk about RFID printers.

 

The coolest thing that RFID printers do, at least from this non-techie's point of view, is that they can encode the RFID information, print a barcode AND include human-readable information as well! 

 

The cool thing for rest of the world is that these printers provide a label that can be read essentially anywhere...whether by an RFID reader, a barcode scanner or even, dare I say it, ME!

 

This is a great add-on for companies that must use different types of encoding depending on where they are shipping their goods.   See, now if RFID actually stood for Really Fun Irish Dancing, you'd  be missing out on all of this great information.

 

Stay tuned for more RFID add-ons...guess what some companies decided to do?  Put all the components together in an RFID kit.  We'll talk about those soon...

This is a three part series covering the three main pieces to an RFID system: 

Three main Components:

Hardware (1/3)     
Middleware (2/3)     
Back - End Software (3/3)

Middleware (2/3):     {Getting the Tag ID and Reader info. to your system}

All systems need to be equipped with a middleware application.  Middleware is software that talks to the RFID readers.  It is this application that bridges the RFID system.  The middleware connects the reader to possible back - end software , while managing the system data and business logic

Most middleware programs are add - ons to an application server. 

“An application server (or app server) is a component-based product that resides in the middle-tier of a server centric architecture. It provides middleware services for security, state maintenance, along with data access and persistence.”          (Courtesy of Barry and Associates)

Price becomes a factor when choosing the right middleware to use.  Larger companies who are already using advanced applications may be able to find an add-on or tool-kit for their system; however, a smaller company may need to look into the open-source market.

Integrating the RFID middleware is an extensive project that may require software solution consulting.



A few examples of RFID middleware apps. (* signifies open source)

** Blue Bean offers RFIDSimpleware which is an easy way to connect quickly and effectively to your RFID reader, they can further deliver middleware needs as required **

SunRFID* - Sun Microsystems 
Microsoft - Biz Talk  - Article Covering Business Aspects
Oracle* 
IBM Websphere
Singularity*

Wow, we have covered lots of ground on the different parts of the RFID system the additional components.  Now, let's talk about software.

RFID software makes reading and retrieving the tag data easier.  Products like BlueBean's RFIDSimpleware, which comes in a few different version for different readers, allows you to easily retrieve tag data without having to write any code yourself (hey, is that perfect for us non-techies or what?)

Other software, such as Integral RFID's Hotspot assists the user in determining the best place to place the tag on your products to optimize readability.

Once again, although not a necessary component of the RFID system, it certainly can make RFID implementation easier.

Stay tuned for more non-techie RFID talk coming to a blog near you soon!

I don't know about you, but this Super Bowl had to be one of the most exciting games I've ever seen.  If I had a vote on the MVP, it would have to go to Steve Spagnuolo, Defensive Coordinator of the New York Giants.  Although there were many players that played exceptionally well, it was the defensive plan of Spagnuolo that won the game. 

So what does this have to do with RFID?  Bear with me while I try to explain.  Any implementation is as only as good as the plan - whether we are talking football or RFID projects. 

Many clients call because they have an issue that they feel RFID can help.  Some clients try to do the design of the RFID project themselves - or they hire a company that offers RFID consulting as one of many services in their portfolio.  I've heard many people say that they are technical so they should not have a problem.  Would someone be able to do your job properly if he only did it once with no experience?  As you can imagine, the resulting "plan" is not solid and problems multiply as time goes by.

For this reason (and others), it is valuable to hire a RFID consulting and systems integration companythat focuses only on RFID technology for at least the design phase.  That way you are guaranteed a plan that will best meet your needs and allows you to triumph over your competition!

As a Vikings fan, I patiently await for next season...

We’ve talked about the necessary components of the RFID system – the reader, tags and antenna.  Now, let’s talk about some other components that enhance this system.  First, the RFID Portal.

 

The RFID portal is commonly placed around doorways, dock doors and conveyors.  Many portals come complete with the reader and antenna which are mounted on the portal.   When the tagged items pass through the portal, the RFID antenna reads the tags and sends the info to the reader (sound familiar).

 

Portals make it easy to RFID-enable shipping and receiving functions in a company and allow companies to easily track assets.  Another great component for finding the blue bean!

 

Ready for software?  We’ll talk about it next time…in non-techie lingo of course!

This is a three part series covering the three main pieces to an RFID system: 

Three main Components:

Hardware (1/3)     
Middleware (2/3)     
Back - End Software (3/3)


Hardware (1/3):
The hardware is the RF - analog side to the RFID system.  It is here where the tag information will be read and sent to the interrogator for analysis.

Readers:

Readers handle the tags and also manage the power, number of reads, and also I/O's that may be added to the system.

Readers come in many flavors and the right reader is a preference to the application’s needs.

- - An ALIEN 9800 reader is being used for my RFID project - -

Tags:

There are many ways to read and represent an RFID tag, and the technology continues to grow and advance.  The fundamental ways to read a tag is to have the tags passively or actively perform.  The active tag is equipped with an internal power source as to transmit who it is when it is needed.  The passive approach may use power from the reader, or could also manipulate the readers signal as to distinguish its identity.  Class 1 Generation 2 tags are a newer more secure class for tagging.

- - Class 1 Generation 2 is being used in the project - -

Antennas:

Antennas are what send and receive the RF information.  Most systems use at least two antennas to handle the transmitting and receiving.  The pattern of the antennas transmission and reception is design to get the most reads for the amount of power being used; providing the largest reception band possible.  The most popular pattern is a circular pattern, to create a spherical zone of interrogation.

Recently I was an expert moderator for a 400 level RFID class at a university and a student posted an interesting question:

"How do you communicate to upper management the benefits of using RFID?" 

This is a very good question.  I typically break down the benefits into three categories:

1. Intangibles - benefits of implementing a RFID system where no dollar savings can be calculated (Better costing, improved charge audit capabilities, improved job satisfaction...)

2. Soft Savings - you can calculate a dollar savings but it will not be used as part of the ROI calculation (i.e. improvement in nurses productivity by improving out of stocks so the nurse doesn't need to search for supplies - 5% improvement * 40 nurses = $210,000/yr in productivity.  This is a soft savings because the number of nurses does not decrease.)

3. Hard savings - you can calculate a savings and it will reduce expenses or increase revenue (reduction in inventory shrinkage, reduction in headcount....)

It is important to note that for some projects the soft savings could be included with the hard savings to calculate a ROI for the project.  The other part of the ROI calculation is the cost piece...RFID Equipment, RFID Middleware, RFID Tags, Consulting & Design Services.

The RFID Antenna is the last of the three necessaray components (the other two we already discussed -- the RFID reader and the RFID tag).

To put it simply, the RFID antenna is what "connects" the tag to the reader.  When a tag passes by the reader it is the antenna that transmits the tag's signal to the reader.

There are a few different types of antennas.  Linear antennas are used if the tags always pass by the reader in the same way.  Circular antennas are used if the orientation of the tag cannot be controlled.

So, now we have covered the three necessary components of an RFID system.  We'll talk about some other add-on components such as RFID portals, software and RFID printers in upcoming blogs.

Alien Technology has recently introduced what they call a game changer when it comes to RFID Readers.  They introduced the ALR-9650, a single Gen2 reader with an integrated antenna. They introduced a very different form factor then what we expect from RFID readers.  Typical readers have four or eight antenna ports and cost $1500-$2000 each and if you add in one antenna it would cost an additional $200.  The ALR-9650 is a single unit that is a reader and antenna which makes it perfect for single read point applications. Just in case you need a two read point reader it allows for a second external antenna.  The ALR-9650 can be purchased for around $850.

The ALR-9650 takes up little space; at only 9 inches square it uses less than half the real-estate of a typical reader and antenna system. This unit is nice to use in applications where the reader is visible to the consumer or general public since there are no antenna cables and is rather stylish. Colleges and universities could create cost effective labs for students to get some hands on experience.

Alien has again shown that it can compete against the big RFID hardware suppliers such as Motorola and Intermec.  They continue to innovate and are quicker to the market with innovative products like the ALR-9650.


.

Now that you have delved into the world of RFID, you have probably heard the main components of an RFID system.  The necessary components are the RFID reader, the antenna and RFID tags. Other components, such as RFID portals, can be used but are not necessary in a functioning RFID system. 

 

I will explain each of these components in some non-techie language so that you can understand what each component is and what it does.  Today, we will cover the RFID reader.

 

Unlike bar codes where the reader needs to “see” the barcode in order to recognize it, RFID readers need to only “hear” the tags (we’ll talk about tags next time).  The RFID reader is an integral part of the RFID system.  The reader logs the information from each tag that passes by it and stores the data. 

 

Think of the scanner at the supermarket as its parallel in the barcode world.  The advantage to RFID, however, is that it can read multiple tags at the same time.  This is unlike a bar code that has to “see’ each bar code before it can register.

 

Stay tuned for your non-techie tutorial on RFID tags…I know you’ll be waiting anxiously!  

Perhaps you’re in the same boat as I am…you understand the concept of RFID (note…if you don’t, read my blog on what the bluebean is).  However, you don’t fully understand the technical aspects of it.  But here’s the worst part…your boss just dropped you an email that said “We need to find out about using RFID at our facility – report back to me in a month on your findings.” 

Well, if you’re like me, the sweat starts to break out, your palms are clammy, you think to yourself, can I find another job before this deadline?” 

RELAX!  Take a deep breath and know that the super BlueBean Tech Team is here to save the day!  (insert superhero music of your choice here).

 

OK, so we know from the old song, the Reader is connected to the antenna and the antenna connects to the tags (isn’t that how it goes?)  But, where to put the reader, where to put the antenna and where to put the tags? 

Seemingly impossible answers to you and I are only a job for the BlueBean Tech Team!  They can tell you exactly what you need faster than a speeding bullet (well, OK, maybe not that fast but they know their stuff!)

 

As BlueBean executive (and perhaps undercover superhero himself) Gregg Maggioli says “RFID technology can be intimidating.  With BlueBean’s Tech Team, clients can feel at ease knowing that an expert is at their disposal to install their systems and answer their questions.”

 

So, rest at ease, my fellow non-techies…the BlueBean Tech Team is here to save the day.

 

Until next time…

 

When I was sitting watching my beloved Indianapolis Colts lose their first round of the NFL playoffs I started losing interest and starting of thinking about how RFID will transform the world we live in.  If you think about the billions of dollars that have been spent on ERP, accounting, CRM, Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) and many other IT systems they all have one thing in common.  They rely on humans to input data.

Recently BlueBean completed a RFID project for GE Aviation and I was speaking with one of their Six Sigma Black Belts.  We discussed that RFID is perfectly suited for taking the human (variability) out of the process.  RFID allows for real world objects to communicate directly with those expensive IT systems with no human interaction.

Ok, lets take a Healthcare example - consider a mobile asset management system in a hospital.  The only way to track a mobile asset (i.e. IV pump, heart monitor...) in the past was for a person to manually keep track of where these assets were located.  So if maintenance was required on a certain IV pump someone would need to physically walk around the hospital until that pump was found.  It was too difficult and error prone to manually track these assets.  Now consider RFID.... every mobile asset has a active RFID tag or passive RFID Tag and would provide location information back to a centralized mobile asset management solution.

Consider hospital supplies - each item (supply) would have a RFID tag and when these items are placed on a smart shelf the backend inventory system will know inventory levels in real time with no human intervention.

As RFID equipment prices drop and the performance improves more applications will become viable.