Check out this cool website at www.RFIDTags.com.  It has a great listing of RFID Tags.  It is highly ranked and offers excellent technical RFID support.

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.

We have all heard and witnessed that RFID has not exploded onto the scene like initially predicted.  It has seen steady growth but no big breakthroughs...why?

We need to look back a couple of years and look at the market in 2003.  Proprietary RFID equipment (RFID Readers and RFID Tags) were being sold in small quantities but obviously no company was going to invest a large amount of money in proprietary RFID hardware - result: no market movement

In 2005 the EPCglobal Gen 2 standard was passed. Finally the RFID market would explode...wrong. It took most of this year to get the Gen 2 compliant RFID equipment into the hands of integrators and early adapters.  Intermec was claiming it owns the RFID patents and wants everyone to pay royalties - result:unsteady market and only pilot programs

In 2006 the results are being published of tests performed with the first release of  Gen2 compliant RFID Readers and RFID Tags.  The test results are not spectacular.  Wal-Mart slows its roll-out plans - result: slow market growth

In 2007 (of late 2006) the second generation of RFID Hardware was released. Performance was much  improved  and  prices have dropped for both readers and tags - result: closed loop applications have become more common

In 2008 what will happen? The performance of RFID equipment is excellent for pallet and case applications.  RFID Tag and Reader prices have dropped and are very affordable.  Performance is good enough for item level applications to be considered.  What is the key to unlock the door that is holding back the RFID market?  One word...Volume!  If you talk to any of the RFID chip companies (i.e. Alien, Impinj...).  They need volume to drive down prices.  It is no longer an issue of technology it is an issue of economies of scale.  They need volume to drive down tag prices thus making item level applications (pharma, clothing ...) become cost justifiable. Wal Mart, DoD and other retailers need to keep the pressure on and the FDA needs to mandate that all drugs sold in the United States be serialized with a RFID tag. 


Wow!  Looking back on what I just wrote I was only planning on writing a quick post but I really got into this topic:)

As Americans, we all remember 9/11 too well.  The great thing is that the Freedom Tower is now being built where the Twin Towers once stood.  And, did you know that RFID is an integral part of that building process?

 

Active RFID tags are being placed in the concrete foundation so that the builders can monitor the concrete’s complicated curing process. Different grades of concrete are being used in the Tower and each cures differently.  And, the concrete must be cured before it can bear a load.  For some types of concrete and curing process can take weeks.

 

Prior to the use of RFID tags being placed in the concrete, mathematical models were used and they unfortunately had a high error margin so builders would err on the side of caution and let the concrete sit longer to make sure it was definitely cured.  Now, a handheld reader is used to read the tags and make sure the concrete is ready.

 

Another cool use of RFID!  So, now when you visit the Freedom Tower in NYC you’ll know that RFID was an integral part of its construction.  God Bless America!

 

 

In the early days of RFID, RFID tags were placed haphazardly on the cases and packages with no thought on how it would affect the read range.  Now we know better!

We now know that there are locations on every package that are hostile to RF and others that are friendly.  This is important to not only the individual package, but also when the packages are stacked or in a line.  Why does this happen?  Packaging material and item materials play a major role.  For example, if you have a case of liquid laundry detergent, the tag will perform better when away from the liquid.  There is software that shows you the RF-friendly locations (in green) and the RF-hostile locations (in red).

This is a small but critical step in any RFID solution.  After all the time, money and resources utilized in the design and implementation of an RFID solution, wouldn't it be a shame if the warehouse personnel placed the tag right in that big red spot?

Next time I will discuss the challenges of metals and liquids.

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!

While BlueBean mainly focuses on EPCglobal Gen2 RFID applications and some active RFID solutions the recent announcement from Hitachi about a new  RFID Powder is very interesting.  Leveraging the semiconductor  industry advances in manufacturing smaller and smaller IC's Hitachi has managed to strip out all unnecessary circuits to create the smallest RFID tag - .05 x.05 mm - WOW!

Their target market is mainly financial - anti-counterfeit - bonds, currency...

You could easily see where this technology could be embedded in different paper products.  Legal companies, accounting companies and hospitals could take advantage of having RFID tags in every piece of paper.  These organizations all face mountains of paperwork. 

What about the jewelry industry?  Another great opportunity for "Powder" RFID Tags.

It will be interesting to see what form factor the RFID Readers will take to read these little RFID tags.

Hitachi says the RFID Power will be commercially available in 2-3 years.

 As RFID technology matures and the capabilities of RFID equipment improves new and interesting applications arise.  BlueBean has recently started a project using active RFID for a electronics retail chain that wants to correlate the amount of time its sales people spend on the show room floor in their respective departments to actual sales.

Hmmm...who would have thought that RFID could drive more sales?  We all know how Wal Mart is improving out of stocks by utilizing passive RFID to improve its supply chain but to improve people utilization is an interesting idea.  If you have have not spent
time in electronics retail you would be surprised how real-time it is.  Managers look at sales and other metrics by the hour so adding an additional metric of sales people location utilization to this mix will allow them to keep optimizing the same resources to drive more sales.  MAN I LOVE THIS TECHNOLOGY!

As the mom of two little girls, I am becoming increasingly aware of environmental issues and steps that I can take to make a difference for them and future generations.  I use energy-efficient lightbulbs, reuse plastic containers and bags as much as I can, turn off the lights when I don’t need them on and we always make a point to recycle.  So when I saw this article about Kraft and its recycling program I was thrilled.  Here’s a big manufacturer taking steps to help our environment.

 

Check it out.  Kraft foods has started a pilot program where they reward people for recycling!  According to RFID Journal, “Kraft is the "official food sponsor" of RecycleBank, which has been expanding its offering across the United States with technology to weigh recycling bins as they are lifted into the recycling truck, while also recording whose recyclables are being weighed. The consumer can then use that record to download a variety of coupons and other rewards, based on the amount of recycling they did.”  Read the article.

 

So how does RFID play a role?  The bins are tagged with RFID tags and each customer has a unique ID code on their bin and to use when they log in online.

 

How awesome is that?!?  Let’s hope some other manufacturers join in the program too.

The moment of truth is close in determining the winner of the battle for the RFID pharmaceutical market.  While the FDA has not and probably will not back one frequency or technology over another California's ePedigree mandate will provide the market with the de facto standard UHF or HF.  California's 2009 ePedigree mandate for all drug packages coming into the state explicitly requires package serialization...can you say RFID?  All of the major drug distributors AmerisourceBergen, McKesson and Cardinal Health are scaling up to met the mandate.  The distributors, while they will not declare the winner being UHF or HF, are either testing both HF and UHF or only UHF - another sign UHF will probably win.

The impact of using RFID tags at the item level for the pharmaceutical market will finally provide the hockey stick demand curve the industry has been waiting for.  So all of us in the RFID business will be watching the success or failure of the RFID California mandate very closely.

I would like to reference a very good article on this topic of UHF vs. HF (California RFID Mandate).  The performance of RFID Readers and RFID Tags as well as the cost seems to be in favor of UHF so it will interesting to see who will win.

With RFID UHF tags, there is a general rule of the thumb:  The larger the tag, the longer the read range.  This is generally true when comparing tags from the same time period.  As with any technology, performance improves while the size decreases over time.  Therefore, a 4' x 4" tag from 2005 will generally not perform as well as a 2" x 2" tag from 2008.

A critical component is the antenna design.  Unfortunately, there is no one best antenna design.  The optimal design is dependent on the application which includes form factor, size limitations, dielectric characteristics of the material to which it is being attached, frequency optimization, etc.


Another general rule of thumb is that a single dipole tag properly lined up with a linear antenna will have a longer read range than a dual dipole tag with a circular antenna.  In my earlier post about RFID antennas, I discussed the difference betwen linear and circular antennas.

Although this is a high-level view, the basic RFID tag factors which affect read range are:
     1.  size
     2.  antenna design
     3.  type

The next in this series will discuss how the item itself affects the read range.

I was chatting online with one of my fellow bloggers the other day.  He was telling me that the warehouse he works in is going to be receiving and processing RFID-tagged items in the near future.  Being somewhat of a non-techie himself, especially where RFID is concerned, he asked me if I knew how this might work and if I could explain it in non-techie terms.  Well, the first thing I told him was that I had to sit down because no one had ever asked ME for RFID advice before!  But seriously, I did know of a great RFID solution for his company…The BlueBean EasyInbound.

 

The EasyInbound is a RFID case receiving line, specifically designed and engineered to efficiently and accurately process both RFID labeled and non-RFID labeled cases.  As the boxes move down the BlueBean EasyInbound RFID case receiving line, the conveyor’s zones control spacing between boxes which allows for proper separation.  The box then passes through a lightweight RFID conveyor portal that is framed with RF-reflective mesh screens and over RF-transparent conveyor rollers to ensure bottom read capability.  These components provide highly accurate RFID receiving read rates.

 

Once the box goes through the portal on the EasyInbound RFID case receiving line, the status lights will indicate whether or not the box had an RFID read.  If the RFID tag on the box was successfully read, the green status light illuminates and it continues down the line. If the RFID tag was not successfully read, the red status light illuminates and it is automatically pushed off the line and down a conveyor specifically for non-RFID labeled cases or RFID labeled cases that failed to read.

 

So, now, I tell my friend, his warehouse can process both RFID-tagged and non-RFID shipments.   Awesome and, dare I say it, Easy(Inbound)! 

 

So, there you have it, my first bit of RFID advice.  Keep those questions coming, fellow bloggers.  And, if I don’t know the answer, I’ll check in with one of my fellow RFID techies and attempt to translate to something us non-techies can understand!  Looking forward to hearing from you.

In the meantime, check out BlueBean's EasyInbound in action...

Looking for just the right gift for Valentine's Day for the technology-savvy person in your life?  Well, check out your local Ford dealership...they now have trucks available with RFID to keep track of your tools and other assets!

According to RFIDUpdate, The newest mobile RFID reader is more than six feet wide, 17 feet long, weighs a few thousand pounds, and is known more for its horsepower than its MHz. Ford's popular F-150 pickup trucks are now available with an RFID reader integrated in the bed to monitor cargo. ...Ford Work Solutions is a series of software and services for vehicle, worker, and asset management. It is targeted to contractors and other customers who use their vehicles for work. The applications rely on an in-dash computer now offered as an option for 2009 model year F-150 and F-Series Super Duty pickups and E-Series vans....Customers receive a supply of specially designed Gen2 RFID tags to apply to the tools, toolboxes, containers, or other items they want to track.

So, how cool is that?  Your truck can actually track your assets for you and before you leave a site you can check to make sure you have everything you came with!

If this is a little out of your price range, remember that flowers, cards and chocolate work well too!  Happy Valentine's Day.

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

As I mentioned in my previous blog about the million dollar question, "How far will it read?", two of the factors are the reader and antennas (and remember we are discussing passive RFID).

Passive UHF RFID readers can affect the read range depending on the manufacturer and the power level.  In the US, FCC regulations cap the output power at 4 watts, whereas in Europe it is only 1 watt.  There are studies available for purchase that detail the testing results of readers and antennas in a controlled, RF-friendly environment.  These are appropriate for general guidelines, but each environment is different and a reader that did not test at #1 in the study may be the better one in your environment.

Passive UHF RFID antennas can also affect the read range depending on the manufacturer, the type of polarization and the gain.  Antennas can be either linearly polarized or circularly polarized.  When the direction of the electric field is in one plane, it is called "linear polarization".  When the direction of the electric field is rotated around the axis of propagation, it is called "circular polarization".  Linear polarized antennas will provide a longer read range as compared to circular.  Also, an improvement in antenna gain is achieved by focusing the radiated RF into narrower patterns for the purpose of increasing the power in a specific direction.  In general, the higher the gain the longer the read range. 





My next post will cover how RFID tags affect the read range.

 

Contrary to Tina Turner, frequency like love has everything to do with it.  RFID technologies operate at many frequencies, but I will only cover the most common passive ones here:  low-frequency (125 MHz), high-frequency (13.56 MHz) and ultra high-frequency (860-960 MHz).

Low-frequency (LF) passive solutions operate around 125 MHz, use less power and are less susceptible to liquids.  Read ranges are in inches.

High-frequency (HF) passive RFID solutions operate around 13.56 MHz, use more power and are less susceptible to metals.  Read ranges are at most a few feet.

Ultra-high-frequency (UHF) passive RFID solutions operate between 860-960 MHz (depending on the country), uses the most power of the three and are less likely to pass through materials.  The data transfer rate is faster than LF and HF and the read ranges can be as high as 30 feet or more.

As you can see, frequency plays a role in determining the read range of a solution.  Next time I will continue with the role the reader and antennas play.

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!

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!