| Home | events | | Who Attends | Agenda | sponsor /exhibit | 2007 RFID Solutions Workshops Register to Attend The Premier RFID Workshop for Decision Makers Montreal, Thursday, 26th April Toronto, Tuesday, 15th May Vancouver, Tuesday, 22nd May Calgary, Wednesday, 23rd May, and Winnipeg on Friday, 25th May. Registration Deadline: 20th April to attend workshops Register to Attend   SoftMatch's RFID Questions and Answers Ask Bob (Bob Matson, RFID Engineer, US Patent holder, RFID expert and a Member of the SoftMatch Advisory Board) your technical or non-technical RFID questions. We'll send you the answer then copy Q&A's here to help everyone's education. To search this page: Press the Control Key +F. If you have any questions, email or call Alwyn Mitchell, Vice President Events, RFID Solutions workshops, at 416-756-1461 Most Recent Questions and Answers: Q: Dear Bob: I'd like to get feedback and insight from Bob regarding RFID. A: Toni, thanks for some very good questions. I have responded below. You may contact me for some details if interested. Just contact SoftMatch and ask to forward your Email. Bob Q: I'm trying to understand how practical RFID really is regarding asset tagging. A: Asset tagging is a great application for RFID. It can provide theft prevention, inventory control, location, and many more benefits. You control the costs as you may chose from many types of systems with only the features that you need. A basic system will consist of a Reader, which receives the Tag signals, a computer, and the Tags, which may be of a few different types such as passive or active. You could also have "locators". These devices provide tag location information. Passive tags are the least costly, but you may have to locate the tags yourself, then read the ID number with a hand-held scanner/reader. Active tags may be read from hundreds of feet away, and provide for remote inventory and tracking control. Also, an active tag may be programmed to transmit at a preset interval, always keeping in touch. You can literally take inventory of an entire facility without ever leaving your desk. Q: I work for a food manufacturing company that has many processing and packaging lines with a current asset listing composed of ~16,000 assets and growing. We have facilities located in multiple states in the U.S. I am trying to find a solution that will accomplish tagging the assets as there is no asset tagging done currently, reduce the time it takes to complete annual physical inventories, and determine if it is feasible to work in conjunction with the existing fixed asset software system. A: A good RFID system can easily merge into an existing asset management system, and you can use the existing control numbers as the Tags ID number. The RFID system can communicate with all of your offices using Email or SMS text messages so everyone can access the system any time. You may also create a secure web site where tag information is uploaded and displayed 24/7. A manager in Boston can get an inventory of a stock room in Hong Kong instantly. Q: How feasible is RFID for asset tagging? A: Very feasible and practical. How technically difficult is it? A good system is easy to install, operate, and maintain. Generally, the biggest hurdles are actually placing the tags on the many assets, and installing some of the Readers due to physical limitations in different buildings. Q: How costly would this be? A: Active Tags will cost between US $15 and $100 each, ...depends on features such as, do you need to communicate with the tags? This will require a receiver on the tag to get the messages from the Reader. This is called a bi-directional Tag and it can also provide better location information. An active Reader will be around $250 to $1,000,...again depends on features. A Passive tag is very low cost, might be less than $0.50 each. A Passive Reader could be $300 to over $2,000, and you may need several. So, for a large building with lots of scattered assets, I reccommend active systems. Active Tags need batteries. These will have to be replaced every few years. The batteries are about 25 cents each, and most Tags will send a "Low Battery" alert a few weeks before the battery expires. Q: Because we are a food manufacturing company, the tag placed on the asset must be very secure so there is no chance of contaminating the product flow. Assets consist from dryers, boilers, pumps, motors, conveyors, to forklifts, sprinkler systems, desks, chairs, HVAC units, etc. A: Most Tags can be very secure and are sealed. It is up to the installer to make sure of the integrity of the installation.   Q: Ideally, I want to take the Asset ID number that is assigned by the fixed asset software and generate an asset tag that is placed on the specific piece of equipment (the asset) so an inventory can be taken and the assets location identified with ease. A: Not a problem. I know of a system that generates a computer photo of the asset when the Tag signal is received, Then you can make sure the item matches the Tag photo, and it also identifies the correct owner/user of the assest.    I need to be able to ensure that all assets on the company asset register are during a three year cycle. Thanks for your time and insight! My pleasure Toni. Let me know if I can assist further. Bob     Q: Dear Bob: We are beginning to do some investigation into what advantages RFID might provide us. I understand the general concept but have the following question. We produce sheets of material of various sizes that go into box by various quantities. The product then moves from place to place. I can see where RFID could pick up the product as it moves around but I am not clear on how it would handle quantities. As an example: 1.) Made 4 boxes of Product A that contain 30 sheets each and they go on Pallet X. These are batch ABC. 2.) Made 6 more boxes of Product B that contain 30 sheets each and they go on Pallet K. Also Batch ABC. Unless we put an ID chip on each individual box, I can't see how RFID could pick up that as Pallet X comes into range that there are 4 boxes on the pallet. Putting a chip on each box would work I would think and give us the quantity but that would get very expensive. That would require 10 chips per my example. Any high level thoughts on this particular issue? Thanks, Bill A: Hi Bill, thanks for the question. Do you have room for a small Passive reader, close to where your boxes of product will be moving about? Small passive tags are not expensive, (some are about 10 to 25 cents each), and can be placed on each box. Knowing the contents of the boxes, you will be able to track / record your inventory as it moves around. I am now involved as the designer in a project that will drop the cost of long-range passive tags to less than a nickel each. Combine that with a low-cost Reader, (which I am also designing), and you have a viable solution to tracking many low-cost items. Stay tuned to SoftMatch for progress.   Q: Dear Bob: My company has developed and deployed a virtual customer care application called ViCCi (pronounced "Vicky") in our client's shopping centres. These ViCCi units use state of the art technology, including interactive LCD touchscreens, high definition plasma, and a virtual customer service agent that interacts with consumers, providing directions, keyword searches on brands and products, gift ideas, job postings, to name a few. We are interested in exploring the potential uses of RFID technology to track people inside these shopping centres, using ViCCi as a base station to monitor the whereabouts of other family members inside the mall. This would be an opt-in service for customers, and is appealing to parents with children. Ideally the customer would use ViCCi to track the location of family members, with ViCCi providing directions to that location in the shopping centre. My questions are - is the hardware cost prohibitive for such a specific use, would the hardware need to be installed inside tenant locations (particularly anchors), and what are the privacy issues associated with opt-in services such as these? Thanks in advance, John A: John; this application works well for Active Tag systems, and is not cost prohibited. Many programs may be implemented to cover costs. I have developed similar systems for tracking people and equipment in hospitals. You will need to install some basic equipment in each customers space. How it is installed will depend on a few things, such as is there a wired CAT5 system in place, or is everything wireless? Each space will require two items; a Reader and at least one Location Module, (LM). The Reader will have to be connected to a central host computer; perhaps the same used by ViCCi, since some files will be shared. The location module will cover a space up to about 500 square feet, so larger spaces will require additional units. I will be happy to offer additional assistance....let me know. Bob Q: Dear Bob: For putting on RFID tags for compliance labeling on 5 gallon backets of paint that get stacked up to 3 high seems it would be best to put the label on the side? But what Gen 2 tag would work best considering paint is not only liquid, but has titanium dioxide in it. What are the antenna considerations? Thanks, David A: David; the paint composition may reduce the read range somewhat, but I do not think that it will be significant. When possible, place the tags facing the Reader. If you begin with a long-range tag, you will be more successful. A good place to start will be EM Microelectronics, with stateside offices in Colorado. They have low-frequency and UHF tags that can be available with an adhesive backing and a good antenna, giving superior range. bob Q: Dear Bob: Would it be possible to place a RFID tags on a heavy coats inside a cardboad box,and be able to read it when the truck carrying the cardboard is slowly passing an exit gate to count the number of heavy coats on the truck and track each individual coat. If you think this is possible, could you suggest a make of tag. Regards, Zvika R. A: Zvika; This application will require an active tag system because of the long "read range " required. The truck will probably be several feet from the reader as it passes. There are two ways to do this, with two different types of tags, a one-way tag with no receiver, (transmit only), or a bi-directional tag with a receiver. The one-way tags are set to transmit their ID continuously every few seconds, ...the reader will record the ID as it passes by....you will have to drive the truck slowly past the reader to make sure each tag is read. Or, with a bi-directional tag, an external RF field can "wake -up" the tags and they will send their ID. This is a good option since the tags will not transmit until triggered by the field. There is a chance that the truck will have a metal body, and this may limit the effective range that you will get. For this case, there is a system available that is designed to collect information from tags inside a metal structure, and then transmit that information to an outside reader located up to 100 meters away. You can contact me for that information. I do hope that this has helped you. Bob Q: Dear Bob: We are a manufacturer / distributor of industrial gas products, in cylinders similar to that you would see in a garage, hospital, etc.. The cylinders are solid steel, and by their nature all sides come into heavy contact during handling. There is a small anular space near the top (a 3" band) which is releatively free from contact, and dammage. It is my understanding that conventional RFID technology has a poor rate of succes with solid metal objetcs. The numbers of cylinders we are conisidering can surpass 1 million, so tag cost,a nd m aintenance is an issue. Nor do we want to make modifications to the cylinders themselves. Are you aware of an RFID solution that would adapt easily to this problem? I look forward to hearing from you. SIincerely, Jason D. A: See replies below to *Q: Dear Bob: Would it be possible to place an RFID tag inside a pressurized gas cylinder... (Editor) Q: Dear Bob: We process approx 70,000 (average size 8ft x 40ft average weight 2.7 tons each) steel plates each year at our two facilities in Brantford Ontario and Mobile Alabama. Each plate has a separate identity we would track with RFID if the technology will allow. I originally investigated 3 years ago but at that time it was not considered feasible. (Has anything changed?) Trevor N. A: Trevor; An interesting application. There are several issues regarding this use of RFID tags. First, The very rugged environment will necessitate a tough, thick case for the tag. Without a doubt, sometimes it will get bumped. Then the issue of acceptable read range comes up. Such a large object may preclude a Passive reader to be placed up close. Will these steel plates be stacked with space between them?....free standing?, etc.? A Passive Reader will have to be close to the tags,...no more than about 10 feet away maximum to ensure readability for a UHF system...(EM Microelectronics). You will probably need a hand-held reader....not sure of your application, but will be glad to speak to you. Another consideration is the use of an Active system,..but here, the tags must have a battery which will need to be changed every two or three years. The active tags will provide a read range of a few hundred feet back to the reader, and will send a low-battery warning to you. The very large steel surfaces may reduce the operating range of an active or passive tag system. The fix for that is to mount the tags (either type) away from the steel on a plastic spacer about 1/4 inch thick or more. This reduces the effect of the metal, and I have a design for this type of application. Thanks a lot for some great questions from all my readers! I try my best to be accurate and responsive. Thanks also for visiting SoftMatch.com and tell your colleagues about the site. Bob (Thank You too, Bob. Editor). Q: Dear Bob: Can I use RFID tags for access control ? Instead of pressing or holding a badge against a reader, I want the door to be unlocked as soon as I’m near the door. I’ll carry the tag in my wallet. This application would only be used by myself not as a general access control. Would a active tag with the appropriate reader give me that result ? Thanks, Reinhard A: Reinhard; Access control is one of the major features of RFID, whether passive or active systems. In your case, where a tag is going to be several feet from a reader, an active system is preferred. The ID number on the tag will be stored in the host computer and compared to a list. If access is to be granted, the door will unlock. A very good question,...thanks! bob Q: Dear Bob: How fast can an RFID tag be read? At what distance from the reader? Here’s my issue: As a hobby – I am interested in racing Karts & mini-motorbikes. The systems to monitor timing for these on the track can be very expensive, ($300/$400 per kart/bike - $4000+ for timing equipment). They can travel at speeds up to approx 120MPH (200 KMH). The width of the track is approx 12 ft, but can be wider. Details such as the type of Kart, the drivers name, etc&ldots; can be held in the computer system showing the timing. The RFID tag simply needs to contain a unique number to ID each vehicle. In comparison to traditional timing systems - RFID tags are relatively cheap. Possible? regards Paul A. A: Paul; What you are describing to me is a RFID highway toll booth system. The RFID tags can be read instantaneously and are relatively inexpensive, however, in this life there are no short cuts! The Readers are quite expensive; in the $2000 range for a passive system. The "read range" will vary from a few millimeters to a few feet, and depends on the system used. What you need is an Active RFID system. The read range is a few hundred feet, and the readers are between $200 and $1,000. The Tags will be in the $20 to $50 range. You then will need software to load in a laptop or other computer that allows you to control and read the tags. Many times, the software is included with the reader; make sure that it is. Problem......The tags, no matter the type, will respond only when activated. That activation will not occur accurately enough for race timing, and will never occur at the same time even for the same tag. The reason is that the RF field which activates the tags is never going to be the same strength or shape. bob Q: Dear Bob: We have a query for high temp tags. Our client demands that the tags survive the oven process for prolonged periods of time, basically overnight (24 hrs.) and with an oven temp of 250 deg C. Do you have such tag that can survive these applications? Do you of such tag for this application? Btw, we are based here in the Philippines. Regards, Danny A. A: Danny; I do not know of a Tag which may withstand your specs. A passive tag, (no battery) may be able to work at those temps for a few minutes, but,...24hrs..? An active Tag is out of the question because of the battery. I have been asked to design a few passive tags that could survive the autoclave process. So far, nothing practical is available. bob *Q: Dear Bob: Would it be possible to place an RFID tag inside a pressurized gas cylinder (LPG Gas) and be able to read it when the truck carrying the cylinders is slowly passing an exit gate. The purpose would be to count the number of cylinders on the truck and possibly track each individual cylinder. If you think this is possible, could you suggest a make of tag. Regards, Mike A: Mike: A gas cylinder is a completely enclosed metal object and forms a perfect RF shield. You cannot get a signal into or out of it. Your application will not work. Also, do you really want an electrically operated object inside an explosive container? I would not place a tag anywhere near a gas container. bob   *Here are additional responses to this particular question from our discussion group..... Bob is right. A gas cylinder is a completely enclosed metal object and forms a perfect RF shield. You cannot get a signal into or out of it. Your application will not work. Also, do you really want an electrically operated object inside an explosive container? I would not place an active tag inside of any gas chamber. Darcy A.   After 20 years of working in the propane gas business, a simple barcode on the collar of a propane cylinder would be my choice. George O.   Perhaps the best solution for "pinging" a receiver as a cylinder leaves the gate is to incorporate existing inventory technologies instead of trying to "re-invent the wheel". I would agree with Bob that is it impractical to put the devise inside the cylinder as it would have to be done only at the time of manufacture and this would eliminate the opportunity to add more cylinders to inventory other than specially manufactured cylinders. I think a UPC sticker (Universal Product Code) attached to the tank would simplify inventory control as scanners could keep track of inventory. This system dominates retail operations and is readily available. Incorporating a "theft control" system, much like in retail operations is already available by a company called "sensormatic"; they manufacture magnetic resonance tags that trigger a tower that beeps when their tag passes by the tower. I believe that incorporating these two technologies into one system will provide the answer to your question. The "sticker" would identify the tank, and could be scanned by the technician as it is loaded on the truck. Once the tank is unloaded it is scanned as well. The new technology creation would be in the manufacture of the "unique magnetic resonance" underlay (beneath the UPC sticker) that sends its unique signal the gate tower that identifies each of many tanks on a truck. Hope this helps, Malcolm F.   How about putting the RFID tag on the outside of the gaz cylinder? The shielding of the bottle would not exist and the device could be Located far from the gaz nozzle or in a special added enclosure to reduce risk of explosion! Mike would be able to count the number of bottle and track them. Regards, Maurice B.   The scope (of the question) appears to be ".... able to read it [RFID tag] when the truck carrying the cylinders [LPG Gas] is slowly passing an exit gate. The purpose would be to count the number of cylinders on the truck and possibly track each individual cylinder." This type of track and trace is becoming common place and can be accomplished for a reasonably low cost. We can even provide you GPS coordinates throughout the journey as a logging mechanism and provide a clear journey path of the cylinders so that you are closer to complying with the concerns of DHS. You want to determine the read distance, investment in portal architecture and have tags that function on metal cylinders. Thanks, Jeff S.   Hi Jeff, Sounds like you are suggesting the tags should be placed on the (outside of) cylinders, rather than inside as first requested. Does that mean that you agree with Bob that it could be dangerous, if not totally ineffective, to place the tags inside the cylinders? Thanks, Editor   Editor: Actually, I don't think the tag placement matters. Mike's question did not indicate a reason or a business case for tag placement. If there is a compelling reason why a tag inside a cylinder is required I certainly didn't read it. What I heard was that Mike wanted to read the cylinders moving slowly through the portal. What difference does it make where the tags are located ? It's like buying a car. You can go to a dealer and say you want a car that will start when you turn the key, safe, low milage. If you asked for the same car with the engine on the top of the roof, I would tell you... "I have a car that will start, it's safe and low milage." Does it matter if the engine is under the hood or on the roof as long as the car reliably starts, gets you where you're going safely and get good gas milage ? Thanks, Jeff S.   Jeff, Yes, let us assume that Mike had no compelling business reason for saying the tags should be placed inside the gas cylinders. Perhaps Mike made a typo - he typed "in" when he meant to type "on". Easily done. Assuming that the placement of the tags is largely irrelevant so long as they are attached somehow to the cylinders, do you still believe that there is no danger to having an electrically operated tag placed near a gas cylinder? Since you mention an analogy with cars: Should one obey posted written requests to turn off your engine and extinguish all smoking materials before filling your gar with gasoline / propane; or having your gas BBQ cylinder refilled? Thanks, Editor   Editor: I stand by my response. I can track gas cylinders on a truck moving through an RFID portal. Yes. It can be done and it can be done with existing off the shelf technology. Is this the scope of the customer's requirement ? Thanks, Jeff S.   I agree with Bob Matson, in his analysis of the question concerning the RFID tags on gas Cylinders, being infeasible as requested...at least as far as the method of tag insertion, and signaling issues, in the question, are stated .. Bob is correct that the metal cylinder wall will shield the RF signal, making the application impossible as described, .....however, I think what the intended question was to find a viable method to track the cylinder to destination, via RFID,,,,, not exclusively inside the container, but through check points over the travel path. If this is the intention, then the answer can change, as the tag could be externally affixed after the leak proof transportation seal and cap are installed on the cylinder..It could negate the possible danger of the signal causing an electrical issue, if based on good R&D, safety compliance testing, and a successful Beta test, in a controlled environment. In this case it would be at least reasonable to assume a solution is possible with the proper safety issues addressed...Tag fraud , by "switching" could be eliminated, by coating the tag with a polymer, or by incorporating a tamper proof polycarbonate carrier on the cylinder... Regards, T. Adkins Whereas Bob's answer is correct, it's not comprehensive. Instead, he should have informed that there *are* indeed people doing LPG cylinder tracking today using RFID. Those tags and RFID systems are zone rated, in particular following the European Union APEX directive, i.e. they can be used in potentially explosive environments. While Free2move has not specifically done gas cylinder tracking, we have significant experience in deploying RFID systems and wireless audio communiucation in the Oil&Gas industry, for instance refinieries and offshore oil&gas rigs. Kind regards Martin H.   Interesting email, pity Bob is not completely correct. Not only do companies already put RFID tags on both Gas cylinders and Beer Kegs (both metal containers), there is even an ISO standard that talks about how to do it: - prEN ISO 21007-1 Gas cylinders - Identification and marking using radio frequency identification technology. If I can be of help in the future as an independent consultant working in RFID since 1996, please don't hesitate to contact me. Steve H.   BP make a gas container that isn't metal. Why did you assume from the question that it was a metal container? LPG in a pressurised container isn't explosive. LPG is only explosive when mixed with air (oxygen). Pat P.   Thre are many makers of RF Tags out in the market place. I would suggest looking over the Beer industry which tracks Kegs in the market place to see what kind of results they receive on this possible reader event. I think the to metals in Kegs and Cylinder act the same within the RF wave length. I would think a solution is possible for LPG and the industry would want to track both usage and location of Gas Cylinder. For Business and Retailer a senor placed inside the cylinder to read the amount of LPG in the cylinder would be possible and end the "reading by weight" or "run dry" events. Same a AMR (Automatic Meter Reading-Energy Act within the H2O industry.) You might look over RF Monolithic for a Saws device for long read range and long battery life and rugged for this specific enviroment. Same device which is placed into TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems- Tread Act). Hope this helps, Stan J.   Q: Dear Bob: Hello and thank you for offering to answer our RFID questions. Where can I find the Gen2 Tag Data Standard in published format? I've asked this question in various venues/web sites and email lists and have received no or incorrect responses. I've reviewed both EPC Global and EPC GlobalUS web sites and emailed EPC GlobalUS and received no answer. I am an EPC subscriber, not a member of any action groups. The only TDS on EPC GlobalUS web site is version 1.1 Rev 1.27, dated May 10, 2005 and it specifically states that it does not provide specific guidance on Gen 2 tags. Will Gen 2 be a 96-bit tag like Class 1? Will the tag layout be the same? I appreciate your time in reading this and thank you in advance. A: There have been many requests for this kind of info. Maybe this will help. I have found a reference to a (UHF) 96 bit EPC data packet on page 18, right hand column, of the Class 1, Gen 2 standards. The link below will take you there. I too have found it difficult to easily find this kind of information. ( One would think that it would be readily available and easy to find). It appears that 96 bits is the standard for now. The entire bit stream is 128 bits; as listed, a 16 bit PC, 96 bits EPC, and 16 bit CRC. When you get to the site, go to page 18 and look in the column labeled "How Verified" about half way down. There is quite a bit of info about tags in this PDF document. http://www.epcglobalinc.org/standards_technology/EPCglobal%20Class-1%20Generation-2%20UHF%20RFID%20Conformance%20V1%200%202.pdf All of the above responses will be forwarded to the questioner to help solve the problem. (Editor)

If you have any questions, email or call Alwyn Mitchell, Vice President of Events, at 416-756-1461.  | events | Agenda 2006 | sponsor /exhibit |

 Q: Dear Bob continued...

 
Q: Dear Bob: Million dollar question- as we are a Global company and our packages can go anywhere worldwide, if we implement a RFID package tracking system, should we use UHF or HF as our standard in light of the UHF frequency differences from country-country and variable reader power settings/protocols. It seems Gen2 is the way to go, but there are differing opinions. Doing both would be cost prohibitive. Best Regards, Bob
A: Hi Bob; Class 1, Gen 2 RFID systems will work from 860 to 960 MHz, inclusive. This means that a European Reader at 868 MHz will detect tags that were originally working at 915 somewhere else. So, you will be safe for now with a UHF system. A plus, UHF antennas are smaller than HF. bob
 
Q: Dear Bob: From my understanding, RFID is for tracking purposes? Is there a product available that would allow you to purchase 10 or so RFID chips so that you could put on your personal belongings for theft protection. The number of spin offs to this product or idea, would be countless. Each chip would have its own identity and if you could have an accompanying computer program that would allow you to track and locate each chip via satellite. This would stop theft and a number of other things. You could put one in your car, one on your snowmobile, one on your kids bike, etc. etc. One step further would be to have one implanted in your Childs arm. You could tell where they are whenever you want. NO MORE CHILD ABDUCTIONS!!! Please get back to me. Respectfully yours, Greg
A: Greg; Thanks for the question. The short answer is No. There are tags available, but the tracking is another story. A "passive tag" or chip is what you are thinking of, and these are readable (trackable) over a very short distance; less than a meter in most cases, and they cannot be read by a satellite. You may place these tags on your property, but the range will be a few feet at best. An "active tag" is another story, but more expensive, and you will need to change the batteries every year or so. Still, the range will not be what you are envisioning; just 100 meters. No one has a real active tracking system which could cover a city as yet.....but you never know. bob
 
Q: Dear Bob: We distribute a lot of food products that are liquid and frozen items that have foil lined boards. If we add RFID tags to the outside of our cases and all the tags face out from the pallet, would the tags scan correctly even though we have liquids and foil packaging? Regards, Domenic
A: Domenic; A very good question,...thanks! You are obviously aware that the foil and water content may cause some interference due to your question. You are right. I have seen active tags operate from inside a closed automobile trunk! Do you have a passive or active tag system? The passive tags will work if the range is not too long (depends on the tag and reader power), and an active system will work farther. There will be space between the cartons and this will allow the RF signals to pass thru....they do not require much room. It is my feeling that passive or active tags will work for you but you should contact a good RFID vendor for proper antenna placement, etc. bob
 
Q: Dear Bob: We are planning a steel coil distribution center. Because to read bar code label one by one is a labor intensive job I think the RFID is a good solution to catch identification of each coil when forklifts store in coils.The system includes 40,000 storage bins and 6 store_in points. My questions are: (1) Is there any RFID application for steel coil storage system and is in operation?
A: I do not personally know of this kind of coil application being used, but it is very similar to many others. There are a lot of warehouses that use RFID to locate and inventory many kinds of materials in warehouses, such as automotive parts. If you choose a passive RFID system, you will need to be very close to the container to read the tag. The forklift operator will need to have a Reader, and when he drives close to the coil, he can identify it. Now Bill the problem may be that the Reader might "wake up" several tags at once, therefore you may have to provide a lot of space between coils, or use tags with a very short range. What is the size of these coils? A steel coil such as one for a car or truck, will be large enough to put a tag on it, but the metal may reduce the read range of some tags. It will be better to place those coils in a wooden or plastic box and attach the tag to the box if you need a long read range.
 (2) Is there any RFID system provider I can reach to talk about the solution?
A: There are many companies involved in RFID. What to look for is someone with a track record. Now that could be hard to do since this is a relatively new field for some, but a search will certainly provide you with a list. I can't suggest anyone for this application because it is outside my field. I am a RFID design engineer not involved in sales.

Q: Dear Bob: Our Technical College System tracks a substantial number of fixed assets. Everything from computers to hand tools on 40+ campuses. We currently use a barcode system, but because faculty or students will often move items from room to room it is sometimes difficult to locate the asset for annual inventory purposes. Would passive RFID technology (passive because some items may be in use for years) allow us to identify all assets in a room by standing at the door with a reader? (What is the practical distance for passive RFID? It would be a dream come true if we could track assets for an entire campus or even building from a single location.) Scott.
A: Scott; Thank you for these very good questions. I first need some other info from you in order to offer the best advice. But, I will give an example of two scenarios and you decide which will work for you. A Passive system usually means a short read distance as you are aware. This can be up to about 6 or 7 meters, or a bit more. It depends of course on the funds available. Low-cost tags will deliver only a few cm of range. So, if you go the passive route, it will require a visit to each asset. The tags are inexpensive, but the readers are another story. Some can be a couple thousand dollars each, especially the longer-range units.
A question for you now...Does the campus have an Ethernet in place? Is there a budget for one?, perhaps wireless? Here's the reason; If you have follwed this column, you have noted that I am an Active Tag designer. And, I can show you how an active system will make your dream of "Press a button inventory" a reality. It is true that active tags use batteries and of course they will go on the fritz when you least expect it. BUT.....active tags have a low-battery detector and will report at least a month in advance that a replacement is due. And, the tags that I design have replaceable batteries. The batteries cost about $0.30 each and will deliver 2 or 3 years of service! The up-side of this plan is that you can put an active tag on an asset and track it all over the campus. You can also press a button to locate it if it is still on campus.
The Readers for an active system are a lot less expensive than their passive counterparts as well. Usually around $500 to $750. I have seen some at $300 each. The reader is connected to a central "Host" computer and can send commands to small area transmitters( low-cost), placed around the campus, which, will "look" for tags in its vicinity, then report all that answered. You may also select an option that causes all tags to report on regular intervals. You can have a real-time inventory 24/7 and never leave your desk. This brings us back to the Ethernet on campus question. You will need some way to communicate with the system; wired or wireless does not matter, and there can be a system for each building at a modest cost, all communicating to a central host. Let me know of further concerns Scott and I will assist as possible. Bob.
 
Q: Dear Bob: I am interested in the integration of sensors and RFID devices. For example, if I transport a heat-sensitive product, I'd like a temperature sensor to collect data regarding the temperatures to which the product has been exposed during its transport, and I'd like to be able to collect the data from the sensor by reading an RFID tag. In other words, the data contained on the RFID tag is dynamically configurable based on the data collected by the sensor. Has this type of integration been accomplished?
A: Yes, this type of tag exists. I designed it last year. It will read current temp and will store that data until you send a command to download. There is a small memory chip on the tag as well which could be used to store a series of readings.

Q: Dear Bob: Can you give me some indication of how durable RFID tags are - Could they be affixed to a weather resistant plastic laminant and then have that laminant potentially nailed into wood (assuming the RFID is not directly hit?) I'm thinking specifically for logging operations, to track loads from the stump, to the scales at the millsite.
A: This application can use active or passive tags, and there are some that are very durable and weather tight. An active solution probably is the best one because of the increased read range. A fork lift operator with a portable reader, for instance, can find a load of logs easily without leaving his lift. Also, because of the large size you may not be able to get very close to read a passive tag. I know of one tag that would be perfect for you because it has a hole in the case already to accept a small lanyard, and a nail will fit. It also has an LED for identification if you are looking for it in a large storage yard. I know of this because I designed it for this purpose.

Q: Dear Bob: Can you suggest possibly a company that has good potential and would make a worthwhile investement?
A: To hear Bob's answer please attend the conference to hear more about investing in companies well positioned to take advantage of this revolutionary technology from our RFID experts. (Editor).
 
Q: Dear Bob: We have a customer shipping fresh vegetables to Wal-Mart packed in ice. The customer has worries about how they are going to be able to scan the product through the ice, stating that to his knowledge RFID will not scan through water. Can you comment on that?
A: Thanks for your question, Lars. Tags are difficult if not impossible to read through water, but ice has some spaces between cubes that may allow the signal to pass. I have not tried that. The best way to read the vegetables is to have a tag on the shipping container. Regards, Bob.Q: Dear Bob: Hi, As we know that RFID Tag have a CPU inside the tag, it must be able to process some data. Which type of data can be processed? What is the various use of CPU in tags? Can CPU in tags can run some application on it, if yes, what type of application? Can CPU in Tags have some OS inside it? I appreciate your time in reading this and thank you in advance. Best regards, Kaushik.
A: Kaushik; Thanks for a very good question. Most active tags have a microcontroller inside which contains the tag ID, controls the receiver, processes the received data, and builds a packet for transmission. Some tags may also have a " Tamper" detection circuit and still others can detect temperature. Usually there is no CPU or operating system in a tag. The battery power is a serious concern, and tag functions are kept to a minimum. Most passive tags, having no battery, only have a memory chip, with no processing capability. bob
 
Q: Dear Bob: I work at a hospital that has installed a WiFi infrastructure. If we were to implement an RFID application, what is the better solution, legacy RFID or 802.11? What is the most popular application (currently in-use) in the healthcare setting today? Mike
A: Mike, There is no one type of system that is currently viewed as a standard. Having the wireless infrastructure is good. You can place a variety of RFID readers where they are needed and connect easily to the host computer. What kind of system to use will be driven soley by need. If you are tracking people or equipment over a wide area, you will need an active system with several readers. Detecting drugs, etc. as they are dispensed from a cooler for instance, will be better served with a passive system. Determine the need first. Thanks for the question and stay in touch. Bob

Q: Dear Bob: 1) What tolerance do RFID chips have to heat in the manufacturing process? Suppose an organization wanted to attach an RFID chip to a membership card, which would then be laminated in clear plastic using a heat sealer? Would the heat destroy the chip? If the chip can tolerate the heat could it then be programmed with the member's data?
A: The heat of lamination should not harm it if it is for a short time. But,......most passive tags with any range at all are not just a chip. They have a spiral wound antenna on a card of some type. The card may not be able to take the heat. Some tiny tags do look like a small chip, but their read range is very short,.... a few cm. Most are not writeable, but some are.
2) What are the dimensions of the RFID chips?
A: I have seem tags that were about 10mm in diameter to some that were 25mm X 120mm long.
3) Could you, for example, imbed an RFID chip into a plastic toothbrush handle that is manufactured from molten plastic without damaging the chip?
A: That can be done.
4) Are there ways to render the RFID chips inactive, either accidentally, say by the RFID chip coming into close contact with a magnetic field, or on purpose if you just wanted to delete the information on the chip?
A: You can "jam" a passive or some active tags with a radio signal. I don't think that you can delete the information that way.
5) What type of device is used to read the RFID chips and are they portable? Could you, for instance, have a RFID chip reader and small PC camera hooked up to a Laptop to register a new club member on the spot, regardless of where that spot is, and snap their picture so it would be associated with that member the next time they showed up at any location sponsored by the member's organization.
A: There are portable readers, and yes, that can work. BTW, talk to the Avery Company, (business cards, etc.). They have just what you need.
 
Q: Dear Bob: Please identify the value of RFID for aerospace manufacturers. (Most broadly, this means those firms involved in the design and manufacture of aircraft, aircraft systems and equipment, and aircraft parts / components.) Given that 'traceability' is already a way of life regarding all aerospace components and materials, and given the relatively small and well-defined community of firms involved in manufacturing aerospace products - each unique to a specific aircraft type / family, I fail to see significant value-added from using RFID (as I understand it - and that understanding is limited, to be sure).
A: It is true that RFID is not a cure-all for every industry. In some cases, it provides no additional security or return on investment. Whether this is the case for the Aerospace industry, I am not qualified to answer. There has always been a very high priority on tracking components critical to the national security, and to that end, knowing the location of key items, such as a missile engine, is important. Many items are tracked during transport to guard against, and report, theft and tampering in real-time. RFID is an integral part of some of these systems.
Additionally, we have to address the human side of this issue. Just as airports and hospitals are interested in tracking their employees, so too are the Aerospace companies. Various groups will have diverse security clearances, and RFID tags will help report their activities within a facility. Each industry must be examined separately, and will require many well-trained consultants to establish a business case for an RFID solution.
The industry is new really, and many are trying to apply this exciting technology to everything, and of course, this will not work. As it matures, we will better understand the benefits and reduce the costs of implementation. It is very important to fully understand an actual need, and then find a particular system which may be beneficial. I have met several people that have this concept reversed. They try instead to find a need that fits an RFID system. While this may produce some results, in engineering it is better to define the task, then design a solution.

Q: Dear Bob: Can we get a clear definition of "Active " and "Passive" RFID's?
A: The short form answer is that Passive Tags DO NOT have batteries, Active Tags do, typically 3 volts. Now, some "semi-passive" tags have a battery that is used for transmitting a response, and this allows a longer "Read Range" back to the reader. The receivers on all passive tags get their energy from the reader, and that is why they typically have a short range. The energy from a reader falls away very rapidly with distance.

Q: Dear Bob: I am looking into RFID to increase traceability. I am implementing the standard European architecture for traceability, which is based mainly on the food industry but can apply to many industries like computer hardware manufacturing. RFID targets the distribution/manufacturing architecture very well, but may not be as good in a process/manufacturing architecture, which includes test, field, customer capture, returns, redeployment, etc. Additionally, unlike Fed-ex or Walmart, our traceability requirements on a single part are typically for multiple years (4-5 average). Part costs range in the 100 dollar to million US dollar range. How feasible is a dynamic RFID tag? We need parent/child relationships, which change often. I would guess that I would need to integrate a transmitter on each part to transmit hierarchy information to the tag each time it changes. Or probably it would be better to have an RFID tag with two "ports"; one that is a receiver, the other an electrical port on a bus, like I2C.
A: It seems that you need to need to track certain components of a computer system, such as a CPU sub-assembly or hard drive, that is assigned to a particular computer. This actually was a project for me some time back for a major US manufacturer. The solution was to install a very small "Reader" inside the computer in an expansion slot, and place small, passive tags on each component that you want to track. The reader would occaisionally poll the tags to see if they were still installed. The results of the poll are displayed on the monitor, and this information could also be put on a LAN. If you need an automatic method of reporting such as if a CPU module were switched to another computer, then you will probably need an active tag which has a battery attached. The tag then could send a signal to a central "Host computer" reporting that it has been removed from it's associated computer. It would also automatically report when it may be re-installed somewhere else. There are many ways to accomplish this task. These are the kinds of things that I design. If you need to track these various modules for warranty/security reasons, the tags can report in a secure manner that the customer has no access to. (Such as if they switch modules).When the computer is returned for service, the info can be retrieved.

Q: Dear Bob: In order to maintain coherency, if using RFID I would like to program/print an RFID tag at the same time as a bar code label and at the same time as the on board SEEPROM (we gather info online from the part) so there is no chance of making a mistake. Are there solutions for this scenerio?
A: I have not read of companies that print bar codes and generate Tag program codes simultaneously, but I do know that it can be done. It may be that someone has this already. When a real, effective standard is universally adopted, then it will be easy to do. Until then, there are too many different codes for a manufacturer to try to generate. Your solution may be a custom design.

Q: Dear Bob: Have RFID tags been used in the Maritime industry ? If so on what scale?
A: There have been several pilot programs in place for some years, but nothing on a large scale. Port security and container tracking is a big concern and you will soon see a global effort to get a system in place. The problems are very diverse and include adopting a standard that will be universally accepted. For example, the Port of Seattle must be able to read and track containers arriving from Hong Kong.

Q: Dear Bob: Can the paint on RFID be applied to containers coming into a port , tracked while on that port and then dis-engaged so that another port can also track the container?
A: All tagged containers must be read while in a port, and should be read by other readers in other ports as well, hence the need for a standard. Only those containers that are off-loaded from a ship are of concern to a port authority. Those that stay on the ship for future destinations will be read later.

Q: Dear Bob: Has there been any interest for globalize the RFID standards?
A: Several groups are investigating the unique shipping industry environment , and others, and recognize the urgency of adopting a world-wide RFID standard. What we do not need, however, is a hasty one that creates problems for the RFID engineers to overcome and perhaps is not omprehensive.

Q: Dear Bob: What's is the back office support required to manage active or passive RFID's
A: That depends soley on the scope of the installation. A few hundred tags compared to tens of thousands will of course require more or less management time. Also, some systems are very simple to operate and come with their own software. Shop for a complete system with ample support. A good system will provide a software package that will make it easy to merge with an existing computer management tool.

Q: Dear Bob: One problem I have is very small parts (like processors) start with space to silkscreen or place labels but ends up later being buried under glued heat sinks (not when the silkscreen is first printed). How thin/small can a tag be and still work? Heat sinks must have large surface area contact to work, so anything between the processor and heat sink must be very small and thin. Does being buried in *huge* amounts of electrically noisy parts cause interference?

A: The tags may not be installed between a part and a heat sink for several reasons, and lots of electrical noise will cause poor tag performance. The tags can be paper thin, but in Physics, nothing is the only thing that is free, sometimes. As the tags get smaller, performance drops dramatically, and the tag needs to be in the open to work well. Remember, a tag is a radio. The real solution here is to design the CPU board or other part with an integral RFID chip. I have some good ideas in that area. I do hope that I have understood your application, but if not, please let me know and I will do my best.

Q: Dear Bob: We are a manufacturer of packaged and bulk lubricants (oils and grease). We currently print many of our own labels with bar codes on them although we also get cartons with barcodes printed so we have a variety of mediums that we are trying to read. We are having problems with accuracy and readability of barcodes: Can we produce our own RFID tags on demand as we package product and include these in our labels? Is this equipment expensive, simple to operate? Can the RFID tags be read through liquids (viscosity from water to grease thickness) accurately?
Is there a problem reading tags attached to metal containers (drums, kegs, totes)?
A: Liquids are a problem with RFID tags, especially passive ones, (no battery). The liquids absorb the RF energy, (as in a microwave oven), and this reduces their range capability. Also, placing tags on a metal surface can cause the same problem. A cure for this?.....place a plastic spacer between the tag and the metal surface. The thicker the better, although my tests have shown that a 1/4 inch should work. This will not help with the liquid absorption problem however.
Several companies offer "programmable" tags meant to be applied on-site, and an Internet search should provide you with some names. Programmable means that you can assign a serial number to the tag, and then associate that number to a specific product or piece of equipment.
The equipment costs, although some are expensive, are coming down slowly, and will continue to drop as production ramps up. In business, quantity means everything, so the more you do, the less expensive it becomes. Many tags are produced with serial numbers already programmed, you then must note the numbers as the tags are appplied. Regards, Bob Matson.

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