RFID: Technologies and Application
Luigi Battezzati Ph.D.
Visiting Professor di Operations al Politecnico di Milano
Osservatorio sulle applicazioni del RFID del Politecnico di Milano
RFID Applications:
RFID Applications:
RFID Applications:
Tag
on product
Tag
Tag
on product
on product
Tag
on people
Tag
Tag
on people
on people
RFID & Logistics
RFID & Logistics
RFID & Logistics
Trends and
Conclusion
Trends and
Trends and
Conclusion
Conclusion
•
Identify individual items
•
Line of sight not required
•
Store and modify information on transponder
•
Stable in variety of conditions
•
Read through most non-metals
•
RFID transponder cost 50 cents today (5 cents
tomorrow ?)
RFID technology is ready for changing the world
1948
Harry Stockman invents RFDI with the publication of his paper
"Communication by Means of Reflected Power" Radar refined and used major World
War II effort Early explorations of RFID technology. Development of the theory of RFID. Start of applications field trials. Explosion of RFID development. Test of RFID accelerate. Early adopter implementations of RFID Commercial applications of RFID enter mainstream. 1950s D.B. Harris patents "Radio transmission systems
with modulable passive responder"
1952
F.L. Vernon's "Application of the microwave
homodyne"
1963- 1964
R.F. Harrington advances theory with "Field measurements using active scatterers" and
"Theory of loaded scatterers"
1973 Transponder system and apparatus 1977 Electronic license plate for motor vehicles 1980 Electronic identification system 1985 Electronic proximity identification system Electronic tag identification system Remote passive identification system Implant telemetry system 1978 Identification system using coded passive
transponders Passive encoding
microwave transponder Identification system using coded passive
transponders Electronic detection
and identification system Passive transponder apparatus for use in an interrogator responder system 1982 Electronic identification system Apparatus and method for an electronic identification, actuation and recording system 1984
Radar apparatus for detecting and/or classifying an agitated reflective target Betteryless, portable, frequency divider useful as a
transponder of electromagnetic radiation
Electronic identification system with power input-output interlock and increased capabilities Animal feeding and monitoring system
1959
Friend or Foe (IFF) long-range transponder system reaches breadboard demonstration stage
1975
Los Alamos Scientific Laboratories (LASL) releases its RFID research to public sector; publishes "Short-range radio-telemetery for
electronic identification using modulated backscatter"
1966
Commercialization of EAS, 1-bit Electronic Article Surveilance technology: Checkpoint, Sersormatic
1976-1977
LASL spinoffs Indentronix and Amtech
1975-1978
Large companies, e.g. Raytheon, RCA, and Fairchild, develop electronic
identification systems 1982 Mikron founded (later purchases by Philips) 1979 First implantable RFID tags 1982 molded-neck collar EID 1986 Glass-encased injectible EID
First RFID toll collection system implemented in Norway
Emergence of standards. RFID widely deployed. RFID becomes a part of
everyday life.
1991
TI establishes TIRIS, the first multinational semiconductor company to develop
and market RFID
1993 ISO EID standard developed 1996 City of L.A. adopts pet tagging
RFID revolution begins Worldwide Standards Contact less payment Auto-id and EPC
Over 350 direct-reference patents
Vast number of companies enter RFID marketplace
Modern successful commercial applications include
Supply Chain Management:Wal mart, Metro War logistics: Gulf war of US Army Transportation/Distribution Industrial Security and Access Control Animal Identification Automated Library Systems Checkpoint Systems Toll Road Control Healthcare Digital Card Mail Toys 1991 AAR adopts RFID std 1994 All USA railcars equipped with RFID 1992-1995
Multi-protocol traffic control and toll collection systems implemented in Texas, Oklaoma, and Georgia
Wide-scale electronic toll collection in US
1999-2003
Auto-id Center at MIT for developing
EPC for FMCG
2004
Near Field Communication (NFC) for integration between Mobile phone and RFID
2005?
ISO and EPC: UHF standard
2000’
Calypso std for ticketing
2000’
HF ISO standard:13,56 Mhz
Several types of RFID transponder…
*Source SOFTWORK
…antennas and readers*
Reader card
Proximity Reader
Portable Reader Mid Range Reader
The overview of RFID costs * shows the component values…..
(IC) Chip
Antenna
Assembly
Case
Total
Cost
When ?
20 cents
5 cents
5 cents
20 cents
50 cents
30 cents
5 cents
1 cent
2001
2003 ?
2 cents
1 cent
1 cent
1 cent
2005 ??
0.5 cents
0.1cent
0.1cent
0.3cent
2010 ???
Plastic
Printed
Printed on Objects
0.1 cents ?
*Source: Shoumen Datta MIT , 2003
•
Chip:
•
not critical component
•
commodity
•
Antenna:
•
antenna –reader design is crucial
•
strong customization for any application
•
Assembly:
•
the production quality is important
•
production plant focused on automation
•
Case:
•
case design is critical due to environmental constraints
•
strong customization for any application
….but it does not show the component relevance
for reaching the best RFID performances
Basically RFID changes material flows but it impacts on the information
flows also: the MIS architectures could became really distributed and…
Centralized MIS architectures
Item identification coupled with object (ex bar code)
Information in Database of MIS coupled with item identification
MIS reliability is necessary for capturing the data changes
…so you can saving money and improving MIS reliability in
…so you can saving money and improving MIS reliability in
the same time
the same time
Distributed MIS Architectures
Item identification and transactions coupled with object (ex RFID
transponder with memory)
Information in Database of MIS up dated when it's possible and useful
MIS reliability is not necessary for capturing the data changes
RFID researches are focused on
• Technology
• Individual applications
RFID applications
•
automation of existing activities
•
No impact on business processes re-design
•
No benchmark with best practices
But RFID is not a more intelligent bar code only
•
It is able to change totally the existing processes
•
It can improving dramatically the existing performances
•
It will create an intelligent and distributed environment
RFID technology assessment is not enough for
taking decisions…
So our focus are the business processes
• activity evaluation
• performance measurement
• re-design for capturing every RFID potential benefits
RFID taxonomy gives us
• a general RFID framework focused on business processes
• common characteristics for RFID Benefits of different industrial
sectors
• a possible benchmark with existing best practices
• a methodology for evaluating the cost/benefits of RFID.
The object of RFID is first driver of our taxonomy
• product: major characteristics are supply chain management
and end user utilization
• people: major characteristics are the Human-RFID interaction
and Human Privacy Problem
…concerning RFID implementation benefits
The life’s cycle is the cluster rule for classifying
the RFID value for supply chain actors
Consumer
s
Manufacturers and Retailers
Long
life’s cycle
(utilisation)
Short
life’s cycle
(utilisation)
Fresh Products
:
Yogurt
Flowers
Best seller: CD,
Books
Newspapers
Fashion Products
:
Prêt à Porter
Personal Computer
Seasonal Durable
Goods
Durable Goods
:
Cars
Home Appliances
Apparel basic
products
FMCG:
Grocery
Health & beauty
Hardware
Long life’s cycle
Short life’s cycle
Human RFID interaction is not natural but it could be
helped by a tool friendly for everybody: the mobile phone
SMS
Mobile
Phone
Network
RFID
Reader
Interphace
Tag RF-ID
Tag RF-ID
Tag RF-ID
Tag RF-ID
Finally the privacy is more and more
critical for everybody
•
The fear of total control is in the mind of everybody
•
RFID on people is really an other tool for controlling the people
behavior
•
But we are already controlled by different way:
– Credit card transaction
– Video cameras in the towns
– Other transaction activated electronically
•
The key problem is not the additional control by RFID but the power
for using and integrating the database of our transaction
•
In any case the transponder can be put in “sleeping mode” after sales
if the customer requested it
RFID Applications:
RFID Applications:
RFID Applications:
Tag
on product
Tag
Tag
on product
on product
Tag
on people
Tag
Tag
on people
on people
RFID & Logistics
RFID & Logistics
RFID & Logistics
Trends and
Conclusion
Trends and
Trends and
Conclusion
Conclusion
Several examples of applications and project
pilots on durable goods
• Animal identification
– Pet
– Cows
– Dolphins
• Automotive
– Manufacturing: Ford, BMW, GM, Toyota etc
– Electronic Immobilisation: Immobiliser
• Textile and luxury
– Intelligent store of Prada
– Intelligent supply chain of Benetton
• Home appliances
– Electrolux:microwave oven, washing machine and refrigerator
– Bticino: My Home
The Auto-ID Center pushed the RFID
application for FMCG
•
In 1999 the Auto-ID Center was founded at MIT. The Center, in
partnership with over 50 global organizations and companies is
working on the realization of an RFID network for FMCG
– developing new technologies that will lower the costs of the network
– defining standardized protocols and languages
– building of the infrastructure
This network will allow physical objects to communicate with each
other seamlessly through the Internet. This architecture will
– track every single manufactured item
– significantly reduce the need of human intervention
•
The Auto-ID Center is organizing Adoption Forums focusing on
specific industries whose goal is to create consensus, awareness,
and standards
Consistent Global Identification
An Example of How GTIN Integration Works With the EPC
EAN - 13 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 8
3
1234567
89012
0000000123456
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 8
Company Prefix Item Reference Check Digit ) Illustrative Example (EAN-13):12 34567 89012 8
Remove Check Digit
Header EPC Manager Number Object Class Number Serial Number
GTIN
EPC:
1 2 3 4 56 7 8 9 0 1 2 8 >
EPC Information Service (PML)
ONS
Middleware
Readers
Tag Tag Tag
Enterprise
Applications
Integration Lay e r • ERP • Warehouse Management Systems • Inventory Management • Data Warehouse • Merchandise Management • Store Systems • Etc.The EPC Network
RFID
•
Inexpensive
tags
•
Minimum data
on the tag
•
Middleware
between
readers and
information
systems
•
Information
stored on EPC
Information
Services, and
accessed
through Object
Electromagnetic spectrum
Electric Waves Radio Waves Infra-red Visible Light Ultra-Violet X-Rays Gamma Rays Cosmic Rays 9kHz 30kHz 300kHz 3000kHz 30MHz 300MHz 3000MHz 30GHz 300GHz 3000GHzVLF LF MF HF VHF UHF SHF EHF Not
designated Long Wave Medium Wave Short Wave
VLF Very Low Frequency VHF Very High Frequency LF Low Frequency UHF Ultra High Frequency MF Medium Frequency SHF Super High Frequency HF High Frequency EHF Extremely High Frequency
Radio Spectrum
125-134 kHz 13,56 Mhz 860-960 MHz 2,45 and 5,8 GHz
The “RFID”
Frequencies
RFID Applications:
RFID Applications:
RFID Applications:
Tag
on product
Tag
Tag
on product
on product
Tag
on people
Tag
Tag
on people
on people
RFID & Logistics
RFID & Logistics
RFID & Logistics
Trends and
Conclusion
Trends and
Trends and
Conclusion
Conclusion
Several examples of applications and project pilots
• Transport
– Railways and metro in Japan
– Bus in Seoul (Korea)
– Public transports (Germany)
– Lufthansa Fidelity card
• Payments
– Exxon
– Toll Systems
• Health and Public Service
– Malaysia: identity card
– France: social security card
• Free time
– Chicago Marathon
– Ski pass
– Football
RFID is growing for people transport
The public transport around half public involves all over the
world million of people.
Also in this case the possibility to use different means with
different tickets makes the management more complex.
In Europe the project is developed Calypso that has adopted a
technology based on passive transponder RFID to 13,56
MHz according to the standard ISO 1545 that work with the
objective to be a contactless card for payments.
In this way it is possible not only to manage the price of the trip
in dynamic way but also to use the transponder for
purchasing from the automatic equipment that distribute
drinks or other products
RFID Applications:
RFID Applications:
RFID Applications:
Tag
on product
Tag
Tag
on product
on product
Tag
on people
Tag
Tag
on people
on people
RFID & Logistics
RFID & Logistics
RFID & Logistics
Trends and
Conclusion
Trends and
Trends and
Conclusion
Conclusion
The transport has been the first application of
transponder RFID
• The aerial sector has always been to the state-of-the-art for the active transponders – The first examples in the second world war
– The following development in the civil aviation • The railway transport has followed quickly
– Transcore has labelled the totality of the means railway USA with technology UHF – The European situation is more complex
• The principal countries have made non homogeneous choices
– The system Eurobalise S21 at the base of the European Train Control System (ETCS) with inductive coupling to 27,115 MHz
– In every case it is necessary to distinguish the management of the handling from the management of the maintenance
• Finally the transport on car or truck has been touched by the RFID
– The tolls systems are developed firstly in Americas by the Canadian highways and after in Europe by Autostrade (Italian highways) with active technologies but passive
transponders are coming now
– The management of the truck traffic and its effects (usury of the roads, safety) has pushed the German Government to the proposal of a revolutionary system that unites telephony cellular GPS: may be the traditional toll systems are enough and less expensive.
Container management is the best application of
RFID in Logistics
• A container is reusable so the cost of the transponder is diluted in the time
• The more important system of containers in the world is the International Container Transport
– The sector of the international transports involves around 7 million containers. – The manual recognition is complex, expensive and not without errors.
– From the end of the years '60 the containers are internationally identified according to ISO 6346 that it foresees an alphanumeric code that identifies the owner and a number of register of the container
• Then a norm ISO has been created 10374 that it foresees to identify through the container an active transponder read-only that you can read up to 13 meters distance with 15 years of active life of the battery that it corresponds to the technical life of the container
The case management is already interesting for FMCG
• The most greater part of the applications of the transponders RFID indeed you realize inthe sector of the FMCG they currently concern containers or reusable systems of transport, for instance:
– Marks&Spencer has a line of fresh products shipped by recyclable trays, on which the 70% of the 120 million of wrappings that cross the supply chain travels. The use of the RFID has allowed to reduce the costs and the time of crossing improving the level of service.
– CHEP, in February 2002 has begun a project pilot in his center of distribution in Florida, whose purpose is that to trace the handling of 250 thousand pallets. The objectives of the project pilots are the followings: a best understanding of the handling, an improvement of the measurement of the times of the working cycles and the identification of the possible points of attention along the chain and the integration of the information RFID in the systems ERP
– Wal-mart has asked to his principals for 100 suppliers to be compatible RFID within January 2005 according to the followings principles
• Transponder on pallet and reusable containers only • Standard EPC of the Auto-id of the MIT
– Metro is developping same RFID project in Europe
RFID Applications:
RFID Applications:
RFID Applications:
Tag
on product
Tag
Tag
on product
on product
Tag
on people
Tag
Tag
on people
on people
RFID & Logistics
RFID & Logistics
RFID & Logistics
Trends and
Conclusion
Trends and
Trends and
Conclusion
Conclusion
Major trends on RFID technologies…
Passive Transponder
Costs are reducing
New UHF standards
EPC and ISO harmonization
Silicon Technology is mature
Feasibility of Polymer Technology
Active Transponder
Technology of Long life battery
Standards“de facto”
Designing Tools for customized
MEMS
2005
2007
2008
2012
Passive Transponder
Polymer Technology
diffusion for manufacturing
low cost transponder
Active Transponder
Long life battery diffusion
Standard ISO based on
Standard “de facto”
Cost reduction
…and the structure of demand and applications
Applications
Re-usableTransponder
Durable Goods
Logistics
Security
Services
Demand
Project based
Best practices development
Education, training and change
management
2005
2007
2008
2010
Applications
Fast Moving Consumer Goods at
item level
Business to Consumer
Distributed Intelligence
Demand
RFID is product on the shelf”
Standard “plug and play”
Transponder “autonomous”
RFID is a building block of Distributed Intelligence
Trends & Conclusions
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Textile RailwayRailway AutoAuto ComputerComputer Distributed
Intelligence Nanotech
Conclusion
•
The tag is not another kind of bar code label but a real
killer application
•
The automatic identification and the distributed data
storage change the business processes
•
The value of application of RFID doesn't impact on
the same activities with the same weight.
•
