RFID Vehicle Logistics

Assistor will use RFID technology to leverage real-time data to manage large vehicle warehouses and locate vehicles. UHF RFID tags are integrated into the process for vehicle logistics. ...

... "UPM Raflatac is supplying UHF EPC Gen2 tags to car logistics company Assistor for use in a new real-time vehicle logistics management solution. The RFID technology contributes to the efficient handling of vehicles in demanding environments, namely large harbours and warehouses. The complete solution has been developed by Digia. The system utilizes cost-effective, passive RFID technology to identify vehicles quickly and reliably. When unloaded from ships, vehicles are equipped with UPM Raflatac's UHF Gen2 DogBone RFID tags. An exact warehouse location is assigned to each vehicle so that they are easily located with a hand-held RFID reader. A total of 250 readers are used by the system. Each RFID tag carries information about all actions related to the vehicle during storage and production. " ...

Via UPM Raflatac: Europe's largest UHF RFID deployments at vehicle logistics company Assistor

RFID Asset Tag

Omni-ID Prox is a new short-range, passive UHF RFID tag in a small form factor that is targeted at the asset management application market. ...

... "The Omni-ID Prox tag was specifically designed for asset identification where increased visibility and asset registration are essential. It delivers unmatched precision in the tracking of smaller high-value assets, electronic devices, communications and network cards, servers, and other assets or applications that demand high performance. In addition, Omni-ID Prox can be utilized to track tools or products during manufacturing as well as manage asset rentals. " ...

Revolutionary RFID Tag, Omni-ID Prox is Nominated for Best in Show Award

RFID Sports Score and Time Track

Alien Technology and Hardcard Systems have completed field testing of RFID technology for motorsports timing and scoring. Hardcard Systems plans to use RFID in motorsports applications to make the timing and scoring solutions more cost effective. The race vehicles are tagged and time-stamped using antennas and RFID readers. ...

... "In tests conducted at Buttonwillow Raceway in California in December 2007, Hardcard and Alien used standard Gen 2 UHF RFID tags, antennas, readers and software to accurately track and time eight motorcycles at speeds exceeding 140mph. Competition-prepared motorcycles were successfully time-stamp recorded passing several read points around the racetrack, simulating realistic race situations where multiple racers pass reader checkpoints. Alien ALR-9900 readers and standard antennas were stationed at the checkpoints, providing accurate reads up to 10 meters away (over 30 feet) at race-like speeds. The professional racers' machines were equipped with a total of two of Alien's M-Tags each. " ...

Via Alien Technology: RFID FOR HIGH-SPEED SPORTS TIMING AND SCORING

Point-of-Payment RFID Solutions Enables Customer Experience For Unattended Applications

RCD Technology and Innovative Control Systems collaborate to improve point-of-payment (POP) terminals through integration of application-optimized RFID tags, that have been piloted in automated car wash applications. ...

... "The enhancement of its POP terminals with optional RFID technology improves the overall consumer experience by enabling the customization of service offerings to suit individual preferences. Businesses that deploy the RFID tags benefit from the improved customer experience as well as the security provided by the vehicle-specific nature of the tags. The RFID tags are placed on the vehicle and destroyed if removed; guaranteeing that only the proper vehicle receives the services and benefits of the program. RCD's patented RFID tag fabrication process enables the production of an almost endless array of application-optimized tags for new and emerging RFID applications. In this case, ICS required a tag that enabled an adequate read distance, yet was unobtrusive and secure. The resulting UHF label produced by RCD meets all these requirements and also includes a customized ICS logo and a human-readable ID number. " ...

Via RCD Technology: RCD-produced tags provide new levels of flexibility and security for businesses using unattended Point-of-Payment terminals ...

RFID Metal Packaging Works as Antenna

QinetiQ and Crown collaborate to develop adaptation of QinetiQ's Omni-ID Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology for use on metal packaging. The improvements will enable RFID tags at the unit-level on metal items. Technology advancement is expected to integrate the metal substrate as part of the RFID tag's antenna. ...

... "This will enable brand owners to integrate ultra high frequency (UHF) RFID tags into metal packaging for a wide variety of applications at the single item level. Designed to mitigate issues such as signal reflection, detuning and grounding which reduce or negate RFID's effectiveness on metal packaging or with aqueous-based products, the unique technology leverages several of metal's inherent properties and shifts the format into an advantageous position.

QinetiQ's standalone Omni-ID tags and integrated Omni-ID packaging technology allows a UHF tag to be mounted directly onto the metal substrate. Measuring substantially less than 1mm in thickness, the unique Omni-ID structure collects and focuses RF energy and enables highly efficient coupling to the chip. Another advantage of the system is that RFID chips require only a short coupling antenna rather than the large dipole usually incorporated in UHF tags, significantly reducing manufacturing costs. Crown and QinetiQ are continuing development of the technology for metal packaging to further optimize design. In the near future, it is expected that the metal substrate itself will have an integral role in the way the technology functions. Using a beverage or food can as an example, the can itself would serve as the antenna, simplifying production of the RFID tag and further reducing costs. " ...

Via Qinetiq: Crown teams up with QinetiQ to resolve challenges of RFID on metal packaging ...

HighSpeed RFID Read Rates: Pharma Cases

Impinj discusses results of live demonstration of RFID technology in pharmaceutical packaging application with Owens-Illinois (O-I) at the RFID Health Care Industry Adoption Summit in D.C. ...

... "In pharmaceutical manufacturing and fill-line demonstrations, a near-field UHF Gen 2 RFID solution, comprising Impinj's Speedway reader and O-I's item-level embedded RFID tags powered by Impinj's Monza chips, achieved 100% reliability when reading and writing tags at high speed on pharmaceutical bottles. In the first demonstration, the UHF Gen 2 system programmed 96-bit EPC numbers at rates exceeding 600 tags per minute on bottles containing the four most common dose types - liquids, gel caps, solids and powder. In the second demonstration, the system developed by Impinj and O-I flawlessly read 600 tags per minute on cases containing 48 individually tagged bottles and a case-level tag. " ...

Via Impinj: Impinj-Powered UHF Gen 2 RFID Solution Delivers Exceptional Results for Item Tagging of Pharmaceuticals

RFID Pilot: Cardinal Health Completes

Cardinal Health completes its RFID pilot, which tested RFID tags for end-to-end pharma packaging and distribution business processes. The pilot tested the application of tags and the utilization of item level tracking techniques. Alien Technology, IBM, and Verisign provided hardware, software and implementation services. The application and encoding of the RFID tags approached 100 percent success rates. Reliable read rates were best achieved at the individual case level. The pilot was a fruitful learning experience for the pharma industry. ...

... "The pilot program tested whether ultra-high frequency (UHF) radio frequency identification (RFID) tags could be applied, encoded and read at normal production speeds during packaging and distribution of pharmaceuticals. Verifying the authenticity of medications along each step of the distribution process adds an additional layer of security to lessen the chance of counterfeit pharmaceuticals entering the supply chain. It is also hoped that RFID data could improve efficiencies in the supply chain. Pilot Program Background: In conducting the industry's first end-to-end pilot program, Cardinal Health used new technology to place RFID tags on the labels of brand-name solid-dose prescription drugs, then encoded the electronic product code (EPC) standard data at the unit, case and pallet levels during the packaging process. The products were shipped to a Cardinal Health distribution center in Findlay, Ohio, where the data was read and authenticated as products were handled under typical operating conditions. Normal procedures were enhanced with RFID hardware and software from Alien Technology Corporation and IBM along with project management support from VeriSign.

RFID Labeling and Online Encoding: Data collected from the pilot suggest that it is feasible for RFID tags to be inlaid into existing FDA-approved pharmaceutical label stock, and the tags can be applied and encoded on packaging lines at normal operational speeds. Online encoding yields were 95 percent to 97 percent, and fine tuning of the process is expected to produce yields that approach 100 percent. The RFID tag application and encoding requires minimal adjustments to current labeling and packaging lines.

RFID Read Rates: Unit-level read rate data varied widely depending on the locations and type of reading stations throughout the supply chain. Highly reliable unit-level read rates in excess of 96 percent were found when reading individual cases one at a time and when reading units mixed with other products in tote containers prepared for delivery to a pharmacy. However, as expected, unit-level read rates were not found to be reliable when attempting to read units within a full pallet of product. " ...

Via Cardinal Health: Cardinal Health Releases RFID Pilot Results ...

Omron RFID Inlay: Single Tag Design ...

Omron develops single RFID tag design to support international markets, perform under challenging configurations, and with varying materials and radio frequencies. ...

... "Omron RFID announced availability of the Gen2 Global Loop inlay which can be used under North American, European and Japanese radio frequency bands in a single tag design. The Gen2 Loop is optimized to ensure robust read performance when the tag is applied to items containing materials unfriendly to RFID, including electronics equipment and products with high moisture content. The Loop tag also delivers reliable read ranges when the orientation on the product is not fixed or could change after application. As a direct result, the Loop inlay can improve pallet tag read rates. Because it has dimensions of 68m x 70 mm, the Loop inlay will fit 3-in. x 3-in., 4-in. x 3-in. and 4-in. x 6-in. spaces. Omron's Gen2 Loop inlays can be used with all international UHF RFID frequencies from 860 to 960MHz with little or no performance degradation. The addition of the inlay to the already announced Wave tag expands Omron's ability to meet a wide range of applications for today's international supply chain needs. " ...

Omron RFID Inlay: Single Tag Design: Via Omron: OMRON Introduces EPC Gen2 Global Loop Inlay ...

RFID Noisy Lab Tests ...

HP Noisy Lab will use ODIN tech's RFID tag testing technology ...

... "Recently ODIN announced European and Japanese support for the EasyTag testing tool. By adding the European and Japanese frequencies and power requirements to the mix, ODIN has created the only tool capable of testing RFID tags worldwide in multiple UHF bands. EasyTag works using ODIN's proven methodology of using the key metrics of Power Effectiveness and Orientation Sensitivity to arrive at an overall number of how well a tag and location perform on a SKU. After conducting thousands of SKU tests on behalf of clients, ODIN scientists knew that simplified testing and visualization of results was needed by end users and labs alike. ODIN first released it's highly acclaimed Trifecta RFID tag testing software in 2004 and EasyTag represents the next generation of automated scientific tag testing. Yuichi Murano, President of ODIN Japan added: Noisy Lab chose ODIN's EasyTag because it is the industry's leading scientific RFID testing software and because it can test tags in all UHF frequencies worldwide. Backed by HP, IDEC, Toyo Kanetsu and WL Solutions, HP Noisy Lab is a leading innovator in Japan's RFID market. " ...

RFID Noisy Lab Tests: Via ODIN Technologies: Noisy Lab (of Japan) Selects ODIN's Scientific RFID Tag Testing Software: HP Noisy Lab is a Consortium of HP, IDEC Controls, Toyo Kanetsu Solutions and WL Solutions ...

RFID 3Gen Reader Chipset ...

Anadigm introduces 3rd generation RFID reader chipset, that can be leveraged in high and ultra-high frequency applications and RFID tag types. ...

.... "Anadigm announced the immediate availability of RangeMaster5, the company's third-generation RFID reader 3.3 volt chip set solution that allows system vendors to design and maintain a single combination HF and UHF reader. The Rangemaster5-based system can be customized to read different radio frequency identification (RFID) tag types, with different modulation types and frequencies. RangeMaster5 also fully supports current HF standards as well as the newer standards under study by EPC (Electronic Product Code) Global, Inc. Like previous RangeMaster devices, RangeMaster5 will support UHF protocols- EPC Global Gen 1 and Gen 2 (class 0, 1, 2) as well as ISO18000-6 standards. RangeMaster5 is the third in a family of RFID reader solutions that Anadigm is developing for the rapidly expanding RFID markets. RFID technology is revolutionizing markets as diverse as retail sales - by managing inventory and electronic payments via mobile phones - to medical applications by ensuring that hospital patients receive the correct treatments and medications.

RangeMaster5 is a three-chip set comprised of two dynamically programmable analog signal processors (dpASP) in conjunction with an RFID State Machine. This enables system designers to develop universal RFID readers that can support both HF and UHF, changing between HF and UHF baseband frequencies dynamically, in a few microseconds. RangeMaster5 also features the ability to dynamically change between protocols and frequencies allowing for optimized RFID tag reading. By allowing standardization around a single printed circuit board to support multiple end products and markets, RangeMaster5 simplifies and improves product development. This next generation of RangeMaster not only reduces development time and ownership costs of fixed systems, but also enables portable designs by reducing supply voltage requirements and power consumption. " ...

RFID 3Gen Reader Chipset: Via Anadigm: Anadigm Reveals Third Generation Chipset for Combination HF and UHF RFID Readers ...

RFID Reader: Item-Level Retail POS ...

TagSys demonstrates new dual frequency, universal (UHF and HF) item-level RFID reader designed for the point-of-sale (POS) retail market. ...

... "The universal reader integrates HF and UHF reader modules and antennas into a single package. The slim-line, bench top device is optimized for POS applications and measures 460mm x 460mm x 25mm. The reader can read up to five HF and/or UHF tagged items at a time as they are passed directly over the reader. Building on TAGSYS' long standing expertise in delivering Reliable, Accurate and Secure (R.A.S.) systems, the unique approach contains the UHF field to eliminate any external interference, thereby reading only the items being purchased. The demonstration at RFID Journal Live will include multiple HF and UHF tagged products. As the items are read, the information is captured on a screen that notes the item, displays a graphic of the item along with its price and the radio frequency of the tag. " ...

RFID Reader: Item-Level Retail POS: Via TAGSYS RFID: TAGSYS demonstrates dual frequency UHF/HF item-level RFID point of sale reader at RFID Journal LIVE 2006 ...

RFID Research Pharma Industry Frequency for ePedigree ...

Unisys and ODIN Tech collaborate on RFID frequency research for pharmaceutical industry ePedigree applications ...

... "Sponsored by Unisys, who collaborated with ODIN in the design of testing protocols and use cases, the benchmark addresses the industry's heated debate over which frequency, high (HF) or ultra-high (UHF) works best for item-level pharmaceutical tracking and authentication. The testing focused on scientific evaluation of various tags and then pinpointed several popular applications or use-case testing scenarios. Significant collaboration with pharmaceutical clients and partners, including manufacturers and distributors, made the tests particularly salient to a broad audience in the pharmaceutical world. All of the testing was conducted with hardware and tags that are available in production quantities to end-users today. No prototype or hand-built artifacts were allowed in the research as they are untested in production environments and prototype demonstrations are often misleading.

After completing scientific tag testing, ODIN technologies and Unisys extended this study to include RFID use cases typical in the pharmaceutical supply chain. The team used standard pill bottles, liquid filled bottles and blister packs for the testing. These use cases uncover the core requirements of RFID as an e-Pedigree and product authentication tool in the pharmaceutical supply chain. This step goes beyond mere demonstration or theoretical analysis to provide direct evidence of HF and UHF RFID performance in a real world setting. Since there is a wide variety in RFID tag and reader performance, multiple UHF and HF tags and readers were utilized throughout the process. The final performance analysis was based on the best performing reader and tag combinations in each frequency. " ...

RFID Research Pharma Industry Frequency for ePedigree: Via Unisys: Unisys & ODIN technologies' Research Reveals RFID High- vs. Ultra-high Frequency Leader for Pharmaceutical Industry

ODIN technologies is the leader in the physics of RFID infrastructure testing, deployment and software. ODIN technologies leverages its team of RF engineers, physicists and software developers combined with its laboratory facilities to provide RFID consulting services to major retailers, pharmaceutical companies, consumer goods manufacturers, United States government agencies and other RFID adopters. In addition to client deployment services, ODIN technologies is also the publisher of the RFID Benchmark Series, the industry's first and most referenced head to head performance analysis of leading RFID components. ODIN's President and CEO, Patrick J. Sweeney II is also author of RFID for Dummies published by John Wiley & Sons. ODIN technologies is privately held and has labs and offices in Dulles, VA.

RFID Bird Flu Thailand ...

AdvancedID implements RFID for bird flu application in Thailand. ...

... "Dr. Kummalue Pongsak, Director of 4P Technology Ltd and advisor to the Dept of Agriculture in Thailand, confirmed that the Advanced ID DataTRAC UHF / RFID system has been certified as the best proposal for the containment of bird flu in Thailand. The three year program includes readers and tags totaling an investment of $26,000,000.00 from the Thailand Government. Advanced ID will provide the data base management to include chicken coops, processing plants, check points, as well as slaughter house integration. There are over 700,000,000 poultry per year processed and approximately 11,000 farms that are all included in the total requirements for this program." ...

RFID Bird Flu Thailand: Via Advanced ID: Advanced ID Corporation Confirms Avian Flu Application In Thailand ...

Advanced ID Corporation is a complete solutions provider in the radio frequency identification (RFID) market. RFID provides a means for positive identification and trace-back of objects that have been identified with a Low Frequency (LF) microchip or RFID tag. The Company's subsidiaries are Advanced PET ID, The Pet Microchip Company, the largest provider of companion animal identification in Canada, and Advanced ID Asia Engineering Co. Ltd., our R&D and technical support company. Since 1994 Advanced ID Corporation has been offering a Low Frequency (LF) product line of over 100 items comprised of RFID microchips, identification scanners, and a proprietary pet recovery database to the companion animal and biological sciences markets. Advanced ID is also a leader in UHF/RFID technology with its line of DataTRAC livestock tracking and traceability products, and UHF/RFID automotive tire tag applications.

RFID DoS Tag Attack ...

Gen 1 RFID tags at risk of DoS attacks ...

... "Researchers at Edith Cowan University have proven Generation One Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags can be breached to cause a denial-of-service attack on the tags ... " ...

RFID DoS Tag Attack: Via PC World: Local researchers confirm RFID DoS attacks ...

SCISSEC: Security Research Group: "The research efforts of the SCISSEC group have uncovered, documented and tested a range of attacks on the newer UHF RFID tags. "

RFID Tests Pharma Item Tracking ...

Unisys and ODIN Technologies collaborate to develop facts on the performance of RFID tag frequencies for item tracking in the pharmaceutical supply chain. ...

... "Sponsored by Unisys, who collaborated with Odin in the design of testing protocols and use cases, the benchmark addresses the industry's heated debate over which frequency, high (HF) or ultra-high (UHF) works best for item-level pharmaceutical tracking and authentication. The testing focused on scientific evaluation of various tags and then pinpointed several popular applications or use-case testing scenarios. Significant collaboration with pharmaceutical clients and partners, including manufacturers and distributors, made the tests particularly salient to a broad audience in the pharmaceutical world. All of the testing was conducted with hardware and tags that are available in production quantities to end-users today. No prototype or hand-built artifacts were allowed in the research as they are untested in production environments and prototype demonstrations are often misleading. " ...

RFID Tests Pharma Item Tracking: Via ODIN Tech: ODIN technologies and Unisys Research Reveals RFID HF vs. UHF item-level performance leader for Pharma: The item-level pharmaceutical RFID debate is answered in the scientific Benchmark Report, Pharmaceutical Item Level RFID: Battle of the Frequencies ...

RFID Antenna Technology: UHF Performance Boost ...

Omron develops RFID antenna technology that boosts UHF tag reading performance. ...

... "OMRON Corporation, a global leader in automation, sensing and control technologies, announced that it has developed a new electronic control antenna technology. The technology is the first of its kind to be embedded in UHF-band RFID reader that can improve RFID tag reading performance. UHF offers significantly greater communications range than other frequency bands. As a result, the use of UHF RFID systems for full traceability of products has seen tremendous growth in the retail and logistics industries, mainly in the United States but also in other parts of the world. UHF tags, however, are subject to multipath interference, an inherent problem of electromagnetic signals, which can make an RFID tag unreadable even if it is within the range of the reader. To solve this problem, OMRON developed a new type of antenna technology that can electronically control the electromagnetic field emitted from the reader. By adopting this technology for UHF RFID systems, OMRON has succeeded in reducing reflections, thus minimizing the degradation of system performance due to multipath interference. While an electromagnetic wave from a conventional antenna propagates over a wide area as it travels in a given direction, OMRON's new antenna technology allows a wave with directivity to propagate in any specific direction, with the direction of the propagation controllable from the reader. " ...

RFID Antenna Technology: UHF Performance Boost: Via OMRON: OMRON Develops World's First Antenna Technology That Boosts UHF RFID Tag Read Performance ...

RFID Reader Tag Interoperability: Class 3 Tags ...

WJ Communucation establishes reader interoperability with Class 3 RFID tags. ...

... "WJ Communications, Inc., a leading designer and supplier of RF solutions for the wireless infrastructure and RFID reader markets, announced that it has successfully completed interoperability testing of its multi-protocol UHF Reader Platform with Class 3 RFID tags from Intelleflex Corporation. This expands the capability of WJ's high performance reader platform to include Class 3 RFID tags in addition to EPCglobal Gen1, and C1G2 tags. " ...

RFID Reader Tag Interoperability: Class 3 Tags: Via WJ Communications: WJ Communications' UHF C1Gen2 RFID Reader Platform Stakes Lead With Semi-Active Support: Successful Interoperability Testing With Class 3 Tags From Intelleflex Demonstrated ...

Intelleflex Corporation: Intelleflex Corporation Announces Class 3 RFID Developers' Training: "Intelleflex's semi-active, battery-assisted RFID products offer long range (up to 100 meters in free space) and high read/write reliability ( > 99% in real-world environment), together with a large user memory. These features open up a whole new set of applications that bring tremendous business value, beyond mere identification through unique serialization of good and assets. "

Intelleflex is a Silicon Valley company focused on the next-generation of RFID systems. Intelleflex will bring to market high-performance, high-reliability, EPC-compliant transponders and readers. Intelleflex tags will have the capability of interoperating with all EPC-compliant readers, and are targeted to provide the longest read range and the highest read/write reliability available in the industry. In addition, Intelleflex offers value-added features such as application-specific security, long battery life, and the capability to add sensors.

RFID Gen2 Item Level Tags ...

Impinj extends RFID Gen2 solution to item-level tagging ...

... "Impinj, Inc., the fabless semiconductor company whose patented Self-Adaptive Silicon technology enables its high performance radio frequency identification (RFID) products, announced the extension of its GrandPrix Ultra High Frequency (UHF) Gen 2 solution to include item-level tagging capability. Responding to increased demand from the global retail supply chain and other high-growth markets, Impinj has enhanced GrandPrix for tracking pharmaceuticals, apparel, CD/DVDs and many other high-value products. Conforming to EPCglobal's Gen 2 standard, GrandPrix is the first RFID system to provide a single infrastructure suitable for tagging items, cases and pallets, thus simplifying RFID installations and reducing system implementation costs without sacrificing system performance or functionality. Powered by Impinj's industry-leading Monza Gen 2 tag chip and Speedway reader with monostatic antenna technology, the GrandPrix item-level tagging solution also comprises a suite of patented, small-footprint tag antennas optimized for challenging item types or stocking conditions. For example, GrandPrix includes customized tag antennas for garments, DVDs and other stackable items, and items containing liquid or metals. " ...

RFID Gen2 Item Level Tags: Via Impinj: Impinj Extends GrandPrix™ Gen 2 RFID Solution to Item-Level Tagging ...

RFID Smart Label Print Server ...

Loftware plans RFID product launch at upcoming RFID World ...

... "A proven brand leader for its ability to integr