RFID Lowdown

RFID to the Rescue

-- Pushpa Sathish, Staff Writer

Another use for rugged RFID technology – in times of war and disasters, natural or manmade. Handheld readers from a collaboration between SkyeTek and ACC Systems will be put to good use – in the Tactical Medical Coordination System (TacMedCS), the wireless communication system that harnesses the power of RFID to gather real-time data during search and rescue operations. The system will help in the identification, location and tracking of both casualties and medical resources.

[via Using RFID]

SkyeTek's embedded RFID technology will power wirelessly connected RFID handhelds used to read information resident on RFID medical wristbands placed on casualties or refugees and electronic dog tags worn by personnel in the field.

Trains on the RFID Track

-- Pushpa Sathish, Staff Writer

RFID is ushering in a wave of operational efficiency in the rail transport division of Transnet, an organization of the South African government. The 80,000 wagons of the general freight rail fleet of Spoornet are set to be tagged with Automatic Equipment Identification (AEI) technology from TransCore. The project, which is expected to be completed in 2008, aims to provide in-transit visibility into wagon location, information on wagon maintenance and the status of a load, under high and low speed conditions, to reduce idle times of wagons and improve efficiency of operations.

Passive tags will be used to track rolling stock to provide operators information about the contents of and location of each wagon as it traverses the 14,400 mile route and 18,800 mile track network. Tags on wagons are read by sensors that identify them in the order in which they pass; the accuracy and direction-sensors allow the re-creation of the whole train as it passes by. Business Wire reports:

Spoornet will join China’s Ministry of Railways, the Association of American Railways and 16 other countries deploying AEI technology to monitor their rail assets. In North America alone 100 percent of all railcars in interchange service are required to be equipped with TransCore’s tags since the Association of American Railroads adopted TransCore’s Amtech brand of RFID technology as the standard for automatic equipment identification.

Post Offices and RFID

-- Pushpa Sathish, Staff Writer

When was the last time you actually put pen to paper and wrote a letter? Can’t remember? Well, in this day and age of the fast email and faster text messages, it’s no wonder post offices are being all but relegated to a corner in the past. But these institutions are not going down without a fight, and they’re harnessing the same factor that served to make them obsolete to gain importance once again –technology, RFID to be precise.

India’s Department of Post (DoP) has already made plans to invest in technology to improve the quality of services that it provides to its customers. RFID features predominantly in these blueprints, especially in the parcels and logistics divisions. The Economic Times of India, which features this news item, welcomes the use of RFID by the DoP to enhance its services. But it also adds a word of caution – that the DoP should be able to justify the enormous costs associated with the technology; it doesn’t help matters that India Post suffers losses in most of its products and services.

Honda Zooms Ahead with RFID

-- Pushpa Sathish, Staff Writer

IBM is keeping an eye on Honda’s motorbike production line – with RFID tags! Honda Italia Industriale SPA, the Italian arm of the Honda Motor Co., tied up with Big Blue to deploy a new system that will improve efficiency and accuracy in Honda’s operations at its Atessa plant. Each vehicle, along with its critical parts like engines and brakes, will be identified and tracked in real-time as it moves along the production chain, using the solution designed and developed by IBM Global Business Services.

Supply chain management leader at IBM Global Business Services, Gaetano Sodo, said that the first phase dealt with the assembly line for Honda’s Hornet 600 bike and other models. The technology is all set to be extended to the company’s scooter production line, beginning with the SH150i/125i and SH300i models. According to Nicola Marrone, project executive at Honda Italia, the system, which is currently being used to track critical components, and manage work-in-progress and inventory, will soon be used to support supply chain operations and post-sale services.

Inking an RFID Deal

-- Pushpa Sathish, Staff Writer

Thinking of getting yourself tagged with an RFID chip but not sure if you are comfortable with the idea of an implant beneath your skin? Well, this RFID innovation from Somark is set to revolutionize the way the technology is used. Ink is replacing the chip, and right now, it’s been successfully tested on animals.

The Biocompatible Chipless RFID Ink Tattoo, which can be injected into the skin of animals, is expected to be advantageous in the livestock industry in identifying and tracking cattle and other farm animals. Somark is also planning to license the technology to secondary target markets that include tagging, or rather inking, lab animals, dogs, cats, prime cuts of meat, and military personnel.

Fighting Fires with RFID

-- Pushpa Sathish, Staff Writer

Now this is one application of RFID that’s definitely a lifesaver! SurvivalTag from RFID Ltd. promises to make the job of firefighters much safer; the tags, when affixed to their person, can be used to track the location of firefighters within burning buildings, and help evacuate them faster.

The company is going one step further and working on a tag that will monitor the vital signs of firefighters and transmit the information back to a central database; using this, those in real danger can be evacuated on a priority basis.

Chasing Down the Chassis With RFID

-- By Pushpa Sathish, Staff Writer

This is item-level tagging on a large scale, albeit a different one, and the objects being tagged are chassis that hold 20 to 40-foot steel containers capable of holding nearly 53,000 lbs. Where? At the Canadian Railway Company (CN), whose management has embarked on this venture to save time and trouble in locating chassis and differentiating one from the many others in the Brampton yard.

The containers, which carry clients’ goods, are offloaded from the trains onto the chassis, which are then stored in the yard, CN’s largest intermodal terminal, where they stand till the load is claimed by its rightful owner. Staff at the terminal, who earlier had a difficult task in roaming the large yard searching for a chassis that held a particular client’s goods, now attest to the time-saving capabilities of the RFID tags that adorn the chassis.

No longer bogged down by clipboards that recorded the number of chassis stored at particular locations and by illegible and partially obscured numbers on the chassis themselves, the pilot RFID program launched a year ago is a roaring success. Symbol’s Cargo Tags, combined with Bell Canada’s XR400 fixed RFID readers, specially tailored to meet harsh weather conditions in Canada, and middleware from Shipcom Wireless, are allowing for real-time inventory management at CN, according to company spokesman Mark Hallman.

Cycle time is down to four days from seven, so it comes as no surprise that CN is toying with the idea of introducing RFID at its other intermodal facilities in Canada.

IMB Enters RFID Middleware Sphere

-- By Pushpa Sathish, Staff Writer

Information is wealth, especially if it’s harnessed in the right way at the right time. IBM is capitalizing on this fact to taste success with its WebSphere RFID Information Center. The software will allow the whole supply chain, right from manufacturers to distributors and wholesalers, to keep tabs on goods as they move through each part of the chain. Data collected from the tags on products will be collected, sorted, and stored in a meaningful manner, and accessible by all organizations integrated through the supply chain.

IBM’s middleware application cuts through bandwidth barriers by using the EPCIS standard, which uses the Electronic Product Code specification to code products, and so, does not have a problem in reading both UHF and HF radio tags. The pilot phase will see the solution being used by pharmaceutical companies AmerisourceBergen and Cardinal Health, European Union e-customs outfit ITAID, the multinational firm Unilever and others.

IBM is not alone in promoting web-based solutions for RFID; the company will soon be facing competition from SAP and Oracle in this sphere, according to Michael J. Liard, research director at ABI Research.

Gamma-Proof RFID Tags

-- By Pushpa Sathish, Staff Writer

Item-level tags that serve a valuable function in special-purpose applications just took a step closer to reality, if claims by AdvantaPure are true. The company, which provides highly sterile products for the pharmaceutical, biomedical, food and cosmetic sectors, has come up with a tag that can tolerate the radiation from gamma rays that are used to sterilize products. GammaTag overrides RFID’s vulnerability to these rays, according to AdvantaPure’s CEO Ken Baker, allowing the process of sterilization without leading to a loss of data or the destruction of the tag itself. The process of decontamination is simplified since the tag permits gamma radiation for the entire unit. RFID Update reports:

The read-writable GammaTag is a high frequency (HF) tag with two kilobytes of storage and a read range of 50 millimeters. It can be used with all sorts of industrial containers and components, including sample and production bags, tanks, filters, manifolds, tubing and hose, storage vessels, and complete single-use systems.

RFID Applications: Forestry Asset Management

[This post is part of a short series aimed at giving a quick overview of existing and future applications of RFID - radio frequency identification - technology.] Asset Management (AM) is one of the more common applications of RFID technology. Within this umbrella application are many specialized apps targeted at a particular use which typically requires customized techniques as well as equipment.

For example, in forestry applications of AM, such as that developed by TU Munich (Technical University of Munich), a method of applying RFID tags to logs has been devised. In this case, logs that have already fallen are tagged by the harvester. This allows a more refined process and the ability to track a log through several steps. It's much easier for everyone involved in the log harvesting process to determine what stage a log is currently at.

What's unique about the TU Munich application is that the passive tags are stapled into the side of a log by the harvester, compared to other similar apps that use nail-shaped tags that have to be manually hammered by a lumberjack. The harvester collects information about each log and stores it tied to a unique id. RFID Journal provides more detail.

Reasons To Tag Air Passenger Baggage

Airlines are suffering from an increased loss of passenger baggage lately, apparently since the US and UK foiled a terrorist plot in early August. As a result, more bags are being checked manually, which the system is unable to handle. Lost baggage costs airlines US$2.5B annually, and financially-troubled airlines are may be cutting corners. (Doesn't it make you wonder what happens to the 200,000 or so unrecovered bags yearly?)

Part of the problem is that in some countries, airlines handle the baggage checking process, and in others the airports. The decision as to who will cover the cost does play a factor, as item-level tagging isn't cheap. Since reusability is important, tags then have to be durable for years of use. Still, in today's atmosphere of fear, many passengers and most airlines likely see baggage tagging as an eventuality

[additional sources: Scripps News]

Is Anyone Really Using RFID?

That's a question that does actually get asked, and quite often. Louis Sirico and Andy Kowl of RFID Switchboard offer a guest column at The Manufacturer, deconstructing a wide feeling that maybe only a few hundred companies around the world are using RFID.

They say that there are in fact thousands of companies, and even list numerous examples of use, some of which are new to me. One example is that two companies are tracking coffins with RFID tags. Coffins are expensive, ranging from just sub-$1000 to many thousands, so a 50-cent tag is worth the cost. What's more, information about the body inside can be stored electronically on tags wth an appropriate amount of data storage space. Sounds like a rather unsettling, no doubt, though person is to replace the current method of affixing a slip of paper to coffin handles. If exhumation is ever needed, the paper helps identify the proper body.

RFID Lowdown - Sat Nov 25, 2006

New Airline Bagging Tagging Chip
Delta Airlines is testing a new RFID baggage tagging solution called BagChip from RFID Ltd. The system is expected to cut down on lost baggage which estimated at around 800,000 pieces yearly, costing US$100M annually. Each BagChip tag is about US$10. [Business Wire via Biz Yahoo]

Medline RFID For Surgical Sponges
Medline Industries is the latest company to offer an RFID system for tracking surgical sponges. Such sponges are used during operations and have a tendency to be left behind under the stress of some surgeries. Medline's system also works with surgical gauze and towels. [via RFID Journal]

South Korea Certifies ThingMagic
ThingMagic's Mercury4 RFID reader has been certified [RFID News] for use in South Korea, and is already being used for a number of applications including airline, high-security, and casinos. Mercury4 functions on EPC Gen 2 technology.

Minimizing Losses From Stolen Laptops

-- By Pushpa Sathish, Staff Writer

Stolen laptops are a serious cause for concern for all organizations, especially when they contain sensitive data that can be misused to steal identities and corporate secrets. According to research firm Gartner, one stolen or misplaced notebook computer can cost an organization more than $6,000, in terms just computable attributes like hardware, software and time spent to restore lost data. Repercussions from abuse of the lost information can cost the company much, much more.

RFID is stepping in to fill the security holes that stolen laptops leave open – Vector Asset Locator from Vector Networks leverages RFID technology to find, track and monitor laptops in an enterprise. The solution has the following benefits:

• It can locate the exact location of every tagged laptop within the company premises.
• It can prevent misuse by partnering employee tags to laptop tags. This means that only those who are authorized to use certain systems will be able to do so. The two-factor authentication advantage comes into play here.
• It sends out an alarm when the tags are physically removed or otherwise tampered with.
• Vector Networks provides IT asset and service management services.

Protecting Laptop Computers With RFID

With all the government other laptops that have been reported stolen in the US in the past year, it's about time that a solution was devised. Enter Vector Networks' VAL (Vector Asset Locator) RFID-based asset management solution. Each asset, such as a laptop, is tagged and readers set up strategically. If an asset is moved out of a certain area or moved by an unauthorized user, the IT department of a company or other organization would be alerted almost immediately. This is done by associating the RFID tag of an asset with the RFID tag of an employee id card. Asset locations can be viewed from within the software.

VAL is new functionality that has been added to Vector AM (Asset Management) Professional, an IT asset management solution.

[additional sources:  Home Business Wire, Internet News]

RFID Baggage Tagging For US Airline Industry

Finances pure and simple are apparently the reason the US airline industry has not implemented RFID baggage tagging. That and the fact that such tags end up being disposable and are currently expensive enough to cut into already small profits. But weighed against the fact that US airlines lose track of about 10,000 bags each day and typically compensate passengers, baggage tagging costs begin to look more attractive. The prediction is that as more airlines start to implement radio frequency technology for baggage tagging, the cost of tags and readers will drop, which in turn will likely encourage more US airlines to follow suit.

One possibility for raising funds to pay for the RFD technology is a head tax, but in the US, it's mostly the airlines and not the airports that usually handle baggage. So such a tax is less likely. That leaves higher ticket prices, which may not fly, so to speak, with passengers because of the competitive market. But it is expected that baggage tagging use will increase, with related revenues to the RFID industry to double by 2011. Other issues to be worked out, other than tag costs: the infrastructure and the tags themselves. One reader of this site commented that "a more feasible solution would be... multi-use tags..." and to "charge $10 and offer greater insurance against lost baggage."

[sources: PR Minds]

RFID In Shipping

EPCglobal is conducting a pilot study to promote their EPCIS (electronic product code information services) technical specification in Asia, as well as test RFID for automated customs clearance. EPCIS is a guideline for the standardizing RFID data so that it can be shared. The first of two phases involves tagging containers being shipped between Hong Kong and Japan (by sea).

Another RFID pilot being run by Schenker, a division of Deutsche Bahn, is also being applied to sea freight containers, in this case between the ports of Hong Kong and Hamburg, Germany. This pilot is also in two phases and will last about a year. It will use tags and readers from Intermec, with the tags being able to withstand salt water.

Other companies such as Savi Networks are also testing RFID with shipping containers.

NAIS Animal Tagging Initiative Finds Texas Resistance

Spychips reports that the US initiative NAIS (National Animal Identification System), to tag and identify all livestock into a federal database, is running into resistance in the state of Texas. This despite the fact that RFID chips have been successfully used to roundup cattle stolen by rustlers. The general intent of NAIS is to track and control diseased food animals, including the ability to retrieve information about which farm an animal was born on. Once NAIS is in effect, all newborn, sick, dead, slaughtered, sold or transported livestock must be reported, or fines are levied (US$1,000 per day) by the USDA.

According to the Spychips article, two Texas counties have signed anti-NAIS resolutions. There is also resistance in the state of Indiana, amongst the Amish community, who feel that NAIS goes against their religious beliefs. Mandatory compliance of NAIS was already delayed from 2005 to 2007, due to mass protests. There are other livestock uses of RFID that do not involve NAIS, including monitoring the body temperature of cows.

RFID Solution from Alien, Oracle, Intel

-- By Pushpa Sathish, Staff Writer

Oracle, Intel and Alien Technology have come together to develop a complete RFID solution for use in the transportation, automotive, and aerospace sectors. The end-to-end, pre-configured system, which integrates the best of hardware and software from the three corporations, was on display at the EPC Global Conference held recently in Los Angeles.

Being touted as a solution that facilitates quick and easy deployment, the new offering combines data management strategies and business insight from Oracle, infrastructure and data architecture expertise from Intel, and inexpensive tags and readers from Alien, to address the tracking needs of trucking and shipping operations, manage cold and supply chains, and oversee security and baggage handling details at airports.

Prospective and interested customers can check out the solution at the RFID Solutions Center Dayton, Alien’s dedicated facility for the application of RFID technology. 

RFID Lowdown - Wed Oct 25, 2006

RFID Job Layoffs At Sirit
Not long after purchasing two RFID tech companies, TradeWind Technologies and SAMSys Technologies, the Canadian company Sirit is laying off about 25% of their small staff, at two locations (UK, USA), as part of a restructuring. [via RFID Journal] Given the shortage of skilled workers in the industry, I'm guessing most of these people will not have too much trouble finding work elsewhere. Let's hope that's the case.

Flowers For RFID
Or is that RFID for flowers. A Dutch company, FloraHolland, is using RFID to help manage many thousands of flower trolleys supplied by thousands of vendors for daily auctions. The trolleys are tagged and thus make it easy to find a particular when it is due up for auction. [via Computer Weekly]

Wi-Fi Challenges Active RFID In Health Care
Because so many hospitals already have Wi-Fi networks installed, and equipment that is Wi-Fi enabled, Wi-Fi vendors are going head-to-head with RFID vendors for the healthcare asset management market. [via BusinessWire/ Biz Yahoo] ABI Research is offering a report for purchase on their findings in this regard.

RFID Applications: Document Tracking

[This post is part of a short series aimed at giving a quick overview of existing and future applications of RFID - radio frequency identification - technology.] Anyone remember when banks first started computerizing records? How many decades has the idea of a paperless society been pushed? I've never for a moment believed that it will ever happen (just like hard currency will probably never go away everywhere in the world). In fact, there are many industries that require paper records, a few being financial (e.g., mortgage details), legal (court case notes), and dental/ medical records.

Not only do these industries regularly maintain paper documentation regularly, but they have to keep such documentation for a considerable length of time. In Malaysia, financial institutions have to keep loan documents for up to 30 years plus seven, with the latter amount expected to increase to 10-12 years.

RFID is being employed to help manage and track document assets. In fact, about 35% of the document- tracking market in Malaysia is expected to use RFID by 2010. In the United States, several legal firms and tax courts, not to mention dental offices, have recently started tracking assets with RFID. Other potential uses would be in police departments, where paper-based case files are regularly maintained.

[sources: The Edge Daily, Star-Tech Central]

Dog's Best Friend - RFID Chips?

Dr. Katherine Albrecht, co-author of the book SpyChips, explains why RFID chip implants may work for pets but not for humans. She points to a Houston Chronicle article about a dog that strayed 1,400 miles but was returned to its owner thanks to its microchip. (Though there are even older stories of dogs lost on vacation who found their own way home, thanks to some innate homing ability.) Dr. Albrecht says that it's stories like this make people thinking implanted chips can be used to "find anything that goes missing."

Since RFID does not work like GPS (Global Positioning System) devices, and implanted chip read ranges are about twelve inches, an implant cannot be used to find a kidnapped child, lost or captured soldier, etc. I have to agree with her assessment, and it's my primary reason for feeling that this "let's chip everyone" agenda of some groups such as VeriChip Corp. is pure and utter crap, and more of an attempted cash-grab than for any legitimate reason. (Do the math and figure out how much companies stand to gain if they can scare people into accepting a law that forces all human beings to get chipped.)

A few years back before I knew much about RFID beyond my experience with a certain contactless payment card, I wrote a large series of post-cyberpunk short stories set in a futuristic America (USNA - United States of North America = USA and Canada combined), where scanners are placed in a mesh-network formation all over cities, and a band of microchipped rebels manage to escape and find a way to jam the scanners. Short of a society with RFID readers placed in close formation, I don't think implanting people with microchips will have any real functional use, beyond maybe identifying the dead during disaster recovery.

AIM Global RFID Position Statement

--By Raj Dash, Staff Writer

AIM Global, a non-profit industry trade association with a focus on automatic identification technologies, published a "position statement" RFID solutions and issues. In the paper, AIM Global expressed their support for the use of item-level tagging for supply chain use, especially in promoting a secure food chain and for pharmaceutical pedigreeing.

They did not take a stance on whether HF (high frequency) or UHF (ultra high frequency) tags were the better solution, saying that both have their place. In addition, they plan to fund efforts to remove artificial regulatory barriers and promote education of RFID. Get more details from the position paper (free registration required). [via RFID Solutions Online]

Tracking RFID’s Progress Across the Atlantic – the Savi Way

-- By Pushpa Sathish, Staff Writer

The utility value of RFID is perhaps most seen in tracking assets as they move through the supply chain. Savi Networks, the partnership between Savi Technology (owned now by Lockheed Martin) and Hutchison Port Holdings, has accordingly widened its active RFID-based cargo tracking network to service ports in the United Kingdom.

With the SaviTrak infrastructure now installed at the Port of Felixstowe in southeast England, Savi has extended its reach to 20 ports across Europe, Asia, North America, and South America. Savi Networks Chief Operating Officer Lani Fritts says that this covers all ports from where at least half the cargo that enters the United States originates. And that’s not all – Fritts says that plans are afoot to equip 75 more ports.

Meanwhile, automobile manufacturer Jaguar is leveraging the network at Felixstowe to track parts shipments bound for the US. RFID Update reports:

Jaguar and its logistics partner, Unipart Logistics, will use sensors and ISO-standard active RFID tags on shipping containers as part of the Jaguar Tradelane Project to provide real-time location information and security alerts for shipping containers packed with replacement parts. Savi's systems at the Port of New York/New Jersey and the Port of Oakland in California will track inbound Jaguar shipments.

RFID Lowdown - Wed Oct 11, 2006

--By Raj Dash, Staff Writer

Jamaican RFID Toll Highway
Jamaica is currently working on a new Highway, 2000, which has a 21-lane toll plaza. Payment options include TransCore's eGo RFID sticker tag. The high-speed passive tags are applied to a car's windshield, operate at 915Mhz, have a read range of 31.5 feet (9.6m), and 2Kbits of read/write memory. [via BusinessWire] RFID has been use in toll collection in North America for at least a decade, possibly longer, and has been spreading in use to Europe, Asia, and South America as well.

China Investing In 20 RFID Programs
The Chinese government's Ministry of Science and Technology had listed 20 major RFID programs in 5 key areas, which will get a total of RMB128 Mln (=~ US$16.17M; RMB = Renminbi = Chinese Yuan) in funding. [via China Tech News]

Virginia Port Authority To Get RFID Tech
The Virginia Port Authority will be getting RFID technology to manage cargo container shipments. The technology is being installed by Savi Networks, which is a joint venture between Savi Technology (owned by Lockheed Martin) and Hutchison Port Holdings. Savi Networks has also installed other RFID systems for other port authorities around the world. [via Trading Markets]

Extreme-Case RFID Scenarios

--By Raj Dash, Staff Writer

What would you say is one of the harshest all-round applications for RFID tags to be in? That is, extremes of temperature (hot and cold), vibration, air pressure, and life duration. If you said jet plane use, you'd be right. Boeing has a project which uses around 2000 high-memory passive RFID tags in each 787 Boeing Dreamliner plane that is rolled out. (There are 4 million parts, but only 2000 are being tagged.)

Temperature conditions range from -40 F to +300 F (Fahrenheit) (with occasional bursts to 1200 F). The tags have to work in a range of 860-960 Mhz (Megahertz), so they're compatible with UHF (Ultra High Frequency) readers in any appropriate country. Memory requirements are 64,000 bits, compared to Wal-marts 96 bits. Oh, and the tags have to last 20 years.

So it's not surprising, then, that even though most item-level RFID tags are about US$0.40, these are $15-20 apiece. (For reference, consider that for widespread use of item-level tags, particularly in CPG - consumer packaged goods - the desired price is sub-ten cents, preferably five cents.) Read Evan Schuman's Storefront Backtalk article for explanation of why Boeing needed the tags they are using, and how it is making their parts documentation process more accurate.

Boeing has previously used RFID on their MD-10 Freighter planes, which are used by FedEx, the courier company. These are online some of the ways that the airline industry is using RFID, with baggage and ticketing being others.

[additional sources: Storefront Backtalk]

US Army To Save $$ With RFID

--By Raj Dash, Staff Writer

The government or Army wanting to save money may surprise you, considering the fiasco a few years (decades?) back with the $600 hammers (and $1000 ladders?) they supposedly ordered. But the US Army is saying that their RFID implementation may save them a half million dollars this year. They're using RF technology for a variety of uses including tracking parts of two of their communications systems. RFID might also be used to track the renovation of a defense system being used in Iraq and Afghanistan. Read more details about the use of RFID and the Tobyhanna Army Depot pilot project, which uses the WhereNet RTLS, at RFID Journal.

RTLS, or Real-Time Location System, refers to a specific application of RFID which allows tracking of assets or people. A number of hospitals are using RTLS wristbands and tags to manage patients and track hospital equipment.

NIST Document Outlines RFID Risks

While a variety of RFID industry representatives have been stating that the security risks are overblown (at least for certain applications), NIST (National Institute for Standards and Technology) in the US released a report highlighting what they feel to be risks of radio frequency technology. Some of the highlighted risks include unauthorized access to RFID readers or even the databases collecting field data.

NIST's document's intended audience is US government agencies. The US government is split over the decision to use either HF or UHF tags, with some agencies such as the DHS (US Dept of Homeland Security) preferring UHF (Ultra High Frequency) RFID tags. Earlier this year, the DHS released a report indicating that RFID was not suitable for tracking people. Some cynics might say that this is odd considering they want to use UHF for the PASS border smartcards. Smartcards typically use HF because they do not need the broadcast range of UHF. This is also why smartcards are often called contactless, because they are held only a few centimeters from readers.

[sources: FCW]

Enterprise: Preparing For RFID Use

Line 56 has an article discussing how companies will have to be prepared "for the next step in the RFID evolution" even if they are not currently using RFID in their business practices. The Australian has a look at how efficient logistics and a good supply chain can make a difference to whether a supplier/ manufacturing business can turn a profit or will go under.

Part of a good supply chain is in using the right tools, and the article has a look at how RFID can play a role in this. Even if your company isn't yet ready for RFID, staying on top of its uses in SCM (supply chain management) will pay off in the future, when you do implement radio frequency technology. Here are some tips for implementing RFID in the enterprise.

RFID + Pharmaceuticals: Pfizer Combats Fake Viagra

With the deadline fast approaching (Dec 1st) for US FDA compliance for some drugs to be e-pedigreed, pharmaceutical companies are already rolling out specific applications. Pfizer, for example, is using RFID to fight counterfeiting of Viagra [Tech News World]. Viagra - used to restore sexual potency in men - is probably one of the most popular drugs right now, and probably thus a common target of counterfeiting - at least if the dozens of junk emails I get regularly is any indication.

Wal-Mart is also expecting cases and pallets of drugs from certain providers to be tagged, which will likely drive the need for more RFID pharma usage - what with Wal-Mart being the all-powerful retailer that they are. But whether Wal-Mart is dictating usage or not, some experts feel that RFID is the only option for fighting counterfeiting - of drugs or pretty much any high-ticket luxury items. Pharmaceuticals, however, have been typically slow to implement radio frequency technology.

In the case of Pfizer, they are applying passive HF (High Frequency) RF tags to each bottle. Wholesalers and pharmacies receiving product can check authenticity using an RFID reader and an Internet connection. The product is held if its EPC (Electronic Product Code) does not match the expected code for the manufacturer. Since the bottles are expected to be sent back to Pfizer, I'm wondering who is paying for the shipping costs. In the Tech News World article (linked above), Pfizer is indicated as saying that other businesses in their supply chain just are not ready to be part of an e-pedigree system.

Montalbano Temperature-Sensitive RFID Tags

With so many applications of RFID involving perishable goods, including drugs, Montalbano Technology's temperature-sensing RFID tags are likely to be a very welcome addition for several industry. The tags are semi-passive and can be read by a standard RFID reader/ interrogator. Not only do they sense temperature but also light and humidity, as well as the duration and intensity of such environmental elements.

The tags have already been used with vegetable and fish products, and also have immediate applications for drugs that are compromised due to heat or light, the food and restaurant industries, and several other applications. Other temperature-sensitive RFID tags are used in Cold Chain Management, by food processors, and even for livestock.

Sources: [RFID Journal]

RFID For Combating Counterfeiting

Drug counterfeiting is estimated to cost the pharmaceutical industry $30-35B yearly in the United States. (Counterfeiting in general is estimated at US$450B worldwide for all industries.) RFID is on the table as one of few ways to e-pedigree drugs in order to combat the counterfeiting trade. And now with rumblings of a new e-Pedigree act, the pharma industry has a way to fight the loss. (No idea yet how Wal-Mart's announcement to sell drugs at $4 bottle, I believe, will affect the industry. Or Wal-Mart.)

However, radio frequency technology can be used for the same purpose on other items as well. There are a number of anti-counterfeiting trials on using RFID tech. For example, RFID is used in a number of bricks-and-mortar casinos to combat not only counterfeiting of gaming and poker chips, but to prevent patrons from using one casino's chips at another. RF technology can also be used to validate event tickets, bus/ transit/ train passes and so on.

Yet Another RFID Library: Hamburg, Germany

Public libraries in Hamburg, Germany, will be implementing RFID next month for their signout materials. The conversion will allow library patrons to go through self-serve lanes and automatically check out materials. The entire project is expected to be completed by next year. [via RFID Journal]

Hamburg is just one of numerous libraries around the world which have decided to implement radio frequency technology. The local university and city library where I live has been using RF tags in books for close to twenty years, possibly longer, and has actually been a test bed for RF technology. I don't even think twice anymore about the weird foil sticker with a flat copper antenna. Over the years, library RF systems have matured, with new systems being tested all the time.

Library systems are prime example of how RFID can reduce operating costs, automate  help quickly locate misplaced inventory, and speed up the check-out process - something patrons will appreciate on busy days. Certainly something to consider for giant libraries such as the one in Shenzhen, China.

Revised US Pharma e-Pedigree Act?

The US FDA (Food and Drug Administration) had at one time intended to have pharmaceutical companies apply pedigreeing technology on all drugs, primarily to combat counterfeiting. They backed off from that plan after it was evident that the industry was lagging behind in implementing a solution - RFID being the FDA's preferred method.

The result was that the FDA mandate the application of RFID to pedigree select drugs, particularly (but not exclusively) expensive drugs prone to counterfeiting by Dec 1st, 2006. Now, it seems, the FDA might be back-tracking on their reduced plan and going ahead with their rules of imposing pedigreeing technology on all drugs. Part of their intent is to combat Internet pharmacies.

Get more details at The Manufacturer or AIM Global. RFID Solutions Online has an article (free registration required) which discusses how RFID can be a powerful tool for the pharmaceutical industry.

Using RFID And GPS For Improved Transit Service

City transit commissions have been working on ways to improve bus/ subway/ transit service for decades. One way, which didn't work, was each bus stop to have it's own extension for a call-in number. Call that number and you could find out when your bus is expected to arrive. That's "expected", because the oldest systems that used this method only approximated based on schedule, not actually conditions that day. Another method used was for the call-in number's operator to call the driver and ask for estimate. But that becomes disruptive to drivers, especially on busy routes during peak hours.

Then on-board-bus GPS (Global Positioning System) units were added to the mix, for a bit more accuracy in estimating current bus location. But that in itself isn't enough to automate a system to inform riders of a bus' ETA (estimated time of arrival). Now, several pilot projects are being tested in different countries using RFID as well as GPS technology. In the case of some projects [RFID Journal] in the US, the buses and the stops each have an RFID transceiver. When a bus approaches a stop, the transceivers communicate via a ZigBee wireless connection, and the sign is updated with info about that bus. I.e., the bus passed by X minutes ago, or will be arriving in Y minutes.

However, with a range of only 100 meters, this doesn't really seem to give passengers much advance warning. If I've understood the RFID Journal correctly, the GPS system, which uses GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) for communication, also sends bus stop signs info about a bus' ETA, and the RFID system later sends more accurate ETA info as the bus approaches within range of the stop.

This isn't the only way, obviously, that GPS or RFID tech is used for transit systems. It may require a city to "wire" their bus stops, but riders will not need to have an RFID-enabled communication device, such as a smart cell phone or PDA, to get a fairly accurate idea of when a bus is arriving.

Steering The Cows Home

Cattle farms are going hi-tech with RFID readers punctuating the vast expanses of ranches and homesteads. Cows are wearing the latest in ear accessories – active RFID tags that cost $12 each. TekVet LLC, the company behind these innovations promises that this advent of technology will help not only in tracking cattle, but also in monitoring core body temperature of the cows.

Temperature data is especially important when it comes to watching over the health of the herd because it can help identify, treat and isolate sick animals before the rest of the herd is adversely affected. The use of active RFID tags means that cattle can be monitored over larger ranges of the ranch using mesh networking technology.

The TekSensor tag is built using 413 MHz active tag and comes equipped with a flexible thermometer. It can transmit data from between 300 and 500 feet to wireless stations on the ranch.

TekVet has retained the services of IBM to host and manage the data centers for its deployments.  Data collected from millions of cows is transferred through private satellites to IBM System x servers at TekVet’s data center, where it is processed into information.

The tags are expensive, but are rugged and come equipped with a good battery. They can also be embedded in up to six different animals over a two-year period, according to TekVet. The company is already experimenting with sensors that monitor blood pH, heart rate and other vital signs. Besides cows, goats, swine and other livestock are also being targeted for future projects.

Message in an RFID Bottle

The check’s in the mail…How often have we treated those words with skepticism? But there are times when the check has been sent only to be lost amidst the millions of letters and packages handled by the postal department.

Well, these occurrences are to be a thing of the past with the new initiative taken by the UK-based postal agency Royal Mail. Hoping to position itself as the most suitable option for businesses and individuals, the postal services provider will use RFID to track the flow of mail and packages.

Royal Mail has not had a very good 2005, with more than 14 million letters not finding their way to the right addresses and 7 percent of mail being delivered late. The agency is looking to get its act together by tagging mail with an RFID microchip with a unique number that can be used identify certain packages.

Details of the RFID project are not yet clear with Royal Mail being tight-lipped about its design and implementation plans. With the postal agency fighting to retain its customers amidst tight competition from UK Mail and TNT Mail UK, let’s hope RFID will do the trick.

RFID Ri(c)es to Occasion

The staple diet of most of Asia is set to be tagged by RFID. Yes, rice is the latest to make the list of food items that will be tracked through the supply chain, from growth to its final market destination.
The Software Industry Promotion Agency (Sipa) in Thailand is contemplating the significance of using RFID to track jasmine rice, says Santi Suraratana, an RFID expert from Sipa. The seeds for this idea have been sowed with a pilot project that harnesses RFID technology to improve the agricultural supply chain of the rice.

The three provinces of Roi Et, Khon Kaen and Maha Sarakham were the guinea pigs for the first phase of this project that has the potential to “enhance the reputation of Thai rice as a premium grade product" according to Santi. Consumers and traders will be able to track the rice from where it is milled to its overseas shipping destination.

Sipa is working to ensure food safety for rice connoisseurs over the world by monitoring the jasmine rice, from its manufacturing process, through its logistics cycle, to its supply and distribution chains. Santi hopes RFID will contribute its mite to making Thailand “the kitchen of the world.”

RFID Links Spanish Army Supply Chain

The Spanish Armed Forces are using RFID to track and manage national and multi-national, joint force consignments as they travel through the supply chain. The RFID platform and network are provided courtesy Savi Technology, a subsidiary of the Lockheed Martin Corporation. The platform is interoperable with similar applications in use by NATO and other allied defense forces. Savi has also provided active RFID tags, fixed readers and handheld reader kits that are developed using Echopoint technology. TMC Net reports:

The RFID platform was reportedly installed through the Savi Consignment Management Solution (CMS), consisting of Savi SmartChain Site Manager, Savi SmartChain Enterprise Platform and Savi SmartChain Consignment Management Application.

RFID’s Here, No More Data Loss

With the security of information the top priority of all organizations today, the RFID tags provided by AXCESS International for physical computer asset protection is sure to sell like hotcakes. The provider of RFID solutions and Real Time Location Systems (RTLS) has come out with ActiveTag, a Dual-Active RFID application that can be used to monitor and track the movement of physical assets in an enterprise.

The tags are powered by an onsite battery that helps in locating even hidden computers and accessories. They can be activated on demand to trigger alerts when crossing certain security points in an organization. Doors are then locked automatically to prevent the asset from leaving the premises. The Dual Activator tag can be used to find if assets are inside or outside secure areas. 

Cost effective network-based receivers are used to read the transmissions from the tags and pass on their IDs to the AXCESS database to determine the location of assets, the person(s) who moved them, and if the move has been authorized or not.

In order to minimize alarm bells from ringing and hindering productivity each time a legitimate move is made, AXCESS allows authorized employees and administrators to be tagged themselves. I’m curious about one aspect though; are the tags meant to be inserted into their bodies or are they the kind that can be worn on key chains and identity cards? The first option sounds far too extreme and the second leaves the door wide open for theft, of the identity devices first and then the computer assets!

The Mexican arm of PricewaterhouseCoopers is deploying these Dual-Active tags to improve security on its premises. Can the assurance, tax and advisory services provider answer these questions?

Delivery - Care of RFID

In an effort to reduce delivery times, improve accuracy rates and reduce the probability of human-induced errors, the state-owned Thailand Post is introducing RFID technology in its warehouse management systems.

Each package brought in to Thai Post will be tagged with an RFID-enabled chip powered by a 64 MB memory that will hold information related to the owner, the date and time it was brought in, the contents of the package, the number of parcels, the destination, and the expected delivery time.

Thai Post is hoping to offer personalized postal services to cater to the needs and budgets of small businesses. The postal department is also working out deals with local mobile service providers to allow customers to check the status of their packages on their mobile phones.

The technology will be up and running within the next year if all goes according to plan.

3M Co. to track US Army medical records

If any firm is going great guns in tracking documents these days it is 3M. It was just the other day that I made a post on them tracking US Court documents.

Now 3M Co. has bagged the US Army contract for three years. The company received a $3.76 million contract to develop and install the system and replace a manual file tracking method previously used at Fort Hood Installation in Texas. The test is a pilot program.

The system is supposed to continuously monitor file inventory, catch filing- errors and eliminate human compliance issues, according to a 3M press release. The company feels that the proposed system would make a positive impact on operational efficiencies in health care delivery, the troop deployment process and the management of medical data collection - Bizjournal.com

3M Co. announced that the contract covers:

1. Choosing and optimizing the best RFID to track medical files.
2. Developing a cost-effective system that includes shelf-based reading capabilities.
3. Developing specialized software tailored specifically to meet the military's processes and
4. The installation and training of personnel for its use and maintenance

This novel idea of tracking Army medical records through RFID technology was initiated by the Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center, a unit of the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command. 3M Co. also revealed that the US Army is third Federal entity to opt for its services.

As the Federal entities take up to RFID technology in a big way you also see that it is the same the world over. According to IDTechEX, RFID is making its presence known 76 countries around the globe. This number is up from 49 countries almost 2 years ago. Is RFID everywhere now? What do you think?

Power Paper Deploys RFID Technology to Track Pallets

The Israel-based Power Paper organization, which deals in thin and flexible micro-power source technology and applications, and French value-added reseller NBG ID have collaborated to deploy RFID technology at two distribution centers in France that belong to a global logistics company.

Battery-assisted passive UHF tags from the PowerID unit of Power Paper will be used at both centers to track pallets and reduce prevent them from being misrouted. The L-1010 tags are known as semi-passive tags as they include power from an inbuilt battery which allows for stronger signals and hence higher read rates.

The tags are being utilized to track pallets that contain alcoholic beverages within the logistics company’s warehouse and distribution center. Tags on the pallet and metal shelf are cross referenced to  locate the position of each retailer’s pallet. Power Paper claims a 100 percent read rate in this instance.

In the second deployment, pallets are tracked throughout their journey from the distribution center to the retailer’s location. RFID tags are used to ensure that the right pallets reach the right retailer. Since pallets may contain metals and liquids that are not conducive to the RFID environment, the average read rate is 99.7 percent.

RFID to track Government files

The smell of old documents bring memories of my grandpa’s law office, filled with files of old court cases that nobody seemed to want any more! But, the place would be in a chaos when the one odd old client would turn up trying to locate some paper. The files will be searched in an ascending order of date till we retrieved the document being requested. It was not a pretty sight and was backbreaking too!

That was one veteran lawyer’s quaint law office; now think of a court and the number of legal cases that get resolved on its floor every day. Every case surely has a big thick file attached to it for posterity. Obviously until now these files were kept in the records section using some method, which would not only help track but also retrieve it if the time came.

With over 100,000 case files alone with the US Tax Court, it is evident how much scope for improvement there could exist in a manual file tracking system. For one there would be so many human errors not to mention the cost of human labor itself. Clearly in all such government establishments, a more efficient method of file tracking is required.

Enter RFID and we suddenly seem to have a faster more efficient method of utilizing this new technology in helping us solve this laborious task. The US Tax division and more recently the US Tax Court have both allowed to let 3M deploy their RFID tracking solutions with the hopes of not only improving the tracking and retrieval process but also better it.

For now such use of RFID is rather uncommon and it seems like only 3M is chasing this market aggressively. Perhaps until now the fact that use of RFID was an expensive option and the technology itself was not proven is what is responsible for not deploying RFID for this purpose.

But, costs are down and not only Courthouses and Government institutions but also Hospitals, Colleges, Research Centers can use RFID to track files. That's time and money saved!

RFID to track Government files

The smell of old documents bring memories of my grandpa’s law office, filled with files of old court cases that nobody seemed to want any more! But, the place would be in a chaos when the one odd old client would turn up trying to locate some paper. The files will be searched in an ascending order of date till we retrieved the document being requested. It was not a pretty sight and was backbreaking too!

That was one veteran lawyer’s quaint law office; now think of a court and the number of legal cases that get resolved on its floor every day. Every case surely has a big thick file attached to it for posterity. Obviously until now these files were kept in the records section using some method, which would not only help track but also retrieve it if the time came.

With over 100,000 case files alone with the US Tax Court, it is evident how much scope for improvement there could exist in a manual file tracking system. For one there would be so many human errors not to mention the cost of human labor itself. Clearly in all such government establishments, a more efficient method of file tracking is required.

Enter RFID and we suddenly seem to have a faster more efficient method of utilizing this new technology in helping us solve this laborious task. The US Tax division and more recently the US Tax Court have both allowed to let 3M deploy their RFID tracking solutions with the hopes of not only improving the tracking and retrieval process but also better it.

For now such use of RFID is rather uncommon and it seems like only 3M is chasing this market aggressively. Perhaps until now the fact that use of RFID was an expensive option and the technology itself was not proven is what is responsible for not deploying RFID for this purpose.

But, costs are down and not only Courthouses and Government institutions but also Hospitals, Colleges, Research Centers can use RFID to track files. That's time and money saved!

Wal-Mart takes retailing RFID to Canada

If it’s in America now can Canada be Far behind - That I think is the guiding philosophy behind the top brass at Wal-Mart USA. The Wal-Mart -RFID bonding is now legendary. With its financial muscle power its not surprising that they made it to the headlines when Wal-Mart Stores Inc.- World biggest retail chain - decided to introduce RFID technology into their shopping chain.

Now it seems like Wal-Mart Canada Corp. the Canadian subsidiary is preparing to launch a pilot project to match its current ongoing RFID program in the U.S. Wal-Mart Mart is hoping to convince retailers in Canada to join the RFID band wagon after a STORE conference later this week where in retailers will be introduced to the concept of RFID that Wal-Mart Mart is trying to sell.

One major difference though in the Canadian experiment would be that unlike in the US where it was mandatory for retailers to comply with certain specific guidelines in the move towards the RFID implementation, there would be no such compulsion in Canada.

Wal-Mart Mart is fully convinced of the benefits of using RFID in such supply and that is perhaps the single most important reason why Wal-Mart Mart is marching forward with its plans. Starting from being able to efficiently track all their goods in the supply chain providing end-to-end visibility, it can help gauge the movement of goods prompting suppliers when replenishment is required.

RFID can also track, delayed shipments and perhaps the most important feature of them all is the interconnectivity between the concerned supplier to Wal-Mart Mart and others in the chain.

Wal-Mart expects this pilot project to be completed by 2007 and Ontario has been selected for this pilot project because of the diversity in its population there. The future for Wal-Mart Mart in Canada will be largely decided by the success of this Pilot project. Considering the success Wal-Mart has had with RFID I can only predict the Canadian project can only be the same. Way to go Wal-Mart!

Wal-Mart takes retailing RFID to Canada

If it’s in America now can Canada be Far behind - That I think is the guiding philosophy behind the top brass at Wal-Mart USA. The Wal-Mart -RFID bonding is now legendary. With its financial muscle power its not surprising that they made it to the headlines when Wal-Mart Stores Inc.- World biggest retail chain - decided to introduce RFID technology into their shopping chain.

Now it seems like Wal-Mart Canada Corp. the Canadian subsidiary is preparing to launch a pilot project to match its current ongoing RFID program in the U.S. Wal-Mart Mart is hoping to convince retailers in Canada to join the RFID band wagon after a STORE conference later this week where in retailers will be introduced to the concept of RFID that Wal-Mart Mart is trying to sell.

One major difference though in the Canadian experiment would be that unlike in the US where it was mandatory for retailers to comply with certain specific guidelines in the move towards the RFID implementation, there would be no such compulsion in Canada.

Wal-Mart Mart is fully convinced of the benefits of using RFID in such supply and that is perhaps the single most important reason why Wal-Mart Mart is marching forward with its plans. Starting from being able to efficiently track all their goods in the supply chain providing end-to-end visibility, it can help gauge the movement of goods prompting suppliers when replenishment is required.

RFID can also track, delayed shipments and perhaps the most important feature of them all is the interconnectivity between the concerned supplier to Wal-Mart Mart and others in the chain.

Wal-Mart expects this pilot project to be completed by 2007 and Ontario has been selected for this pilot project because of the diversity in its population there. The future for Wal-Mart Mart in Canada will be largely decided by the success of this Pilot project. Considering the success Wal-Mart has had with RFID I can only predict the Canadian project can only be the same. Way to go Wal-Mart!

Pirated music, DVDs - Can RFID help?

The war on piracy of music and movies is on it would seem as the hub of piracy, China is finding piracy is hurting the country’s own industries! U.S. officials say its exports cost legitimate producers worldwide up to $50 billion a year in lost potential sales.

According to this article, the Chinese government has tried to undercut the black market for software by ordering computer makers this year to sell PCs only with legitimate operating systems already installed. Officials have been told to remove pirated software from government computers. Commerce Minister Bo Xilai said in March that process was under way, but he set no deadline for compliance.

However, the problem is not an easy one, as ordinary Chinese people don't see anything wrong with buying pirated goods. If you really look at it we have regular people all over Asia also thinking the same way. Even in the US or Europe we often have people returning from Thailand or Malaysia flying back home with ten or twelve pirated DVDs especially the “five in one” ones where you can pick up the entire Star Wars series in one disc.

The quality is fairly okay and if you can put up with the awful subtitles you have your full collection of children’s’ classics for a despicable amount of 200 Baht! Surprisingly, most people are much more morally inclined to overlook the felony part of purchasing pirated music and movies.

China is followed by Russia which reports of the case of "The Da Vinci Code," the first version to appear was a "tryapka" or "rag" — Russian slang for the low-fi copies shot on camcorder directly in the cinema. Despite warnings shown before screenings, Russia's copyright law doesn't bar the practice: if a pirate is kicked out of the movie hall for filming, he can claim the copy was for personal use and successfully sue for the cost of his ticket.

In its battle against near-universal Chinese piracy of Hollywood blockbusters, Warner Bros.' weapon of choice is a little white price tag smaller than a postage stamp. But, can RFID really help? Not till people really grasp the crime that piracy really is!

RFID in the Life Science Field

RFID is chipping in to help the life science research fraternity. The Cell Therapy Facility and Tumor Cell Bank of the Paoli Calmettes Institute in France is harnessing the power of RFID technology to tag its samples. The institute, which specializes in researching cancer, has over 170,000 biospecimens in storage, with around 1,300 new samples coming in every month.

Using handwritten labels to identify bags and tubes is a time-consuming process that has a high error rate. Moreover, because the specimens have to be cryo-preserved in sub-zero temperatures (-90F) in liquid nitrogen, the labels are often smudged and cannot be immediately after removal from storage. The