RFID, or Radio Frequency Identification, is a form of communication tech that tracks and identifies products and objects by using wireless radio waves. RFID was officially created in 1983 by Charles Walton, although similar devices, such as one created by Mario Cardullo, have existed before the official patent.
RFID is a type of smart manufacturing technology that is used to automate information and product management tasks in order to create a more efficient and precise manufacturing process, by handling tasks such as inventory counting and management.
How Does RFID Work?
RFID works at a most basic level by using three pieces, an RFID tag, an RFID antenna, and an RFID reader.
The tag is placed on an object, which sends its tracking data to the antenna, which receives the information and transmits it to the reader, which will send the information back to the antenna, and will also send the information directly to a backend, which is where the tags information can be seen and stored.
RFID Tags Vs Barcodes:
An RFID device works similarly to barcoding, in that it reads and tracks an item based on an identifiable tag. However, RFID does not require a human worker to stop, find the time, find the barcode, and then scan it. Instead, an RFID scanner can instantly find tags within a wide area and send that information directly to a computer or other system. This makes RFID tags a perfect alternative to barcode scanners.
Which Should I Use?
Whether to use an RFID tag or a barcode depends on your business and its needs. RFID tags are automated and faster, but a barcode is more cost-effective and can be easier to integrate into certain workplaces.
Types of RFID Tags:
There are many different types of RFID tags, each with its own purpose, functions, benefits and drawbacks. These types of tags are defined by their frequency and whether they actively receive or send radio waves. The following are the main types of RFID tags:
- Passive RFID Tags: Passive tags are tags that do not have a battery and only activate when they receive a radio signal.
- Active RFID Tags: Active tags are tags that have a battery, a long read range, and repeatedly sends radio signals.
- Semi-passive RFID Tags: a semi-passive tag is a tag that has a battery but will still only activate when the tag receives a radio signal.
- Low Frequency RFID Tags: Low frequency tags are tags that cover frequencies of 30 to 300 KHz. A low frequency has less range, but is not as vulnerable to metals and liquids, and are commonly used to track beer or cars.
- Ultra High-Frequency RFID Tags: Ultra high-frequency tags are tags that cover frequencies of 3 to 30 MHz. These tags are used most commonly by businesses and production companies because they are less expensive while still having a strong reading range.
- NFC Tags: Near field communication tags, or NFC tags, are tags that operate in a frequency of 13.56 MHz. These tags are a subtype of high frequency tags that are commonly used for contactless payments.
Why Your Business Needs RFID:
Radio Frequency Identification is perfect for factories and manufacturing plants because of how intensely they streamline product information gathering and tracking. By using RFID, a business can automatically take inventory stock without needing a human employee to manually scan or count each product, plus the tag usage is precise and not subject to possible human error.
Other Uses For RFID
RFID is not only used for smart manufacturing and product creation. Radio Frequency Identification is used to replace barcodes and QR codes, and it can be found in vital equipment such:
- E-passports: to store biometric data and travel details.
- Smartphones: Using NFC tags for contactless payment and inter-device communication.
- Credit Cards: Also using NFC tags for contactless payments.
Securing The Frequency: RFID Blocking
Outside of manufacturing, RFID is also used to store important personal information in objects such as passports and credit cards, and protecting this valuable information has been a modern day concern. RFID risks or security issues shouldn’t be relevant to a factory or manufacturing business as no extremely vital information should be on a product tag.
