RFID, short for “radio frequency identification,” refers to a technology where digital data encoded in RFID tags or smart labels is captured by a reader via radio waves. RFID is similar to barcode technology in that data from a tag or label is captured by a device that stores the data in a database. However, RFID offers several advantages over systems using barcode asset tracking software. Most notably, RFID tag data can be read outside the line of sight, whereas barcodes must be aligned with an optical scanner.
How Does RFID Work?
RFID belongs to a group of technologies known as Automatic Identification and Data Capture (AIDC). AIDC methods automatically identify objects, collect data about them, and enter that data directly into computer systems with little or no human intervention. RFID methods utilize radio waves to accomplish this. At a basic level, RFID systems consist of three components: an RFID tag or smart label, an RFID reader, and an antenna. RFID tags contain an integrated circuit and an antenna, which are used to transmit data to the RFID reader (also called an interrogator). The reader then converts the radio waves into a more usable form of data. Information collected from the tags is transferred through a communications interface to a host system, where the data can be stored in a database and analyzed later.
As mentioned above, an RFID tag consists of an integrated circuit and an antenna. The tag also includes a protective material that holds the parts together and shields them from various environmental conditions. The type of protective material depends on the application. For instance, employee ID cards containing RFID tags are typically made of durable plastic, and the tag is embedded between layers of plastic. RFID tags come in various shapes and sizes and can be either passive or active. Passive tags are the most commonly used since they are smaller and cheaper to implement. For passive tags to transmit data, they must first be “powered” by an RFID reader. Unlike passive tags, active RFID tags have a built-in power source, allowing them to transmit data continuously.
Smart Labels
Smart labels differ from RFID tags in that they contain both RFID and barcode technologies. They are made of an embedded adhesive label with an RFID tag, and they can also contain a barcode and/or other printed information. Smart labels can be encoded and printed on-demand using desktop label printers, whereas programming RFID tags takes more time and requires more advanced equipment.
Where is RFID Used?
- Inventory management
- Asset tracking
- Personnel tracking
- Access control to restricted areas
- ID badges
- Supply chain management
- Anti-counterfeiting (e.g., in the pharmaceutical industry)
Applications currently using barcode technology are good candidates for upgrading to systems using RFID, or a combination of both, whether or not RFID compliance is required. RFID offers several advantages over barcodes, most notably that an RFID tag can hold much more data about an item than a barcode. Additionally, RFID tags are not as fragile as barcode labels, making them a better option for harsh industrial environments.
RFID Security
A common concern with RFID security or privacy is that RFID tag data can be read by anyone with a compatible reader. Tags are typically readable even after a product has left the store or supply chain. They can also be read without the user’s knowledge using unauthorized readers, and if a tag has a unique serial number, it could potentially be associated with a consumer. Since RFID tags do not have much processing power, they cannot host encryption like other systems used to verify responses to a query. However, an exception to this is RFID tags used in passports.
RFID Standards
There are several guidelines and specifications for RFID technology, but the main standard organizations are:
- International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
- Electronic Product Code Global Incorporated (EPCglobal)
- International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC)
Each radio frequency has related standards, such as ISO 14223 and ISO/IEC 18000-2 for LF RFID, ISO 15693 and ISO/IEC 14443 for HF RFID, and ISO 18000-6C for UHF RFID.