RFID Tag – What is an RFID Tag?
RFID Tag is an electronic identification tag that stores and transmits data. It is usually a small, passive device that requires no power to function.
Tags designed for MP outperformed those designed for NMP on a foam substrate, but the simulated results indicate that the manufactured Dipole and Slot tags on silicone had lower radiation efficiencies than their commercial Alien Squiggle counterparts.
Location Tracking
The ability of an RFID tag to transmit data over a long distance and in real-time makes it a powerful tool for location tracking. This capability is especially useful for items that are often moved around a warehouse, such as inventory, equipment, or materials. RFID can track Metal Card these items in a more accurate manner than other methods, such as Barcodes.
As soon as an RFID reader detects a tag within its read range, the microchip sends out signals. These signals are picked up by the RFID reader, and the information stored on the microchip is transmitted to a computer. The tag’s location and other information are then logged in an inventory database. This real-time inventory system helps businesses cut down on time spent on manual paperwork and provides more accuracy when it comes to stocking shelves.
In addition to providing a faster inventory tracking process, an RFID solution can also help prevent loss of items. According to industry estimates, misplaced or stolen inventory costs American Auto manufacturers $750 million per year, and job site theft cost Construction companies $1 billion annually. With an RFID-based asset tracking system, companies can instantly locate lost equipment, and integrate this technology with anti-theft systems for even more security.
Besides preventing loss of assets, an RFID system can also improve the quality of work done by facility technicians. For example, an RFID-tagged testing kit can tell a manager who currently has it on a service call. This eliminates the need for manual paperwork, reducing transcription errors and data loss in this crucial process.
Asset Tracking
Using the same radio waves that power toll booths and security cards, RFID tags can be used to track tools, equipment, electronic devices, pallets and goods. It’s no surprise that businesses in a wide range of industries use this technology to help improve inventory management and increase asset visibility.
Traditionally, tracking assets with barcodes or engraved codes requires employees to physically locate the item and then scan it, a process that can be time consuming and inefficient if the items are in hard-to-reach places like under desks, behind heavy equipment or in mud or dirt. With RFID, a mobile RFID reader built into a handheld device can instantly and accurately scan multiple assets in a matter of seconds, dramatically improving internal audits, supply chain logistics and production flow.
With passive RFID tags (or semi-passive RFID tags) and fixed RFID readers, a business can automate inventory monitoring, moving goods in-and-out of warehouses without ever needing to manually scan them. This allows for increased accuracy and accelerated inventory management, reducing workflow bottlenecks that delay product delivery to customers.
Passive RFID tags are also great for tracking equipment within facilities, especially when the items must be moved between departments or floors. When a worker brings an RFID-tagged tool or test kit to another location, the tag’s signal communicates with the reading system, which then updates the data on the central inventory tracking software.
Access Control
Unlike a traditional key-based system, RFID tags are difficult to duplicate or intercept, making them an effective access control tool. When a credential is swiped through an RFID reader, the system transmits a code that identifies the authorized individual and grants access. This eliminates the need for building tenants, employees or residents to present ID cards and can improve efficiency and security.
A simple integrated circuit powers the chip in an RFID tag, and when it comes into contact with radio waves at a specific frequency, the circuit creates an electrical current that can be sensed by the reader. This signal is then transmitted to the system, which records data based on the unique tag identifier. The tag is either active, which has its own power source and can work at a larger range, or passive, which relies on energy from the interrogating radio waves and operates at a shorter range.
Most modern RFID systems provide property owners and security teams the ability to monitor, adjust or in some configurations even revoke access remotely. This level of flexibility can help property managers more effectively utilize available resources while improving incident response times around the clock. Additionally, many RFID systems offer an intuitive user-friendly software interface for managing user data, credentials and access levels that can help reduce employee training costs and overall operating expenses.
Security
You’ve almost certainly used RFID tags before without even realising it; they are present in passports, Metro transport cards, hotel room key cards and pet microchips. The technology RFID Tag is now also being used in smart digital car key fobs, retail store merchandise tracking and in a variety of home security applications.
While the benefits of RFID can be significant, it’s important to take measures to protect the information linked to the tag and any corollary radio communications between readers and tags. This includes protection against unauthorized reading, logging and tracking of the tags and any associated data.
To prevent eavesdropping, there are options that ensure only the tag and reader can decipher data by using cover coding. This is a technique whereby the reader asks the tag for a line of code which is then encrypted on the chip and returned to the reader. This prevents any eavesdropping or skimming and means the data is useless to outsiders.
Another option is to use tag authentication, where a secret key is shared between the tag and the reader to verify the identity of the tag. This is a feature that can be found in many RFID systems and provides a high level of security against cloning and eavesdropping. Some vendors even offer the ability to ‘kill’ a tag with a kill code so that it cannot be reused by hackers.
