Let?s Start with Some Interesting Facts About RFID
- The FDA has given approval for RFID?s use in tracking blood.
- A brand named Nutrismart has introduced edible RFID tags. This concept allows customers to understand the exact, accurate nutritional numbers of the food they are consuming.
- With the declining bee populations worldwide, RFID tags are being used by scientists for tracking bee migration as well as population.
- The tiniest RFID tag is offered by Hitachi, which is only .01 inches square.
- RFID has been used by the Vatican to track over 2 million ancient manuscripts that are stored in the Vatican Library.
- A few RFID tags can be read accurately at below -75 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Although RFID tags are mostly unknown among most people, they are extensively used by Walmart, Bon-Ton, Sears, Target, Nordstrom, Saks 5th Avenue, Dillard?s, Macy?s, Amazon, and Hudson?s Bay.
- RFID tags help find golf balls as well!
- Disneyworld uses RFID with respect to hotel rooms, food payments, and pictures.
- In many parts of the UK, a few towns use RFID for tracking the amount of total waste every household generates each week. These tags are present in the garbage, and are known as ?bin bugs?.
- Embedded RFID sensors are expected to become essential components of driverless cars very soon.
- RFID tags were created by a Soviet spy.
- The US Army makes use of RFID as well, either to track parachutes or secure locations, which keeps everything seamless and organized.
What Exactly are RFID Tags?
RFID tags can be described as a kind of tracking system that makes use of smart barcodes for identifying items. RFID stands for ?radio frequency identification,? which means that radio frequency technology is the key component. These radio waves send data/information from the tag directly to a reader, which in turn helps transmit this data to an RFID computer program. RFID tags are mostly utilized for merchandise; however, they also find use in tracking pets, vehicles, and patients affected by Alzheimer?s disease! An RFID tag is also sometimes known as an RFID chip.
How Do RFID Tags Work?
RFID tags help transmit and receive information using an antenna as well as a microchip, which is also known as an integrated circuit (IC). The RFID reader has a microchip where different information as per the user is written.
RFID tags come in two types: battery-operated as well as passive.
The battery-operated RFID tags have an onboard battery that is used for power supply, while the passive RFID tag contains no such thing but works by utilizing electromagnetic energy that is sent from an RFID reader. Battery-operated RFID tags are sometimes known as active RFID tags.
- Passive RFID tags make use of three frequencies for transmitting information, which are 125 ? 134 kHz, or Low Frequency (LF), then 13.56 MHz, or High Frequency (HF) as well as Near-Field Communication (NFC), along with 865 ? 960 MHz, also called Ultra High Frequency (UHF). The frequency that is being used has an impact on the tag?s range. After the reader scans the passive RFID tag, it sends energy directly to the tag that in turn, powers it sufficiently for the chip as well as the antenna to transmit this information right back to the reader. Then the reader sends this information right back to the RFID computer program to be interpreted. The two types of passive RFID tags are inlays as well as hard tags. Typically, inlays are extremely thin and can, therefore, be easily stuck on a variety of materials, while the hard tags are made of hard but durable materials like metal or plastic.
- Active RFID tags, on the other hand, make use of either the frequency of 433 MHz or 915 MHz for transmitting the information. They have three primary parts, such as a tag, interrogator, and antenna. The battery in the active RFID tag supplies sufficient power that lasts between 3 and 5 years. After dying, the unit needs to be replaced, since the batteries are not replaceable at present. The two types of active RFID tags are beacons as well as transponders. Beacons transmit information notifications every few seconds, and the signal they send is readable even from hundreds of feet away.
What are the Benefits of Using RFID Tags?
Access to Real-Time Data
RFID tags provide reliable and accurate track-and-trace in challenging environments. The technology easily tracks and offers real-time information with regard to inventory as well as product location.
Enhanced Operational Efficiency
RFID?s very important benefit can be that it doesn?t need much monitoring, thereby freeing up employees? time, who are then able to focus on other crucial tasks. Other than this, there is no need for a direct line of sight while reading tags, which means that several tags, at a single time, can be read.
Fewer Chances of Human Error
Manual labor goes hand in hand with some level of risk associated with human error. Using RFID, however, eradicates the need for human intervention while reading data. Everything is done automatically by the reader. The benefits associated with RFID outweigh the total costs incurred. RFID not only saves on labor but enhances accuracy by preventing errors associated with manual data logging as well.
Latest Trends
Focus on Enhancing Supply Chain Management to Bolster Demand for RFID Tags
Supply chain management is now one of the top areas of concern among companies active in the e-Commerce as well as logistics industries. Moreover, over the years, with the widening application range of RFID tags, computer scientists and engineers worldwide are progressively working on improving the capability of RFID tags. Other than this, advances in microchip technology, as well as antennas, will essentially be favorable for the RFID tags industry. E-commerce companies and retailers are now trying to optimize product availability along with the replenishment process for effective supply chain streamlining. This will mean a higher demand for RFID technology in the years to come.
Market Scope
The predicted term will see a CAGR of 13.67% for the global market for RFID tags. The usage of these tags for asset monitoring and tracking may stimulate market expansion. The tendency may be supported by the growth of the logistics sector and the safe transportation of products and commodities. The construction of warehouses and the existence of logistic delivery companies are likely to promote market expansion.
