Insights -- September 2004
Tuning in to Rfid Options
Don't let mandates limit tagging potential
Mandates have been the driving force behind the increasing interest in RFID. Yet these mandates have created a perception that there is only one type of tag (a.k.a. Transponder) available for use and that this tag is only for suppliers who face retailer case and pallet level tracking mandates. RFID usage for toll payment, livestock tracking, secured access, asset management and payment have become everyday items. Yet many of these applications do not up Electronic Product Code- (EPC) based tags associated with retailer mandates.
- Does an enterprise only need to understand one frequency?
- Are 900+ MHz Class 0 tags all that matter?
- Are passive tags better than active tags?
- Are all frequencies available on an international basis?
Keeping these questions in mind, here are the tags basics (see table). There are low frequency tags (135 kHz), high frequency tags (13.56 MHz), Ultrahigh Frequency (UHF), (433 MHz, and 868-915 MHz) and Microwave tags (2.45 GHz and 5.8 GHz). Just like all technology, each of these tags possess pros and cons, and users will need to decide which of the tags best fits the business requirements they are trying to meet. Moreover, there are active (with battery), passive (without battery) tags and chipless tags. This wide array of options does not appear in the retailer and Department of Defense mandates and has created a focus on the 868-915 MHz UHF tags that EPCglobal (www.epcglobalinc.org) has been promoting for retailer/supplier, case/pallet level tracking. We recommend that organizations gain an understanding of these options in order to look beyond meeting a mandate.
Low Frequency Findings
Low frequency (135 kHz) tags are used in one of the largest RFID applications, which is livestock tracking. In this application, enterprises track livestock without having line of sight or far from perfect weather conditions. One of the most notable uses of this type of tag is the Mobil Speedpass which enables payment processes for gas and groceries. These tags can be used for pallet level tracking but can have slower read rates than the EPC-based tags.
High Frequency Facts
High frequency (13.56 MHz) tags have been tested and deployed in applications such as smart cards, baggage tracking and asset management. For example, Frankfurt Airport will be use RFID to enable efficient maintenance of vital air and ventilation systems. In the world of healthcare, asset tracking of key assets as well as doctor and patient tracking applications have been in development to enable improved service and safety levels within hospitals. For example, at the low end of complexity these tags are placed on patients enable healthcare providers to collect data without disturbing sleeping patients. At the high end of complexity, some enterprises want entrances to operating rooms to be RFID enabled to ensure that the right patient and doctor can gain access to an operating room.
UHF Gains Interest
UHF (433 MHz) tags have become of more interest as the Container Security Initiative (CSI) from The Department of Homeland Security (www.dhs.gov) continues to gain momentum. For example, the Port of Los Angles has begun to test these tags for container movement and tracking. These tags are targeted to enable to processing and collection of data associated with the contents containers. We believe that this will be of significant value to Homeland security but will also add improvements in visibility to those enterprises interested in container tracking.
UHF 868-915 MHz tags are the most popular because of retailer mandates. These tags support the EPCglobal EPC standard and are the focus of case/pallet tracking. Evaluation of these tags for electronic toll collection and baggage tracking initiatives is underway. Furthermore, it is retailers, The Department of Defense and their suppliers who seek to drive volume behind the EPC-based standard UHF tags in order to gain economies of scale for more that just the tag costs.
Outside Looking In
Many industries outside of consumer goods such as pharmaceuticals, transportation, healthcare and financial services are using or evaluating RFID technology for next generation sensor enabled applications. We recommend that consumer goods firms keep an open mind to the various tag options available. View RFID as a component to sensor-enabled applications within the adaptive organization and not just complying with a mandate.