Radio Frequency Identification: this is the name that explains acronym RFID and indicates a particular technology capable of identifying items using a system based on radio frequencies.
It is a technology that has naturally evolved over the years and also rather quickly, becoming today an essential tool to reduce costs of the various logistics flows (especially in areas such as fashion), as well as for the management of public transport and transport of goods. Particularly flexible, RFID technology is also useful for managing assets, for obtaining total traceability of items, and for identifying recyclable containers.
RFID uses a tag to produce smart tags that allow you to uniquely identify anything: all RFID tags are unique and non-repeatable and therefore allow you to reconstruct the history of each object, from its production to upon arrival to the end user, who can use it to request and receive one or more after-sales services. Furthermore, the RFID tag can be incorporated in tickets for public transport services, but also in clothing tags, bibs for sports competitions and events of all kinds.
In conclusion, it can be said that identifying a product by RFID tag is the same as giving it a name and surname. Once the product has been labelled, it (whether it is a shirt, a bottle, a pen) becomes a specific product easily identifiable among hundreds and hundreds of products looking the same.
Ruggtek products with RFID technology
Devices equipped with highly sophisticated RFID technology are of course rugged products, which are precisely designed for business areas including logistics.
Ruggtek has a wide range of devices with integrated RFID technology, both in the NFC and UHF variant, and according to different solutions.
- Windows RT 310 Tablet 10 inch
- Android RTA 310 Tablet 10 inch
- Linux RTL 310 Tablet 10 inch
- Windows RT 308 Tablet 8 inch
- Android RTA 308 Tablet 8 inch
- Linux RTL 308 Tablet 8 inch
- Windows RP 550 Handheld 5.5 inch
- Android RPA 550 Handheld 5.5 inch
- Windows RPA 520 Handheld 5 inch
- Android RPA 520-TP Handheld 5 inch with thermal printer
Ruggtek RPA 520 series, for example, both in the traditional and in the POS version with integrated receipt printer (Ruggtek RPA 520-TP) is equipped with Android 7 operating system, both NFC and UHF RFID technology, 1D and 2D Barcode reader, as well as Wi-Fi and 4G LTE connectivity and a nice 5-inch display.
There are tablets as well, such as the RT/RTA/RTL 310 series (10-inch); also in this case complete products, equipped with both NFC and UHF for greater and more precise reading capacity.
Radio Frequency IdentificationThis is the name that explains the acronym RFID and indicates a particular technology capable of identifying objects using a system based on radio frequencies.
It is a technology that has naturally evolved over the years and rather quickly too, becoming today a essential tool for reducing costs of the various logistics flows (especially in areas such as fashion), as well as for the management of public transport and freight traffic. Particularly flexible, RFID technology is also useful for asset management, for total traceability of objects, and for the identification of recyclable containers.
RFID uses a tag to produce the smart labels (smart tags) that allow anything to be uniquely identified: all RFID tags are unique and non-repeatable and thus make it possible to reconstruct the history of each object, from its production to its arrival at the end user, who can then use it to request and receive one or more after-sales services. Again, the RFID tag can be incorporated in tickets for public transport services, but also on clothing tags, on bibs for sports competitions, at events of all kinds.
To simplify, one can say that identifying a product by means of RFID tags is the same as giving it a first name and a surname unique. In the sense that when labelled, that product (be it a shirt, a bottle, a pen) become that specific product easily identifiable among hundreds and hundreds of identical-looking products.
How RFID technology works
RFID Technology is governed by specific Standards that everyone (manufacturers and customers alike) must comply with. A technology that not only improves logistics management with identified products, is increasingly becoming part of our everyday life, This can easily be seen by looking at how many apps are now developed with NFC technology, which is now also present in all consumer smartphones and no longer only in high-end ones.
This technology relies mostly on three communication frequencies - 125KHz LF, 13.56MHz HF (or NFC) and 865MHz UHF - and its operation is given by an interaction of different elements:
- A middleware, which is a programme that translates all tag information into the same code used by business management.
- The RFID tag, in fact, which contains a microchip with all the information and an aluminium antenna.
- A reader that powers the chips thanks to the energy transmitted by the antenna, establishing a logical connection with the memory of all tags.
There are several advantages to using RFID technology. First of all, these technologies guarantee maximum traceability because they make it possible, as we have seen, to identify a specific specimen among thousands identical to it, reconstructing its entire production history.
No less important is the remote reading, which can go even further than 10 metres. It is good, however, to establish a reading distance suitable for the specific needs of the application. Furthermore, reading RFID technology is called without a target, in the sense that all information is stored automatically by “bringing” the object into the range of the antenna.
Again, there is the advantage of a contemporary multiple reading, because the RFID reader makes it possible to store the information not of just one tag, but of dozens of them at the same time by interrogating them individually in a way not to overlap. Finally, all the information of a single tag can be updated via software without having to intervene on the label.
It can therefore be seen how great the benefits provided by RFID technology are. It is important, however, to emphasise that it is a technology highly sophisticated and for this very reason requires the advice of qualified personnel who can help customers choose the most suitable type of frequency, antenna, support, architecture of the instrumentation and all the analytical systems for objectives and results.
Having said that, let's look at the specific components required by an RFID system, valid for both HF/NFC and UHF frequencies:
- Tag: a highly customisable component that you can insert in a label, in tags or on plastic components.
- Antennas, which can be fixed or integrated into the device.
- There are several types: fixed, pivoting to device-integrated and vehicle-mounted computers.
- RFID printers, useful for inserting product information into the tag.
- Server Middleware
- Carpentry structures: e.g. portals under which goods pass.
Barcode-integrated RFID technology
It would be a mistake to believe that barcode and RFID technologies are in competition: quite the contrary, can be well integrated further improving the transport of goods. After all, one can safely say that one represents the backup of the other. The use of either technology, in fact, is given by data collection requirementsRFID can be used for multiple readings and Barcode for single readings. This will provide perfect error control.
The RFID tag
A key element, especially for the customer, is the RFID tag, i.e. the component containing all product information. A tag is made from a polyester backing, on which an aluminium antenna is printed in different shapes according to size and capacity requirements.
It is on the antenna that the microchip is printed, which - having to contain so much information - must have so much memory on which the unique identification code is written by the manufacturer of the product. Afterwards, the personalisation device (as seen, the RFID printer) will enter the other information related to that product such as, for example, the code or another serial number. When the goods are being moved, however, it is the middleware that will update all the information.
There are some specific tags, called tag active, which have a battery capable of feed the antenna in a completely autonomous manner. These tags differ from passive tags, i.e. those tags that do not have a battery.
So let's take a look at all the features of RFID at a glance:
- It is a system for the control and verification of all goods movement operations. Its accuracy rate is particularly high and allows for the inventory of warehouses every day.
- A technology that is highly appreciated in the clothing sector, with strong growth also in the automotive, cosmetics, pharmaceutical, aviation, logistics and food sectors, which together already count more than one billion RFID tags.
- RFID products are designed for the individual application, and the choice of antenna is of great importance. Antennas and tag shapes are always designed according to the tag's application material (such as cardboard, plastic or fabric).
- The correct functioning of RFID is the result of a balance achieved between the products to be identified, the antenna and the objectives to be achieved. That is why you need qualified personnel to explain the best options to the customer.
Ruggtek products with RFID technology
Devices with highly sophisticated RFID technology are of course the rugged products, which are precisely designed for business environments including logistics.
Ruggtek has a wide range of devices with RFID technology integrated, in both NFC and UHF variants, and according to different solutions.
- Windows RT 310 tablet
- RTA 310 Android Tablet
- RTA 840 Android Tablet
- Windows RP 550 handheld
- RPA 550 Android handheld
- RPA 520 Android Handheld
- RPA 520 TP Android handheld
- RPA 530 Android Handheld
The Ruggtek RPA 520 series, for example, both the traditional variant and the POS version with integrated receipt printer (the Ruggtek RPA 520 TP) are equipped with the Android 7 operating system, both NFC and UHF RFID technology, 1D and 2D barcode reader, as well as Wi-Fi and 4G LTE connectivity and a nice 5-inch display.
There is no shortage of tablets, such as the RT/RTA 310 series (10 inch); again, complete products, equipped with both NFC and UHF for greater and more accurate reading capability.
