This is a question many have been asking with regards to RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) the new technology to be stirring interest in many industries and companies around the world. Well first of all it is not new technology but new versions of a technology that is over 50 years old. Is it set to replace the barcode we would suggest not but rather complement the features offered by the tried and tested barcode.

Why you may ask as it does offer lots of advantages over the barcode in that it does not require line of sight to read it, the tags can be read over greater distance than many barcodes (dependant on the tag, application and environment), it is in most cases far more robust and can be a lot smaller than the space required for printing a barcode. What is more it can be covertly place within the carton, even in the make up of the carton itself and still be detected at the reading gate.

There are many different form factors of the RFID transponder, which can vary them in size from, smaller than a grain of rice up to large dumbbell devices for animal identification and for mounting on vehicles and containers. They work on a number of different frequency ranges and are selected dependant on the environment, distance and speed of read you require together in the future with the standards for your industry.

The cost of the barcode is almost negligible for printing onto the packaging and if you need to produce labels they can be done for a small fraction of a penny in volume however the cost of a tag is still prohibitive in most cases with even exceedingly large volumes still costing 20-30 pence or more. These are the paper label type tags similar to the one shown.

The interesting thing that is emerging as the technology moves on is that the tags can also become a part of the security system within your environment triggering an alarm if the tag has not been activated however unlike tags of today that can only be “blown” once these can be re-enabled if the goods are returned to the store and then stock for resale thus keeping them protected from theft.

So what we are saying here is not that either technology is better than the other as they each have a different set of attributes. So lets take a look at what each of the inherent technologies strengths are.

Barcode Vs RFID

The Barcode

The case for the barcode can be put in the following way: -

For:

• Very cheap to produce
• Large installed base of readers
• Widely accepted technology with industry standards
• Can be read from contact out to 20 metres or more
• Human readable information of barcode fails to scan
• Two dimensional barcodes offer a level of error detection and correction to allow for reading of damaged codes
• Can be mass produced off line or printed on demand when required

Against:

• Can be easily damaged causing no read
• Line of sight required
• Speed of read much lower
• Needs orientation of reader to code unless imaging
• Write once read many (WORM) technology
• Can easily be replicated

RFID

The case for RFID likewise: -

• No line of sight required (with some exceptions)
• Read only, Write once read many and full read/write versions
• Highly durable
• Can be used as EAS as well (Electronic Article Surveillance)
• Simultaneous reading of many tags
• Very high speed reading (road tolling)
• Non contact reading
• Secure data storage
• Many form factors to suit different applications

Against:

• More expensive than barcodes
• No full standards at present (nearing completion)
• Issuers around privacy of data
• No real installed base of users or equipment

Why not use both?

A Hybrid approach may be the way forward that brings the two technologies together and using each where it is best suited so barcodes for may of the simple applications requiring simple product identification and reading but RFID for the more complex identification requirements such as access control, detailed information from along the supply chain, multiple reads at one time for example pallets of goods leaving a warehouse. There have been trials in a number of different areas from Exclusive product positive verification of authenticity to tracking products through the supply chain and checking for duty paid (whisky bottles) status.

There have also been trials in the areas of ownership identification of products such as boats where transponders were built into the construction of the boat and could be interrogated for ownership information. There were also trials with building it into electronic equipment like car stereos, video and DVD players for similar identification issues. Hand held readers are now emerging that will handle both technologies within one device and demand printers are now equipped with the facility not only to print on demand bar code labels but also encode integrated RFID tags.

Where is the RFID Technology being used?

So the big question of will I be the first to use it? Unfortunately for nay pioneers out there the answer is no. In fact we have all being using the technology for ages in our car keys to work in conjunction with the engine immobilisers.

© Texas Instruments

Automotive

Staying on an automotive theme there has been a system called SpeedPass? running in the States for some years now allowing motorists to go to a petrol (Gas) station and fill up and pay without even going into the cash office. The user can either have a small device that attaches to their key ring or they can have a credit card sized transponder in the windscreen either of which is read by a reader mounted within the pumps.

© Texas Instruments

Mobil Speedpass

The there is the whole area of security both for rooms, houses and cars again and many manufacturers of products in these areas have gone for an RFID based solution.

© Texas Instruments

Security

Travelling around London’s underground rail system and on the buses has been a lot easier and simpler since the introduction of their Oyster Card? a contactless smart card or RFID device. Simple by placing the card which has a prepaid amount stored on it it allows entrance to the stations and transport system and journeys on London’s buses as the money is automatically decremented from the card.

These things work at high speed to as can be seen at many of the toll bridges, tunnels and roads in the UK and throughout Europe. There are some lanes dedicated to collecting the payment by decrementing the amount from a bank account or from a card held in the vehicle. The picture below shows the Dartford Toll booths including the automated tag lanes.

© Texas Instruments

A day at the races is now complemented by RFID as the runners have transponders attached to their shoes and these are used for getting accurate lap times and finish times and positions.

© Texas Instruments

Down the slopes for skiing and there are no tickets to be torn and presented or purchased each time for a ski lift pass, now you simply wear the pass and as you go through the antenna barrier you have your card decremented for each pass.

© Texas Instruments

The list is endless and I'm sure you can come across more. If there are any interesting applications you would like us to include please send them in to sales@precisiondesign.co.uk and we will do our best to include a hyperlink for you.