Climbing the RFID Learning Curve

1
Climbing the RFID Learning Curve

• Alfio Grasso
• Deputy Director, Auto-ID Lab, Adelaide
• General Manager, RFID Automation

2
Overview

• RFID background
• RFID in Australia
• Implementation
• Assessment criteria
• Reader issues
• Tag issues
• Data issues
• Human issues
• Privacy
• Champion
• RFID Solution Providers
• Auto-ID Lab, Adelaide
• Australasian Adoption Research Initiative (AARI)
• Conclusions

3
RFID Background
4
Why now for RFID?

• RFID invented in WWII
• Steady development over last 50 years
• Recent improvements in tag and reader technology
• Better performance
• Easier deployment and maintenance
• Better use of existing infrastructure and
  technologies
• Improvements in tag and reader manufacturing
• Cheaper tags and readers
• Industry standardisation
• EPCglobal and ISO

5
RFID

• Radio Frequency Identification
• Automatic Data Capture
• Uses RF to communicate
• Basic Elements
• Tags
• Readers/Antennas
• Host CPU

6
Tag reading
The black spot
Reader Tx typically 1W, 6dB gain Antenna But
propagation loss, resulting Rx at Tag typically
µW On tag, RF energy used for DC power and
modulation More loss back to Reader Rx Therefore
a very weak reply is obtained
7
RFID Tags

• Tags
• Attached to objects or items
• Contains electronics (chip), and antenna
• Most are passive (no power source)
• Active tags have a battery

8
Matrics (Symbol) Tags
9
Alien Technology Tags
10
Intermec Tags
11
RFID Readers

• Readers
• Contains electronics, Tx, Rx and control
• Connected to antenna(s)
• mostly external
• Energise tags (passive tags)
• Commands tags (wake up active tags, enables
  management of the tag population)
• Receive tag replies

12
RFID Readers
13
RFID Antenna(s)
14
Host CPU

• Application
• Do something with the tag information
• Potential to generate massive amounts of data
• Once installed it costs virtually NOTHING to read
  a tag!
• Real time data gt real time decisions
• OHIO (Zero Human Involvement Operations)
• Term defined by John Greaves, CHEP International

15
RFID in Australia closed loop

• Vehicle Identification
• Passenger and commercial vehicles
• Rail
• Passenger, Sugar, Minerals, Steel
• Waste Management
• Domestic and Industrial
• Access Control
• Time and Attendance, Vehicle
• Manufacturing
• Library

16
Electronic Toll Collection
17
Extended Read Range
18
Vehicle ID, Sugar Industry
Photos courtesy of Mirrabooka Systems
19
Steel Production
20
Hot-Axle Detection and RFID
Photo courtesy of Sugar Research Institute
21
Location ID
22
Location ID
23
Industrial Waste Management
24
Domestic Waste Management
25
Manufacturing
Photo taken at Hendersons Automotive Technologies
Pty Ltd
26
Library
Photos courtesy of the National Library Board
Singapore
27
Warehouse Management
Photo taken at Carlton United Beverages
28
Warehouse Management
Photo taken at Carlton United Beverages
29
Warehouse Management
30
Paper Roll Identification
31
Vehicle Manufacture
32
RFID Potential
33
RFID Market To Reach 7.26Bn In 2008

• A new market research report covering RFID from
  2005 to 2015, researched by IDTechEx.
• Bottom line is that this years global market for
  RFID including tags, systems and services is
  1.94 billion but it will be driven by demand and
  new laws to 26.90 billion in 2015.
• 1.8 billion RFID tags have been sold to 2005.
• Passive tags 410 million (car clickers)
• Active tags 1390 million (cards)
• Key volume applications for RFID technology have
  been in markets such as access cards for the
  financial, security and safety markets, or for
  the automotive and passenger transport sector,
  with smaller markets in leisure, libraries,
  laundry and healthcare.

As reported in IDTechEX 11 April 2005
34
More Trends

• 3.1 billion tags will be used for pallets and
  cases in 2006.
• By 2008
• 6.8 billion tags for Item level tagging
  (especially by pharmaceuticals) and tagging of
  baggage, animals, books, tickets and other non
  retail markets
• But 15.3 billion tags for pallets/cases
• The market for RFID interrogators will reach
  1.14 billion in 2008 for EPC interrogators and
  0.75 billion in the same year for other
  interrogators, such as Near Field Communication
  interrogators.
• Forecasts by territorial region show that by 2010
  48 of RFID tags by numbers will be sold in East
  Asia, followed by 32 to North America.

As reported in IDTechEX 11 April 2005
35
Standards

• EPCglobal
• ISO
• Regulatory

36
EPCglobal structure
37
RF Regulations

• Regulators
• Classify RFID as Industrial, Scientific and
  Medical use
• ISM bands
• 125-134 kHz (ISO 18000-2)
• 13.56 MHz or HF (ISO 18000-3)
• 433 MHz (ISO 18000-7)
• 860 to 960 MHz or UHF (ISO 18000-6)
• 2.45 GHz (ISO 18000-4)
• 5.8 GHz (no ISO standard)

38
UHF

• The UHF tags will be able to be read by readers
  operating within 860 960 MHz range.
• The readers will be restricted to a small subset
  of this range depending on where in the world
  they are being operated.
• There are also regulations on the amount of power
  emitted by the readers depending on where the
  readers are being used.
• Therefore, a tag may be applied to an item and
  shipped anywhere in the world, but a reader has
  to be specifically set up for the region or
  country

39
Map of the ITU regions
40
Implementation Plan
41
Implementation Plan

• Define your RFID implementation metrics
• Compliance
• Reduce Inventory
• Stock Visibility
• Reduce Costs
• Increase asset utilisation
• Reduce shrinkage
• Reduce/eliminate shipping errors
• Consider existing infrastructure
• Vendors
• Customers

42
Plan Cont

• Investigate world standards ISO or EPC
• Choose frequency of operation
• 13.56 (HF) or 860 to 960 MHz (UHF)
• Extensive pilot or test plan
• Develop assessment criteria for solution
  providers
• Minimise scope creep!

43
Business case - ROI
44
Business case ROI

• Create a cross functional team
• Senior Executives from manufacturing, operations,
  packaging, warehouse management, security and
  finance
• Educate the Team
• Real RFID performance and expectations
• Leverage the data, both internally amongst
  operational departments, but eventually with
  outside trading partners

Source The Road to ROI, RFID Journal Mar 2005
45
Business case ROI Cont

• Identify the problems and opportunities
• Resolve issues
• Change to processes, packaging etc
• Define the scope of the RFID deployment
• Concentrate on which macro-level problem will
  deliver the most benefits to the organisation
• List factors within the companys control that
  contribute to that macro-level problem
• Narrow the scope, maybe by region, department or
  area.
• Consider pallet level rather than case or item

46
Business case ROI Cont

• Analyse operations and processes
• Itemise the business processes, quantifying
  processes
• Breakdown all processes, not just the clearly
  inefficient ones
• Prioritise Projects
• Could end up with 5 to 7 RFID projects
• Can the same RFID infrastructure be used for more
  than 1 project?
• Related projects most likely to deliver results

47
Business case ROI Cont

• Assess financial impact
• Benefits as well as costs
• Tag and Reader costs
• Installation (power, comms, antenna
  infrastructure)
• Operational Costs
• Impact of other projects
• Other projects may add to the benefits and yet
  reduce costs

48
Business case ROI Cont

• Sensitivity Analysis
• Cost of components, tags, reader etc.
• Mandates
• Revisit the business case regularly
• As with any plan, review and re-evaluation is key
  to its success
• Report progress

49
EPCglobal Network
50
Network Stack
51
Solution Providers
52

• Evaluate Solution Providers
• Tag Manufacturers
• Reader Manufactures
• IT infrastructure
• Installation
• Commissioning
• Maintenance
• Upgrades

53
IT Impacts
54

• IT System impacts
• Interface to existing system, or new system!
• Accuracy of that data
• Accumulation of much more data
• Decision processes with that data, making the
  data USEFUL!

55
RF Issues
56
RF Issues Cont

• RFID issues in your environment
• RF Interference
• LAN, Other RFID Readers, EMI, Bluetooth, 802.11
• Metal
• Moisture
• Allow time for experimentation
• Expansion
• Scope creep or leverage
• Duplication

57
RF Issues Cont

• RFID Design
• Hardware Systems
• Fixed or portable RFID readers?
• Portable not OHIO (that is not automatic)!
• Business processes
• Simulation?

58
Purchasing and Deployment
59
Purchase/Deploy

• Equipment Supply
• Development
• Manufacture lead times
• Engineering work and preparation
• Deployment of infrastructure
• Readers and Antennas
• IT Systems
• Ancillary equipment

60
Purchase/Deploy

• Tags
• Supply
• Initialisation (EPC code and data)
• Database update
• Installation
• Verification
• Training
• Employees, Managers, IT development

61
Integration
62
Integration

• Integration into IT systems
• Database design
• Scalability
• New/Existing
• Interim period
• Exceptions, when no tag applied!
• Evaluation of performance
• Fine adjustments
• Upgrade path

63
Integration Cont

• Other partners
• Suppliers
• Customers
• Competitors
• Finally Rollout
• Duplicate (other sites, divisions)
• Expand (RFID applications)
• Leverage (RFID infrastructure)

64
Assessment Criteria
65
Assessment Criteria

• Range of Hardware
• Tags, Readers, Volume, Vendors, Standards,
  Frequency, Host platforms, Ancillary equipment,
  Upgrades, Expansion
• Range of IT Solutions
• Integration into legacy systems
• Privacy
• Expansion
• Services
• Global or Local
• Site Inspection, Design, Installation,
  Commissioning, Maintenance
• Partner networks (hardware, middleware)

66
Assessment Criteria Cont

• Relevant experience in your industry
• Testing
• ISO 18047-X Conformance Test Methods
• ISO 18046 Performance Test Methods
• EPCglobal (Gen 2 V1.0.2) Conformance Test Methods
• Vendor test Facility
• Testing your products in your installation(s)
• Development/Customisation
• Tags and Readers, ancillary sensors
• Packaging, Cost, IP issues
• Maintenance

67
Reader Tag Issues
68
Reader Issues

• Reader location is important, but local
• Antenna
• Tunnel/Portal (multiple antennas)
• Circular Vs Linear
• Host Interface, online
• Remote restart
• Alarm/alerts/Heartbeat
• Self diagnostic tests
• Upgrades

69
Portal
70
Shielding
Photo courtesy of RFID Journal
71
RF Friendly
72
Neatness Counts!
73
Temporary Conditions
74
Location Location Location

• Tag location will be crucial for performance
• Want global use for product/tag life
• Optimal location for RF Tag may not be the same
  as the location for a human readable tag/label
• Consider composition of the object
• If lots of metal, then look for gaps!
• Metal surface can be used to extend the read
  range ?/4
• Life time environmental exposure

75
Location
Photos courtesy of RFID Journal
76
Process flow

• Consider a change to the process flow
• How package is handled, stored and pallet stacked
• Change packaging to be RFID friendly
• Test tag after application
• Metal, moisture, damage

77
Data Issues
78
Data

• RFID data
• Once installed, no real additional cost to read a
  tag
• Sensor data
• Temperature, Weight, etc
• Savants filters/concentrators
• RFID enabled enterprise applications
• Database maintenance
• Legacy data
• Accuracy of data
• Exchange data with partners
• Vendors and Customers
• UCCnet Global Registry
• Scalable

79
The Human Touch!
80
Human Issues

• Privacy
• Establish a privacy committee
• Consider all users, employees, contractors,
  customers, vendors, supply chain personnel
• Employees
• Explanation
• Efficiency, bottom line benefits
• Training

81
Privacy Issues
82
Definition

• The interest that individuals have in
  sustaining a personal space free from
  interference by other people and organisations

Source Roget Clarke of the ANU
83
Threats

• Association
• Personal identity associated with one or more
  tags
• Transaction
• Identity associated with a transaction, even if
  paying with cash
• Inventory
• Reading the tags/hence items on your person
• Location
• Identifying the location of tagged objects
• Preference
• Marketers generating a profile based on tagged
  goods

Source RFID and the Law John OCallaghan,
Impetus 2005
84
FIP

• Fair Information Practices
• Origins back to 1973
• 4 Principles
• Notice
• Choice
• Access
• Security

85
Privacy Issues

• However, FIP does not go far enough for RFID
• Several High Profile RFID trials/tests had to be
  withdrawn
• Benetton
• The InClass RFID system deployed in and local
  school in Sutter, California
• In 2003 Marks Spencer
• Consulted multiple groups
• Addressed concerns BEFORE deployment

Source http//wired-vig.wired.com/news/privacy/0
,1848,66554,00.html
86
Privacy

• Develop a Privacy Policy and ENFORCE IT!
• Engage consumer groups BEFORE implementation
• Educate Users
• Adverts, Pamphlets, Posters, Internet, Toll free
  line.
• Disclose the use of RFID
• Tags and Readers
• Not only the tagged goods, but also the presence
  of readers
• Consumer acceptance of reader locations
• But if hidden readers are used, consumer trust
  could be shattered!
• EPCglobal Logo
• More printed info on the label
• Web address for more information

Source Privacy Profits, RFID Journal July 2005
87
Privacy Cont

• Inform on the Use of RFID
• Even if you are not using RFID, but goods, boxes
  etc may come into your facility, tell the
  consumer.
• Educate/Inform Staff
• Management
• Public relations
• Store personal, in contact with consumers
• Direct to customer service or website
• Dont write personally identifiable information
  to the TAG
• Contradiction of FIP
• Illegal under the European Unions Directive on
  Privacy and Electronic Communication

88
Privacy Cont

• Secure the data and limit what you collect
• Apply the same level of security to EPC data as
  one would apply to any customer data.
• Avoid associating the EPC number with the person
  purchasing the item.
• No clear benefit in knowing what unique item is
  being purchased by an individual

89
Privacy Cont

• Choice
• Kill or remove
• Dont tie returns to having an active (working)
  tag
• Still have discounts and participate in loyalty
  programs, even if they choose to kill the tag.
• Opt in or Opt out
• Do consumers opt in , or do they have to opt out.
  Opt in is safer as the consumer has made a
  positive choice
• Consumer to have the right to view any
  information stored about them.
• Correct if wrong, or delete
• Consumers to have the right to choose to share
  that information with 3rd Parties

90
Privacy Cont

• Keep Privacy policy up to date
• Reflect changes in technology, processes
• Reassess the communication strategy to keep
  consumers informed

91
Champion
92
Champion

• Approval from the TOP
• Realistic Expectations
• Start small but think big
• Small enable fine adjustments (experiment)
• Big so as to leverage RFID throughout the
  business
• Dont oversell
• External/Internal expertise
• Partner with both suppliers and customers
• Possible change to business processes
• Other infrastructure
• Sensors, EAS, anti-counterfeit, engineering
• Periodic assessment

93
C1G2 de-mystified
94
Differences between C1G1 and C1G2

• Single global standard
• Optimised performance in different regulatory
  environments
• Designed with higher class tags in mind
• Dense reader mode
• Alternate channels for tag reply
• Narrower spectrum use
• Dual methods of backscatter
• FM0 and Miller
• Secure read-write memory
• 4 memory banks
• Longer Passwords for access, lock and kill
  functions
• Aloha based anti-collision
• Sessions
• Multi-reader functionality
• Faster read rates up to 640 kbps
• Reduction/elimination of ghost reads
• Selection
• AB Symmetry

95
RFID Solution Providers Profile
96
Associations

• Auto-ID Lab, Adelaide
• autoidlab.eleceng.adelaide.edu.au/
• RFID Automation (contract research)
• www.rfidautomation.org
• Australasian Adoption Research Initiative
• alf_at_rfidautomation.org
• EPCglobal Australia
• www.ean.com.au/services/epcglobal/_epcglobal.asp
• GS1 Australia
• www.gs1au.org

97
Web

• Subscribe to online publications
• Journals, Newsletters, Manufacturers, Industry
  Associations
• Favourites
• Http//www.rfidjournal.com/
• http//www.hightechaid.com/
• http//www.abiresearch.com/reports/RFID.html
• http//www.rfidtalk.com
• Other sources
• http//members.surfbest.net/eaglesnest/rfid_mfg.ht
  m

98
RFID newshttp//www.umd.com.au/rfid/links_rfid_ne
ws.html
99
RFID Solution Providers (alphabetical order)

• Alien Technologies
• www.alientechnology.com
• Bar Code Data Systems (BCDS)
• www.bcds.com.au
• Datanet
• www.data.net.au
• Electro-com
• http//www.electrocom.com.au/
• Global Licensing Innovation
• www.glandi.com
• IBM
• http//www.ibm.com

100
Cont

• iCrystal
• www.icrystal.com.au
• Intermec
• http//www.intermec.com
• Magellan Technology
• www.magtech.com.au
• Mirrabooka Systems
• gary_at_mirrabook.com
• Radio Terminal Systems
• www.radterm.com.au

101
Cont

• Sunshine Technologies
• www.sunshinetechnologies.com.au
• Symbol Technologies
• http//www.symbol.com/category.php?category18
• Tyco/Sensormatic
• http//www.sensormatic.com/home.asp
• Unique Micro Design (UMD)
• http//www.umd.com.au/rfid/
• UPM Rafsec
• www.rafsec.com

102
Adelaide, Auto-ID Lab

• Contract Research via RFID Automation

103
Background

• Established in 2002 by the Auto-ID Center, at the
  Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
• One of 7 Auto-ID Labs around the world
• Others are in UK, USA, Japan, China, Switzerland
  and Korea
• Now funded by EPCglobal Inc
• Contract Research available at the Auto-ID Lab,
  Adelaide

104
Auto-ID Lab, Adelaide

• Core Research
• Applied Research
• Integration
• Applications
• Technical Services
• Education

105
Research Projects

• The design of cost effective and small footprint
  tag antennas, suitable for attachment onto metal
  surfaces.
• Interference studies in high density reader
  environments.
• Electromagnetic propagation studies applicable to
  European Regulations
• High security authentication tags
• Dual frequency tags, ones that employ UHF
  techniques for supply chain applications and then
  HF for item management applications.
• Passive RFID chip design (modules for
  implementation)
• Analysis and measurement of new forms of reader
  to tag signalling

106
Research Projects Cont

• Analysis of measuring equipment, i.e.
  understanding the test regulations with respect
  to the forms of signalling employed by RFID
  readers
• Analysis and development of reader architectures
• Autonomously networking tags (Class IV)
• Trigger circuits for battery assisted tags.
• An analysis of noise sources in RFID readers
• Universal Class 2 tags
• Filters that may be required to reduce spurious
  emissions (Japan and Australia)
• The use of LF RFID in applications where HF and
  UHF may not provide an adequate RFID solution,
  such as in granular media.
• Merged EAS and RFID tag

107
Contract Research

• Available via RFID Automation
• Separate from the EPCglobal funded work
• Commercial Infrastructure
• Adelaide Research Innovation Pty Ltd
• Intellectual Property Protection

108
Australasian Adoption Research Initiative

• Established in April 2005
• Mechanism for the Auto-ID Lab, Adelaide to
  conduct research into RFID that is relevant to
  Australian and New Zealand industry.
• Foster adoption of the RFID technology being
  developed by EPC Global.
• Enables participation by companies across a broad
  range of industries and applications, to network
  and gain access to the wealth of expertise and
  experience in RFID.
• Act as Industry Reference Group for the adoption
  of RFID including consultation and advice to SMEs
  and Governments.

109
Benefits of membership

• Opportunity to input into the direction of
  research programs
• Access to hosted visits at the Labs
• Invitations to industry networking meetings
  designed to
• keep you informed of key technical and management
  issues and industry developments
• enable you to meet your peers in an informal
  setting (usually over dinner at a university
  site) to facilitate business relationships
• Access to technology advances through regular
  activity reports issued by the Lab
• Receive notices of specialist RFID related
  seminars
• Receive periodic reports on EPCglobals HAG and
  SAG action groups
• Priority access to personnel at Auto ID Labs
  Adelaide as well as access to extensive test
  equipment on agreed basis
• Ability to access information on RFID vendors and
  solution providers and have the ability to check
  their compliance statements
• Customised meetings arrange presentations
  seminars and laboratory visits for members in
  response to requests for university research
  contacts

110
Conclusion

• RFID Automatic Data Capture
• RFID is about management
• Lots of RFID experience in Australia
• Plan
• Educate users
• employees, customers, suppliers

111
Questions
112
Further Information

• Alfio Grasso
• Deputy Director
• Auto-ID Lab, Adelaide
• General Manager
• RFID Automation
• University of Adelaide
• Web www.rfidautomation.org
• Email alf_at_rfidautomation.org
• Ph [phone]
• Mob [phone]