Know How ? RFID – Radio-Frequency Identification

Mario Cardullo’s device was patented on January 23, 1973, was the first ancestor of new modern RFID technology. The initial device was passive, powered by the interrogating signal, and was validated in 1971 to the New York Port Authority and other potential customers.

RFID term is “radio-frequency identification” and refers to a technology whereby digital data encrypted in RFID tags or smart labels (defined below) are taken by a reader via radio waves. RFID is alike to barcoding in the form of data from a tag/label that is captured by a device that stores the data in a database.

Below a few international standards for the RFID testing and their performance parameters:

a. ASTM D7434, Standard Test Method for Determining the Performance of Passive Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Transponders on Palletized or Unitized Loads
b. ASTM D7435, Standard Test Method for Determining the Performance of Passive Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Transponders on Loaded Containers
c. ASTM D7580, Standard Test Method for Rotary Stretch Wrapper Method for Determining the Readability of Passive RFID Transponders on Homogenous Palletized or Unitized Loads
d. ISO 28560-2: Specifies encoding standards and data models to be used within libraries.

Several advantages and concern points are:
1. Access management
2. Tracking of goods
3. Tracking of persons and animals
4.Toll collection and contactless payment
5. Machine-readable travel documents
6. Smart dust (for massively distributed sensor networks)
7. Airport baggage tracking logistics
8. Timing sporting events
9. Tracking and billing processes

Concern Points are:
1. Data flooding
2. Global standardization
3. Health
4. Exploitation
5. Deliberate destruction in clothing and other items