Applications
RFID passive tags help improve quality of international mail delivery
by passive on Sep.01, 2009, under Applications, News
The United Nations co-ordinates international mail through the Universal Postal Union. They have recently implemented a new Global Monitoring System (GMS), using passive RFID tags to track international deliveries of letter-post in order to monitor quality of service.
From August to December 2009, over twenty thousand letters containing passive RFID tags will be sent through 45 international postal facilities. The tags will identify the letters as they pass through post office exchanges throughout the world, and the tracking information will be used by the UPU to help improve efficiency and identify areas of concern.
In development over the past three years, the GMS has been made possible by the availability of low cost passive RFID tags. At an average of 30 US cents each, their affordability allows the extension of the monitoring system to a wide range of countries, both developing and industrialized. 21 countries are taking part in the first phase of the project.
Individual postal organisations will be able to use the GMS to assess their domestic service quality, improving which should also lead to an improvement in international mail performance.
From the start of 2010, an additional thirty countries are expected to join the project. It is hoped that up to 100 countries will be involved by 2012.
Passive RFID tags give more soft drink options
by passive on Aug.28, 2009, under Applications, News
Coca-Cola has begun testing a new soft drinks dispenser which uses passive RFID technology. The new system will allow a machine to offer over 100 choices of beverage while taking up no more space than the current 8-valve dispenser.
Cartridges containing concentrated flavouring will dispense a small amount of the appropriate flavour, which will then be mixed with the other ingredients, such as sweetener, water, and carbonating agent, and dispensed to the customer. Maintaining a wide variety of cartridges in a single dispenser is problematic, which is where RFID comes in.
When the cartridge is produced, it is fitted with an RFID passive tag, which will contain details of the flavour it contains and the quantity. RFID readers in the dispensers can then register the cartridge as it is inserted, and ensure it is placed in the correct slot, which will be identified to the user by a LED.
Once the cartridge has been correctly installed, the data on the cartridge’s passive RFID tag can be updated each time a drink is dispensed, to keep track of the quantity of flavouring remaining. This information can also be relayed back to Coca-Cola’s management system, and used to automatically detect when a cartridge is nearing depletion, allowing a replacement to be prepared. This also allows the company up-to-date information on consumption patterns, and finally the direct link to the dispenser allows a particular cartridge to be instantly disabled for any reason, be it a recall or withdrawal of a product line.
Four years in development, the Freestyle dispenser is currently being tested in selected restaurants in Atlanta and southern California before a planned wider roll-out next year.
-
Welcome to RFID Passive. Please feel free to voice your opinion by leaving comments, and stay updated by subscribing to the RSS feed.
Touchatag Starter Package
The touchatag starter package, together with the touchatag service on Touchatag.com can be used to create your Internet of Things.
With touchatag, objects can be made smart and applications can become accessible via a simple touch.
From linking your toddler's toys toInternet websites or customizing your own loyalty or renting service, the applications of the touchatag package are limited only by your imagination.
Design and Optimization of Passive UHF RFID Systems
As well as providing a valuable analysis of key aspects of Passive RFID systems, this manual offers a thorough consideration of design factors and optimisation techniques. A valuable asset for both newcomers to RFID and system designers.
Purchase
