RFID in 2009 Ford Trucks!
Ford's next generation of F-Series trucks will include an in-dash computer, which will use RFID technology to track tools stowed in the truck's box. The system is called 'Tool Link', and it's designed to prevent the types of losses Ford customers were experiencing on their job sites.
Developed with DEWALT and ThingMagic, Tool Link allows truck owners to mark and scan high-value tools, safety equipment, material inventories and other important assets using RFID tags. When the truck is running, a pair of RFID antennae, mounted in corrosion- and impact-resistant housings on the inside of the pickup box, scan the box for the items on a pre-programmed inventory list.
The data is transmitted to a reader mounted inside the cab and displayed on the in-dash computer screen, alerting the driver if any inventoried tools are not loaded on the truck.
"Tool Link increases productivity and saves money," said William Frykman, Ford Work Solutions product and business development manager. "It helps contractors and tradespeople guarantee they show up at the job site with the right tools for each job- and that they don't leave equipment behind."
Tool Link comes pre-loaded with several standard tool lists that are easily edited to reflect specific types of jobs. The system uses industry standard Gen2 RFID tags, which means the same tags may be tracked by other RFID readers outside the truck.
Developed with DEWALT and ThingMagic, Tool Link allows truck owners to mark and scan high-value tools, safety equipment, material inventories and other important assets using RFID tags. When the truck is running, a pair of RFID antennae, mounted in corrosion- and impact-resistant housings on the inside of the pickup box, scan the box for the items on a pre-programmed inventory list.
The data is transmitted to a reader mounted inside the cab and displayed on the in-dash computer screen, alerting the driver if any inventoried tools are not loaded on the truck.
"Tool Link increases productivity and saves money," said William Frykman, Ford Work Solutions product and business development manager. "It helps contractors and tradespeople guarantee they show up at the job site with the right tools for each job- and that they don't leave equipment behind."
Tool Link comes pre-loaded with several standard tool lists that are easily edited to reflect specific types of jobs. The system uses industry standard Gen2 RFID tags, which means the same tags may be tracked by other RFID readers outside the truck.
posted by Mika Lofton at
7:50 AM
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