Another Combined RFID App

I really like the idea of combining RFID technology with GPS to create a comprehensive tracking and monitoring system. There's an article floating around online this week that Seimens has a good proof of concept for tracking shipping containers worldwide.

The idea is that they are using the RFID transponder to monitor the temperature in the container, and to document whether the door is opened or closed. GPS technology is being used to locate the container. In this case, the RFID reader in the container is relaying information to the satellite, too.

A box measuring about 8 inches wide by 11 inches long was attached to the two refrigerated containers used in the test on the ship, which spent about three weeks at sea while sailing from Shanghai to Singapore and back. The box contained an active RFID transponder wired to two sensors—one for documenting whether the container door was opened or closed, another for monitoring the temperature inside the refrigerated containers. Each container's RFID tag transmitted its ID number and sensor data to an RFID reader, which then forwarded that information via a GSM base station to an on-board control system, and via satellite to the ground system monitored by a central surveillance center.

This seems like a lot of fuss to make sure a container isn't too warm or prematurely opened, but in fact huge amounts of these containers are shipped internationally on a daily basis, and until now there hasn't been a method for monitoring them. This leaves them at risk for sabotage, theft, and mishandling.

BAP Tags

There seems to be a lot of confusion out there regarding BAP RFID tags. Just to clarify, here are a few key points.

BAP stands for "battery-assisted passive". This means that while the tag has a battery, it is not continuously using that battery, and therefore doesn't continuously transmit radio waves. The function of the battery in a BAP tag is simply to increase the distance the tag can transmit.

While there are standards for active and passive RFID tags, the industry has not settled on a standard for BAP tags. This means that we have to be careful in designing a solution around a specific BAP tag, finding an RFID reader that will be compatible with that specific tag.

BAP tags, just like active tags, will need to have their batteries replaced eventually. The life cycle of the battery will depend upon how often the tag is 'wakened' by a reader and forced to transmit.

Imagining the Grocery Store Afresh

I really don't have much time for the grocery store. I particularly don't have time to go through their weekly ads, pick up coupons from the paper, and figure out where the best buys are to help stretch the family budget. I'm kind of excited, therefore, to see ShopRite's RFID project with Microsoft.

The companies have combined forces to create a smart shopping cart. When the cart will display advertisements and discounts based upon location, which it will sense using an onboard RFID reader. So, if you push the cart into the detergent area, the cart will inform you that Tide is 2 for the price of 1 today.

The smart cart idea isn't a new one, really. Dynamic is working on one of these for one of our clients right now, although it will be used for marketing research, rather than customer service or sales.

Microsoft and ShopRite are funding the project with advertising, which seems to be a fairly common way to fund the transfer of information nowadays. I haven't decided what I think about that, because I am sure ShopRite could get ROI on their RFID investment in many other ways. Still, this is a step in the right direction.

My ideal grocery shopping experience:

I walk in, take what I want from the shelf, and walk out the door. No checkout lines, no wondering if the expiration date is okay, no need to get my debit card out of my purse. I walk past an RFID reader carrying the things I want, and my total purchase is automatically deducted from my checking account. That would be perfect!

Cool Video from ZDNet

This is a video of and interview with the CIO of PG&E, one of the nation's largest power companies. She mentions how they plan to  use RFID to make their systems more intelligent:

http://video.zdnet.com/CIOSessions/?p=237 

Happy New Year!

Please have a happy and prosperous 2008, everyone! We at Dynamic are just getting back into the swing of things, and are excited to see what we can accomplish this year. We're also looking forward to some great new RFID stories, as prices continue to decline and RF chips continue to prove themselves in the real world. Can't wait to see RFID in action at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing!