Radio Frequency ID (RFID) Tracking System for a Building Complex

Tim Gordon

Matt Tracy

John O’Malley

Mentor: Y. Shang, Y. Saab

Background

Supply Chain AutomationInformation about items stored

digitally• Shipment Tracking• Inventory Control

Previous TechnologiesUPCMagnetic Strips

Origins

Radio Frequency IDUsed on a primitive level since WWIIFirst circuits incorporated in 1970sIn widespread use since late 80s

Used in several applicationsAirplane TranspondersAutomatic Tolling SystemsAnimal TrackingStore Anti-theft System

Active vs. Passive RFID Tags Active tags in widespread

usage Transmit a signal, have

internal logic Typically found on more

valuable objects Prohibitively expensive

for small items

Active vs. Passive RFID Tags Passive tags

No power-source Cheaper, but less

data capacity Short read range

RFID Readers/Scanners

Examples of various RFID scanning devices

RFID for the Supply Chain

RFID tags superior to UPC barcodesCan be read from a distance

• Less manual work requiredMultiple tags can be read at onceStore more information

“EPC” Electronic Product CodeMore descriptive than UPC

• Can describe an individual item, not just productLinked to the internet

Important Players

EPC GlobalStandards committeeCreated from Auto-ID Labs, MIT

ProducersPhysical Tagging Systems

• Motorola• HP

Software Systems• Siemens

Problem Statement

Raw Data Not easily human-readable Useless without context Far more information than a tracking

application requires Can contain inaccuracies

EPC Tags Useless without product info Product information must be consistent

through the supply chain

Raw Data

Problem Statement

RFID vs. UPC/BarcodingNot useful as a simple substituteOnly becomes valuable when used with

computer automationExtra data available from EPCs

requires a network of EPC dataHas the possibility to be much faster

and more informative than UPCs, but will not be with hardware alone

Literature Review

Approach to finding literature Specific Topics:

Physical TechnologiesData management AlgorithmsSoftware System proposalsStandards definitionsPrototyping examplesPrivacy, Safety and Risks

Literature Review

Goals + Objectives

Produce small tracking application for an RFID-enabled building complex

Alpha data will simulate data from application interfaces

Will require a backend interface Application has simple GUI

Context Diagram

Obstacles + Risks

TimeNot Enough

Not a well-developed sector yetSolutions are still fairly proprietaryDeveloped primarily in-house by clients

DocumentationNot a great volumeDifficult to sort through, highly technical

Obstacles + Risk

Alpha DataMust accurately simulate environment

General Software/Hardware ConsiderationsStandardsBack EndsOperating SystemsHardware

Scope