 | Monday, February 4, 2008
Issue 770 | | Will Smith, Editor |  |
|
|
Editor's Note: Today's top story is the new software and partnerships from AeroScout that enable real-time location systems (RTLS) combining WiFi, UWB, and passive RFID technologies in a single system.
A very large library RFID implementation was announced today by 3M Library Systems, who will deploy the technology at 42 branches in the city of Paris. The system calls for at least three million RFID tags, plus infrastructure like workstations, readers, detection gates, and self-checkout kiosks. The tags are based on chips from Swiss semiconductor manufacturer STMicroelectronics.
Lastly, Singapore's government has allocated S$4.5 million (~US$3.2 million) to launch the National RFID Innovation Platform, an initiative to spur experimentation with RFID technology and ultimately give Singaporean industry a competitive edge. The sum will last for four years and co-fund 30 pilots. The program will be managed through the National RFID Centre, an existing facility run by The Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR). |
|
New RTLS Solution Combines WiFi, UWB, and RFID
AeroScout announced a series of partnerships and new software capabilities that let organizations use multiple real-time location system (RTLS) technologies in a single system. The Silicon Valley company, known for its WiFi-based RTLS systems, released version 4.0 of its flagship MobileView software that now supports ultra-wideband (UWB) RTLS technology from Time Domain of Huntsville, Alabama, and also integrates with Reva Systems' Tag Acquisition Processor (TAP), a device that collects and manages data from passive RFID readers. With the new MobileView 4.0 and compatible hardware, WiFi RTLS, UWB RTLS, and passive RFID can be used in a single system that can scale to track hundreds of thousands of items.
WiFi-based RTLS determines a tagged item's location to within a few meters. UWB systems can provide location accuracy to within centimeters. Precision varies for passive RFID systems, but they have much less range than WiFi and UWB RTLS.
"One form of visibility is often not enough," AeroScout director of marketing Josh Slobin told RFID Update. "Our partnerships and MobileView 4.0 bring all the data together and make it actionable from a single point."
AeroScout and Time Domain are co-developing dual WiFi-UWB tags and readers. WiFi is much more widely used for RTLS than UWB and is popular because organizations can often deploy it on top of their existing wireless LAN infrastructure. UWB requires a separate network and tags, but provides much more precise location accuracy. Many UWB RTLS users originally installed a WiFi-based system, then supplemented or replaced it with UWB after discovering they needed more precise location data, Greg Clawson, Time Domain's vice president of sales and marketing, told RFID Update. The new dual-mode tags and readers will work with a single software platform, thereby eliminating the need for an incompatible dual RTLS infrastructure.
AeroScout and Time Domain said prices for dual-mode tags and readers, which they've dubbed "Ultra-Wi-Fi," would be comparable to current products, but did not provide details. They expect to release the product line by the end of this quarter.
"Our customers and partners are telling us that even though UWB can solve all of their location-based business needs, they would still like to re-use their WiFi networks in concert with UWB to provide inches-level accuracy while simultaneously tracking thousands of assets. Ultra-Wi-Fi delivers both capabilities," Clawson said in Time Domain's announcement.
For example, Clawson estimated a hospital might need UWB-level location accuracy for 30 percent of its facility, while WiFi would be sufficient for the rest. In manufacturing, he envisions using UWB in a dual-mode system to track work-in-process (WIP), and WiFi to track assets and monitor inventory.
Passive RFID is also used for WIP and inventory tracking in many other industries, so AeroScout's partnership with Boston-based Reva Systems provides passive RFID users more technology and software flexibility.
"With the maturity of the RFID market, many customers are simultaneously deploying both active and passive systems to meet a broad set of needs," Buck Devashish, Reva's VP of business development, said in an announcement. "... our partnership with AeroScout provides the unified RFID solution these customers need."
AeroScout's Slobin said hundreds of thousands of assets can be tracked by integrating Reva's Tag Acquisition Processor with MobileView 4.0. "This is nothing new for passive RFID, but it is really scalable for active RFID," he said. "This is an integration of two technologies that until this point haven't traditionally been tightly integrated in a single system."
The partnerships and cross-technology support may be taken as signs the industry is maturing. RTLS companies have traditionally marketed themselves on the strength of their technologies, particularly on their specific flavor of RTLS technology (WiFi, UWB, active RFID, etc.) or their proprietary algorithms. The recent announcements from AeroScout and its partners focus on integration and ease of use, which should be a welcome development for organizations concerned about integration or confused about which technology to choose.
Raghu Das, CEO of research firm IDTechEx, previously told RFID Update the proprietary nature of UWB technology has somewhat hindered adoption (see UWB Finding a Place in the RTLS Market for more insight and an overview of the UWB RTLS market).
Other companies are also acting on the need for interoperable tracking technologies. Axcess International recently announced its Dot tag for asset tracking that supports multiple RFID frequencies and standards (see Active RFID Tag Supports Multiple Frequencies), and RF Code announced a peripheral accessory that lets any Bluetooth-compatible device read its 433 MHz active tags (see New Mobile Active RFID Reader Goes Anywhere).
Forward this to a colleague | Request reprints: reprints at rfidupdate dot com |
|
|
|
|
| RFID Tags & Labels | Ferroxtag HF tags: Smart on Metal!
Ferroxtag is a new family of HF RFID tags suitable for operation on metallic surfaces. Ferroxtag's special ferrite antenna was developed using Ferroxcube's years of experience in ferrite technology. The high performance antenna means longer read range with a smaller tag. Visit www.ferroxtag.com | | | Products & Services | Real-Time WIP Visibility Appliance from Omnitrol Networks
Meet the industry's most innovative award winning RFID solution that enables complete work-order traceability in manufacturing. Real-time web-based dashboards and multi-site monitoring for work-order pedigree and traceability, including proactive bottleneck management and real-time performance analytics optimizing shop-floor efficiency. All at the lowest TCO in the marketplace. www.omnitrol.com/WIP. | Tag & SpyTM: NOX Surveillance by SimplyRFID
Find out "Who Took It" and "Where It Is Now" with our "Stealth to Catch the Stealthy" RFID Surveillance systems. Alerts direct to your cell phone. Unprecedented accuracy and court-usable identification. Protect valuable equipment and documents! From the people trusted by more than 2,000 DoD (Department of Defense) Suppliers. Visit: www.SimplyRFID.com | | | Employment | RFID Recruiters - 100% Focused on RFID Recruiting
Whether your company is looking for the best RFID talent or you have the best RFID talent and are looking for the best RFID employer, RFID Recruiters offers the most focused approach to your objective. To learn how the RFID industry and the RFID job market are evolving, visit www.rfidrecruiters.com | | | Research & Whitepapers | RFID Marketing Strategies Report from RFID Update
Thirty-nine pages of original research on RFID audience perceptions, including 30+ figures of tactics, content & messaging, and recommendations to guide marketing strategy. Also, Top-10 RFID company rankings based on 550+ survey respondents. View the executive summary free, with Top-3 sample rankings. Only $495 Individual License or $795 Corporate License. Available now | | | Upcoming Events | RFID World Asia 2008, 8 to 11 April, Suntec Singapore
RFID World Asia 2008 is THE event for finding out the transforming power of RFID for your business and its future. Sign up now for RFID Asia Summit 2008, targeted at senior-level executives; to understand and reap the benefits of this new business tool. For more information go to www.terrapinn.com/2008/rfid | SCAN & RFID CHINA 2008, June 19-21, Guangzhou, China
As one of the earliest, most specialized and authoritative exhibitions in China, approved and supported directly from State Ministry, the 8th SCAN & RFID CHINA 2008 will present you the impressive up-dated development and market of RFID technology in rising China. To know more, please go to www.scan-china.com. | 5th Annual DoD RFID Summit - Feb 26-27 - Arlington, VA
If you conduct business with the Department of Defense (DoD), you need to be at the DoD RFID Summit to stay abreast of the latest technology developments and take advantage of the "roll-up-your-sleeves" RFID implementation guidance that will be delivered for DoD personnel and DoD suppliers! Register now at www.DoDRFIDsummit.com. | RFID Smart Labels USA - Boston, MA - February 20-21, 2008
RFID Smart Labels USA 2008; the seventh annual analyst-driven event covers the hot RFID sectors, full technology analysis and market insight. February 20-21, 2008, in Boston, MA. Visit www.IDTechEx.com/USA to find out more and register. |
This email was intended for , who subscribed
RFID Update is the RFID industry daily. Launched in early 2004 to provide timely analysis of RFID industry news, RFID Update publishes editorial briefings every weekday for the growing ranks of top level executives involved in the deployment of RFID. Each issue delivers the breaking news and analysis most pertinent to successful RFID implementations, allowing readers to understand global RFID developments as they happen.
RFID Update Editor: Will Smith, editor at rfidupdate dot com
Press releases and public relations inquiries should be directed to Will.
To advertise in RFID Update, email advertising07 at rfidupdate dot com to request a media kit.
RFID Questions? Ask at RFID Talk (www.RFIDtalk.com).
Forward this issue of RFID Update to your colleagues, or tell them to subscribe free at: www.RFIDupdate.com
View all past issues of RFID Update in the archive.
Update your subscription settings: subscriptions07 at rfidupdate dot com
We take your privacy seriously. View our Privacy Policy here.
RFID Update -- The RFID Industry Daily
3213 Duke Street #266
Alexandria, VA 22314
http://www.rfidupdate.com
© 2006, ALX Technologies. All Rights Reserved. |
|
|
