 | Monday, April 14, 2008
Issue 818 | | Will Smith, Editor |  |
|
Editor's Note: Today's top story is the public unveiling of Mojix, a startup led by former NASA deep space scientists who used their digital signal processing expertise to develop passive RFID technology with a 600-foot read range. The company says its STAR system can identify individual Gen2 tags within a 250,000 square foot area.
Siemens Healthcare last week launched an asset management and visibility solution for hospitals to track their assets. Called Asset Management and Tracking, or AMT, the solution includes WiFi RTLS technology from Ekahau and application software from ARCHIBUS.
Lastly, Nordic ID has announced the successful deployment of over 250 handheld RFID readers to car logistics company Assistor. The system tracks vehicles as they are unloaded from a ship, vehicles which number in the hundreds of thousands annually. Nordic ID indicates that it is Finland's largest RFID implementation in production. |
|
| RFID Tags & Labels | - Confidence in RFID - Confidex tags and tickets (site)  | | | RTLS & Active RFID | | 
Sponsored by Ekahau | |
| | - Locate it now. How? Ekahau. That's how! (site) | | | Products & Services | | - PCB Tracking & Visibility Solution from Omnitrol Networks (site) | | - Employees steal over $1 billion per week from employers (site) | | | Upcoming Events | | - North Texas RFID Happy Hour at the Venetian - April 17, 2008 (site) | | - AWA PABS08 N. America Conference, Sept 11-12, Chicago, IL (site) | | - AWA PABS08 Asia Conference, Dec 4-5 - Hong Kong, China (site) | | - European Supply Chain & Logistics, 13-15 May, Germany (site) | | - SCAN & RFID CHINA 2008, June 19-21, Guangzhou, China (site) | | | Employment | | - RFID Recruiters - 100% Focused on RFID Recruiting (site) | | | Research & Whitepapers | | - RFID Marketing Strategies Report (site) | |
|
Startup Touts 600-foot Read Range for Passive RFID
By John Burnell
Mojix, a four-year-old startup in Los Angeles, is introducing its extreme long range passive UHF technology this week. The company claims its STAR 1000 system can read passive, Gen2-standard tags from 600 feet away, cover 250,000 square feet of area, and pinpoint tag location in 3D.
Company CEO Ramin Sadr told RFID Update that Mojix achieved this performance through advances in digital signal processing, RF antenna design, and computational processing power. Mojix's STAR 1000 differs from traditional RFID systems by using separate components to power and read tags.
"There is no rule of physics or regulation that says the receiver and transmitter have to be in the same housing," Kevin Duffy, Mojix senior vice president of sales and marketing, told RFID Update.
Mojix eNode transmitters provide the signal power to excite tags. Multiple eNodes would be deployed in a typical installation. Each eNode can cover an area ranging in size from less than ten to about 30 feet. Once powered by an eNode, tags communicate their data, which is received by a STAR receiver. Mojix specifies 600-foot read range for the STAR receiver, but said it has successfully read tags from more than 1,000 feet away in testing. Mojix guarantees coverage for areas up to 250,000 square feet. The company plans to demonstrate the system during this week's RFID Journal LIVE! exhibition and conference at the Venetian hotel in Las Vegas.
Mojix does not produce tags nor does it plan to. The system is Gen2 compatible and supports tag kill commands and other security features in the standard.
Long range is not the only benefit of the technology, according to Mojix. The company says its system is much more sensitive than traditional RFID readers, which provides outstanding performance for identifying individual items packed within a pallet, for example. The technology is also sensitive enough for use as a real-time locating system. RTLS is almost exclusively done with active RFID technology, although a passive system was announced earlier this year (see Startup Brings Locationing to Passive RFID).
Mojix will focus its marketing on supply chain-type applications such as dock door monitoring and inventory management, as well as work-in-process tracking, yard management, and item-level tagging.
"The old school of thought in RFID was to bring goods to the reader, which is a typical portal application, or to bring the reader to the goods, which is a handheld application. Our technology creates a new paradigm," said Sadr.
"RFID is still pretty much a portal-driven exercise," said Duffy. "We believe we can create better ROI opportunities by taking away reliance from the portal. We provide the ability to see goods in a warehouse at any time, not just at chokepoints."
The technology has been in trials for about two years and some customers have production-level systems, according to Mojix. The company could not provide details about its customers, but noted several Fortune 50 customers would be appearing with Mojix during the show to talk about their trials and systems.
The Mojix STAR system is available now, and Mojix is also seeking software partners to develop solutions.
Mojix's 40 employees include 22 engineers and scientists, 17 of whom hold PhDs. Sadr previously worked in NASA's deep space program and developed advanced communication technology that helped the Galileo probe transmit data during its six-year journey to Jupiter. Other employees joined the company from Alien Technology and Gillette's RFID program.
The privately held company was formed in 2003 and has received $22.5 million in venture funding. Its Series B funding was completed in mid-2007 and was led by Oak Investment Partners, a leading venture capital firm with more than $8.4 billion invested. Other investors include Red Rock Ventures and InnoCal Venture Capital.
Forward this to a colleague | Request reprints: reprints at rfidupdate dot com |
|
|
|
|
| RFID Tags & Labels | Confidence in RFID - Confidex tags and tickets
The challenges of various industries lead Confidex to develop a comprehensive offering of special tags and labels. Confidex tags are used in a variety of applications ranging from tracking items in the retail supply chain to automotive manufacturing and petrochemical installations. Confidex designs and manufactures contactless tickets for public transport. Visit www.confidex.fi | | | RTLS & Active RFID | Locate it now. How? Ekahau. That's how!
Ekahau RTLS (Real-Time Location System) automatically tracks assets and people via your existing Wi-Fi network. Control costs and improve asset management with Ekahau. For more information, visit us at www.ekahau.com. | | | Products & Services | PCB Tracking & Visibility Solution from Omnitrol Networks
Off-the-shelf solution provides automated real-time visibility and complete electronic pedigree for traceability on parts and WIP providing real-time dashboards, alerts and reports for shop-floor management. The pedigree information is automatically programmed into Texas Instruments' RFID tag for access to critical data without the need for connection to a back-end database. Learn more. | Employees steal over $1 billion per week from employers
the American Management Association reports. 95% of businesses are victimized by employee theft. Managers are reluctant to ask questions, because trusted employees may feel offended, leaving business owners in a difficult situation. What can you do? Nox: Intelligent Perimeter Defense from Simply RFID provides advanced security and protection for business assets. | | | Upcoming Events | North Texas RFID Happy Hour at the Venetian - April 17, 2008
The April North Texas RFID Happy Hour will be held on the 3rd floor of the Venetian Congress Center in Las Vegas. Sponsors of the RFID Happy Hour will be handing out RFID tagged swizzle stick invitations which will give the holders a chance to win a Free Drink. www.northtexasrfid.com | AWA PABS08 N. America Conference, Sept 11-12, Chicago, IL
AWA is organizing the Product Authentication & Brand Security Conference 2008 on September 11-12 in Chicago, IL. The event includes presentations and panel discussions with brand owners, legal authorities, associations, converters and suppliers; also networking sessions, a supplier forum, a social program and more. Find more on the program here. | AWA PABS08 Asia Conference, Dec 4-5 - Hong Kong, China
AWA presents the Asian Product Authentication & Brand Security Conference 2008, to be held on 4 & 5 December in Hong Kong, China. PABS08 Asia focuses on the threats specific to the Asia Pacific region, various elements of IP Theft, and leading-edge solutions. Find more on the program here. | European Supply Chain & Logistics, 13-15 May, Germany
Bringing together Europe's leading providers of supply chain management to evaluate best practices and to move the supply chain agenda into the boardroom. Also, featuring the AMR Research Strategy Session: What makes a supply chain world class in today's global market? More information here: www.supplychain.eu.com | 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. | | | 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
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 |
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 advertising08 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: subscriptions08 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
© 2008, ALX Technologies. All Rights Reserved. |
|
|
