What is RFID radio frequency identity

The technical details of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID).

1. Overview:
   • RFID is a transformative technology that harnesses the power of radio waves to passively identify tagged objects.
   • It plays a pivotal role in numerous commercial and industrial applications, from efficiently managing supply chains to tracking library resources.
2. Components of an RFID System:
   • An RFID system consists of two primary components:
     • Tags: These are small radio transponders attached to objects. Tags can be either passive or active:
       • Passive Tags:
         • Powered by energy from the RFID reader’s interrogating radio waves.
         • Transmit digital data (usually an identifying inventory number) back to the reader when triggered by an electromagnetic pulse.
         • Do not require a battery and have a shorter read range.
       • Active Tags:
         • Powered by a battery.
         • Can be read at a greater range (up to hundreds of meters) from the RFID reader.
     • Readers (Interrogators):
       • Emit radio waves and receive signals from RFID tags.
       • Interrogate tags to retrieve information.
       • Unlike barcodes, RFID tags do not need to be within the line of sight of the reader, allowing them to be embedded in tracked objects.
3. Working Principle:
   • When an RFID reader device emits an electromagnetic interrogation pulse, nearby RFID tags respond.
   • The tag uses radio waves to communicate its identity and other information back to the reader.
   • This communication includes an identifying inventory number or other relevant data.
   • The reader captures this information and can use it for various purposes, such as tracking inventory goods, managing toll collection (e.g., FasTrak), or identifying friendly or hostile aircraft during World War II.
4. Applications:
   • RFID tags are used in various industries:
     • Automobile production lines: Tracking progress through assembly lines.
     • Pharmaceuticals: Tracking inventory in warehouses.
     • Livestock and pets: Enabling positive identification.
     • Retail stores: Expediting checkout and preventing theft.
   • Privacy and security concerns have led to standard specifications addressing these issues.