About RFID Alliance Lab Reports

The RFID Alliance Lab was created in Septermber 2004 by the Information and Telecommunication Technology Center (ITTC) at the University of Kansas, Rush Tracking Systems, a private RFID systems integrator, and RFID Journal. It's mission is to provide objective, scientific reports on RFID systems.

Daniel Deavours, Ph.D., is the research director of the RFID Alliance Lab. He and his team have no commercial interests in RFID technology and operate completely independently from RFID Journal and Rush Tracking Systems, which provides consultation and advise on reports but have no say in the preperation of reports or the reporting of the test results.

How the Tests Are Conducted
Researchers at the RFID Alliance Lab take every precaution to control all the variables in tests conducted under lab conditions to ensure that the differences in the performance of tags are based solely on the differences in the design and manufacturing of the tags, and not on external conditions.

Since the tests were not performed in an anechoic chamber (a chamber used to eliminate all RF "noise" or interference), the Lab uses a spectrum analyzer to measure ambient RF energy in the test facility to ensure that there is no electromagnetic interference that could affect the test results. This is done for all of the tests done in the lab.

The Lab also takes measurements to make sure that RF energy from the reader does not bounce off the floor or walls and reach the tag. The term "multipath" is used to describe a situation in which both direct and reflected energy reaches the tag. Because RF energy travels like a wave, the energy traveling on the secondary paths can arrive in phase or out of phase with the primary signal. This can cause constructive interference, which amplifies the received signal, or destructive interference, which decreases the received signal. Or, the signal can be delayed so much that data is received at the wrong time. This is similar to trying to carry on a normal conversation with a loud echo.

Some tests are performed, where appropriate, in the warehouse of a Kansas City area manufacturer to compare how the test results performed under controlled conditions compare to tests performed in real-world conditions. Since there are too many variables to control in real-world conditions, these tests are not as scientific, but they give report readers an indication of the level of perofrmance they can expect.

Who Should Buy The RFID Alliance Lab Reports

• Companies deciding which RFID hardware to purchase
• Systems integrators helping clients make hardware purchases
• Hardware providers seeking to understand the performance of their products
• Experts seeking to understand the performance of RFID hardware and the strengths and weaknesses of hardware providers

Purchase the latest RFID Alliance Lab Report