Is it possible to employ radio frequency identification for pressure measuring, and for capturing data from a pipeline approximately 2 meters below Earth's surface? —Name withheld ——— I guess the answer depends on how the system is engineered. Reading a tag within a...
Is it possible for food items with radio frequency identification tags on their packaging to be tracked from a grocery store all the way to a person's home? —Name withheld ——— Tags can only be read where there is an RFID interrogator, so unless supermarket chains...
What type of software or middleware does our company need to install on our servers as part of an RFID system? —Taha, Libya ——— Dear Taha, There are many different middleware products on the market that can take data from a network of readers, filter it and direct it...
The automotive industry’s decision to accept higher fuel economy standards in order to avoid dealing with 50 state requirements might be a good model for pharmaceutical companies looking to avoid having to comply with 50 state laws mandating drug pedigrees.
Is it possible to employ radio frequency identification to authenticate certificates from colleges and universities—and if so, how? —Name withheld ——— In a word: yes. An RFID transponder can be affixed to a university certificate with a label. Alternatively, a tiny...
Are there any centers of research excellence in the United Kingdom that are involved in the development of RFID technologies? —Name withheld ——— Yes, there is the RFID Center in Camberley, located southwest of London—for more information, click here. —Mark Roberti,...
Are there any chips that employ both proximity and vicinity radio frequency identification technology—and if so, which companies produce them? —Name withheld ——— Texas Instruments sells a chip, the TRF7960, that can be used for different high-frequency (HF) protocols,...
Is it feasible to extend the read distance of an RFID tag to 100 yards? —Name withheld ——— Active RFID tags typically have a read distance of 100 yards, though some can read beyond that length. If you are trying to read passive tags at that distance, the only system I...
Do you have any suggestions regarding how our company might track pharmaceuticals and protect them from being counterfeited? —Name withheld ——— Many companies, including Pfizer and Cephalon, are exploring the potential of using radio frequency identification to reduce...
Where can I find radio frequency identification kits designed for researchers and developers? —Name withheld ——— Many vendors offer RFID developers' kits. Alien Technology, for instance, provides a developer's kit to those who sign up for the company's Alien Academy....
Are there any RFID-embedded interrogators available that have a low price-tag—say, less then $100? —Name withheld ——— To my knowledge, their are no reader modules on the market that cost less than $100. High-frequency (HF) reader modules are currently less expensive...
I am looking for a small security tag that is slightly visible, in order to reduce the theft of devices such as hard drives, ink cartridges and so forth. Can powder-based RFID be mixed with glue or paint, and be injected into the surface of a hard disk? And can it be...