The following are news announcements made during the past week by the following organizations: Balluff; Identiv, Dai Nippon Printing; Tönnjes C.A.R.D., Kenyan National Transport & Safety Authority; Telink Semiconductor; Haldor Advanced Technologies, Harvard Medical School; and Harting.
Balluff Unveils New Long-Range RFID Reader
Balluff reports that it has begun fulfilling orders in North America and Europe for its BIS VU-320 UHF reader. The company’s BIS V multichannel processor can now accept readers in the low, high and ultrahigh frequencies, operating simultaneously. In situations for which there may be a mixed environment of tag frequencies, Balluff explains, the BIS V system is intended to simplify the RFID architecture.
“A driving force behind the development of the VU-320 reader was the need to read tags at 1 to 3 feet away,” said Wolfgang Kratzenberg, Balluff’s marketing manager for industrial identification, in a prepared statement. “Typical read range of LF and HF readers is just a few inches, and with UHF readers the read range can extend out to 20 feet or more, making it virtually impossible to single out one tag on a production line. This reader is going to be perfect for those flexible manufacturing applications where the read range will vary based on the size of the product being manufactured.”
The VU-320 is built to withstand tough manufacturing environments, thanks to its IP67 rating. Four highly visible LEDs simplify the troubleshooting process, eliminating the need to access a Web server or PLC to determine if a tag is being read or if the antenna is sending a signal. Because the VU-320 is a part of the BIS V portfolio, it can communicate via Profibus, Profinet, Ethernet IP, CC-Link or Ethercat. Mounting accessories and cables are also available.
The BIS VU-320 read-write head expands the company’s range of BIS-V products by adding UHF functionality. The compact UHF read-write head offers function and status LED indicators that can be seen from any direction, the firm reports. With a typical reading range of 1 meter, the UHF system is suited to monitoring production processes and controlling material flow, and for use in assembly plants. It is also suitable for traceability solutions, due to its multi-tagging capability that allows up to 50 data carriers to be detected simultaneously.
The device contains an integrated Power Scan function which allows for automatic matching to the UHF data carrier being used, and ensures optimal configuration in any application without the cumbersome manual setting of parameters. This is possible with the touch of a button on the device itself. The read-write head automatically adjusts itself to local conditions, minimizing startup times.
The short-range read-write head is intended for use in for harsh environments. The use of standard connection cables for the BIS V processor unit makes it possible to utilize a cable length of up to 50 meters.
Identiv, Dai Nippon Printing Partner on UHF RFID Tags for Monitoring Bridge Cracks
Identiv has announced that its ultrahigh-frequency (UHF) RFID tags have been incorporated into a new system that monitors critical infrastructure and detects cracks in bridges and tunnels. The tag was developed for Identiv partner Dai Nippon Printing (DNP), based in Japan.
Identiv’s UHF tag portfolio is designed for applications across industrial markets, the company reports, including asset tracking, logistics and parking access. UHF technology uses radio frequency spectra that allow reading distances of several meters, depending on tag size and the operating power transmitted by the UHF reader.
“In Japan, the majority of tunnels and bridges were built during the high economic growth period of the 1960s, meaning they are quickly becoming too old for continued use. We are seeing an increase in accidents due to decrepit concrete, which is a huge, dangerous problem,” said Sakae Hikita, DNP’s senior executive corporate officer, in a prepared statement. “Local government and transportation entities are under regulation to maintain inspections. However, the cost of such inspections is incredibly high due to complex testing equipment and the skill of the laborers performing such testing.”
DNP and Identiv developed an infrastructure-monitoring RFID inlay that can detect structural cracks, leveraging a UHF chip equipped with tamper-detection capability. The inlays have a long reading distance and can be glued to areas of concern on a concrete structure (sections suspected of being cracked, for example, or that may be extended in the near future). The inlays receive radio waves, and the system can monitor conditions to avert disasters before they can occur. DNP has developed an adhesive to attach the sheets to concrete, which cures the agent via irradiation with ultraviolet rays (sunlight) or fluorescent light.
The new monitoring system can read all information collected by the inlay sheets at once via a UHF reader-writer, thereby reducing inspection time, the company reports. The UHF range of Identiv’s tags allows for a long communication distance. Small cracks are difficult to detect through visual inspection alone, but with Identiv’s system, inspectors can make an accurate assessment. The data collected is then transferred to local PCs for a full inspection report.
DNP’s infrastructure-monitoring system is scheduled to debut in Japan in March 2018. Identiv’s UHF RFID tags are available now for customization.
Tönnjes RFID System Identifies Automobiles in Kenya
The Kenyan National Transport & Safety Authority (NTSA) is using RFID to address a growing problem in that country. Nearly 47 million people are registered citizens of Kenya, but the government has no records regarding the total number of car owners on its streets. As a result, Kenya misses out on tax revenues that are essential to enhancing its traffic infrastructure.
To create a nationwide vehicle register, German company Tönnjes C.A.R.D. supplies Kenya with approximately 3.3 million windshield labels that entail an integrated UCODE DNA RAIN RFID chip from NXP Semiconductors. The technology allows the secure identification and authentication of vehicles. During the next three years, all Kenyan car owners are obligated to switch to the new technology.
“We have several projects in Africa,” said Jochen Betz, Tönnjes’ managing director, in a prepared statement. “However, the partnership with the NTSA is an important milestone for our company. We do not just deliver the UCODE DNA-based RFID windshield labels—we also help and advise the authorities during the implementation of the system.” The central automobile database, called a traffic information and management system (TIMS), is planned to be fully updated and vetted until 2020.
“We are excited that our latest RAIN RFID UHF chip technology, which includes cryptographic authentication, is enabling the Kenyan government to securely identify their vehicle population, boost their tax revenue and support the safety of their traffic network,” said Markus Staeblein, the VP and general manager of NXP’s Secure Mobility and Retail business, in the prepared statement.
Telink Semiconductor Releases Updated BLE Chip SDK for Apple HomeKit
Telink Semiconductor, a developer of highly integrated, low-power radio frequency and mixed signal system chips for Internet of Things applications, has announced that it is releasing an updated version of its Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) software development kit (SDK) for Apple HomeKit. This means that any HomeKit licensees can use Telink’s SDK to develop products and accessories, based on a single-chip solution that features built-in security key authentication. HomeKit enables Apple devices to communicate with and control IoT-connected devices in the home, such as smart locks; lights; heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems; sensors; and more.
Apple HomeKit is unlike other platforms, the company explains, in that it doesn’t require a central hub device, since the ecosystem is designed in a way that works around existing iOS devices, with an iPad acting as the hub. Devices can communicate with each other, with HomeKit serving as the interface that ties all devices in the network together.
HomeKit devices work exclusively on either Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, and there are rigorous encryption requirements to enable a secure environment, as well as specific chip-set requirements that are needed to achieve certification. Ccommunications between products is accomplished locally, rather than data having to be transmitted via the cloud.
“Telink is a strong supporter of Apple HomeKit and one of the first ones to deliver SDKs to smart-home accessory manufacturers,” said Wenjun Sheng, Telink Semiconductor’s CEO, in a prepared statement. “We already have customers lined up for our new HomeKit chip solution, which means we expect new Telink-based HomeKit devices on the market this year.”
Combined with Telink’s BLE mesh technology, this creates a smart-home solution providing concurrent simultaneous real-time control of connected devices using different standards in the home via HomeKit. It can manage multiple nodes’ online and offline status using network traffic control technology within the chips. In addition, the technology provides a synchronized control mechanism within multi-hop or large mesh networks. The same hardware can also be used for Apple HomeKit support.
Haldor RFID Products Count and Track Sponges, Surgical Instruments
The ORLocate system, from Haldor Advanced Technologies, a developer of radio frequency identification-enabled medical products and technologies, has been identified as the only RFID-based system currently available on the market for counting and tracking surgical instruments and sponges, according to a new medical research study.
The study’s objective was to identify the impact of RFID technology on reducing retained surgical instruments (RSI) errors and improving patient safety. It was conducted by researchers from several prominent health-care and patient-safety organizations in the United States, including the Division of General Internal Medicine and Primary Care, the Center for Patient Safety, Harvard Medical School, and the Bouvé College of Health Sciences’ School of Nursing at Northeastern University.
The study was published on Feb. 22, 2017, in the Journal of Patient Safety. The researchers stated that the use of RFID resulted in the rapid detection of RSI through body tissue, with high accuracy rates and reduced risk of counting errors and improved workflow. When comparing bar-code and RF technologies to RFID, the study found that bar-code scanners cannot serve as a solution for detecting RSI inside a patient because they are unable to read through skin. The report also noted that RF technology is similar to that within a metal detector, in that it can only detect the presence of an RF chip, but not provide specific identification of tagged items—nor can it detect multiple items at the same time, which RFID can accomplish.
Additional benefits identified in the study include higher accuracy of detection, eliminating false positives and false negatives, and read accuracy ranging from 98 percent to 100 percent of RFID-marked surgical items. According to the researchers, RFID technology minimizes human error through an automated process of tracking RSIs, as well as reducing time and effort used during counting protocols.
The costs associated with RFID have substantially decreased during the past few years, the study indicates, and the technology is now competitive with other existing systems. Utilizing RFID to identify specific surgical items decreases the risk of misidentifying surgical items. The technology provides the ability to count and track surgical items within a few seconds, including providing pertinent information about individual surgical instruments and reducing the incidence of RSI. The research notes that RFID is more reliable in some situations (such as tracking small applications or nonmetal based items), and is a safer and procedurally faster technology.
“Haldor’s ORLocate RFID counting and tracking system was developed, first and foremost, with a patient-safety purpose and vision that would enable streamlining the counting and detection processes, helping to bring confidence to the OR setting (staff and patient), and reducing time and effort of clinical staff,” said Ilan Kadosh-Tamari, Haldor’s CEO, in a prepared statement.
Harting Showcases Industry 4.0 Solutions Incorporating RFID
At this year’s Industry 4.0 Summit, Harting will showcase its range of Industry 4.0 solutions. According to the company, these systems incorporate modular integrated computer architecture (MICA) for industrial networking, as well as radio frequency identification.
Harting’s integrated industry and Internet of Things systems involve the use of RFID-based technology to collect manufacturing data that can then be analyzed. This allows production lines to be adjusted, maintained or re-tooled, based on live, accurate production information.
At the summit, the firm will demonstrate a practical implementation of these concepts developed for Tritec Systems, a U.K.-based systems integrator. Tritec’s integration solution is built around an industrial HMI equipment interface, enabling the integration of RFID with PLC control systems. To minimize the need for customization, Tritec required a range of RFID readers that could be deployed in a variety of situations, while communicating via standard networking interfaces and protocols.
“By applying both of these innovative Harting solutions—passive UHF RFID and MICA technology—production line manufacturing managers can monitor the condition status of key machinery in real time for material supply chain management or preventative maintenance issues,” said Howard Forryan, Harting’s product marketing specialist, in a prepared statement. “They can then carry out continuous control adjustments through the separate simple, compact and reliable computing device which provides secure access to the main operating software system to maximise process efficiencies. As a consequence, users can achieve important productivity gains.”
MICA operates with open architecture software, allowing it to be easily customized. Software applications run in Linux-based containers that hold all necessary libraries and drivers. This, the company reports, reduces concerns regarding data security when MICA is allowed access to a higher-level production operating network.