The following are news announcements made during the past week by the following organizations:
Omni-ID;
Tego;
Proximity Technologies;
Smartrac, Plastilam, Catalyst Retail Solutions;
AIM; and
Atlas RFID Solutions.
Omni-ID Broadens Its Active Tag Product Line
Omni-ID has added two active RFID tags—the Power 60 and the Power 100—to its portfolio of 433 MHz RFID products for tracking assets and tools in a variety of environments, including data centers and oil and gas platforms. The two new tags join the company’s Power 415, an updated version the Power 400, which was released in 2012 (see Omni-ID, Atlas RFID Offer New Rugged Active Tags).
All three Omni-ID active tags contain a passive 860 to 930 MHz EPC Gen 2 RFID chip that enables three functionalities:
Turning off the battery-powered radio: A passive 860 to 930 MHz reader can be employed to turn off the battery-powered 433 MHz radio during shipping, thereby extending battery life (for up to five years) and eliminating the need for special traveling certifications
Configuring the beaconing rate: A passive reader can also be used to change the active beaconing rate in order to extend battery life and improve responsiveness.
Flexible asset lifecycle management: Assets can be located using either active or passive functionality
The Omni-ID Power 60 is designed for applications requiring long-range personnel tracking in varied environments, such as oil and gas platforms, construction sites, manufacturing facilities, and personnel management. Its 433 MHz active radio communicates via a proprietary Omni-ID protocol (a version is available that supports the IEEE 802.15.4f transmit-only protocol), and has a read range of about 100 meters (328 feet). The Power 60 is designed for tracking personnel in real time, and also helps to enhance employee safety, as well as tracking workers’ interactions with tagged assets. The tag can be clipped to clothing or be worn around the neck on a lanyard, and comes with an integrated button that the wearer can press to transmit an alert, such as a call for help. Constructed of glass-filled polycarbonate, the Power 60 measures 95.47 millimeters by 63.87 millimeters by 10.0 millimeters (3.76 inches by 2.51 inches by 0.39 inch) and weighs 53 grams (1.9 ounces).
The Power 100 is designed for tracking light industrial assets in IT data centers, manufacturing facilities and warehouses, and delivers a read range of up to 150 meters (492 feet). Its 433 MHz radio communicates via proprietary Omni-ID protocol (a version is available that supports the IEEE 802.15.4f transmit-only protocol). Constructed of PC/ABS blend, it measures 58.48 millimeters by 34.83 millimeters by 14 millimeters (2.30 inches by 1.37 inches by 0.55 inch) and weighs 29 grams (1 ounce). The Power 100 supports vertical or horizontal mounting via screws, adhesive or a metal clip, and includes sufficient battery capacity for four years of duty in most applications, according to Omni-ID.
Intrinsically safe versions of the Power 60 and Power 100 are also available.
Tego Releases Multi-Platform Operating System
Tego has announced the release of TegoOS, an open, multi-platform operating system that adds new capability to Tego’s Asset Intelligence Platform (AIP) designed to provide local intelligence on any asset, anywhere. TegoOS now supports all major mobile and desktop operating systems, including iOS, Android, Windows and OS X. This, Tego says, gives manufacturers, distributors and maintenance organizations across the aerospace, life sciences, health-care and manufacturing sectors the ability to deploy scalable solutions for lifecycle and service management, regulatory and process compliance, and authenticity management.
The open OS operates across all RF gateway protocols and handheld readers, according to Tego. It simplifies the process of storing, recalling and communicating the information embedded in a product, component or asset, and makes distributed data about assets more easily available to cloud-based Internet of Things platforms, as well as core enterprise systems, Tego reports, such as enterprise asset management (EAM), enterprise resource planning (ERP), business intelligence (BI) and analytics applications.
TegoOS is the operating system for Tego’s AIP, which provides the capability to embed digital information directly in an asset. From product specification and configuration, maintenance and use history, and intended use and compatibility, to process instructions or images, AIP allows distributed data solutions to be installed quickly within small or large environments. This, the company explains, provides line employees with critical operating data and ensures asset data connectivity to devices, IOT platforms and enterprise systems.
According to Tego, TegoOS enables assets to share their data at the point of use by making their origin, authenticity, lifecycle maintenance history or chain of custody available to authorized users. The process of storing data on a physical asset becomes a simple, one push-button activity, and TegoOS provides encryption, compression, and flexible and efficient file management.
TegoOS includes a software library supporting AIP functionality and extensibility that can securely store and retrieve structured or unstructured data directly on any asset via a wireless communications protocol. In addition to the integration capabilities for cloud-based IoT and enterprise systems, it also includes a mobile application for administrators and users with a single, common interface to RF gateway devices, such as those from ThingMagic, Intermec, Zebra Technologies, Impinj and Technology Solutions (UK) Ltd. (TSL), as well as low-level reader protocol (LLRP) gateways.
Proximity Technologies Launches Suite of Bluetooth Beacon Products
Proximity Technologies, a division of cyber-security firm Secure Channels Inc., has announced PROXiMITTER, a suite of four Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) beacon products. These products are designed to allow real-time data collection of high-value assets, including devices and company personnel.
The PROXiMITTERX1 is a single beacon that transmits a wireless BLE signal that can be used to trigger events and engage mobile clients for all smartphone operating systems, and supports business optimization applications, such as logistics, workforce management and Internet of Things sensors. The PROXiMITTER2-U is a dual transmitter beacon that can communicate with both Wi-Fi- and BLE-enabled devices. A PROXiMITTER2-U beacon transmits a Wi-Fi and BLE signal simultaneously that can trigger events and engage mobile clients regardless of smartphone operating systems. The PROXiHub is a BLE-to-Wi-Fi gateway that combines peer-to-peer PROXiMITTER networking with network gateway features. It is designed to extend the PROXiMITTER family, the company reports, by offering presence and engagement services with and without smartphone applications. And the PROXiMITTER-L5 is an offline analytics and engagement beacon with TCP/IP connectivity via Wi-Fi or Ethernet. It supports Apple‘s iBeacon profile and Wi-Fi analytics, and provides remote monitoring and maintenance via Internet connectivity.
According to Proximity Technologies, PROXiMITTER devices can show the exact location of each employee, device and machine, thereby providing customers with a more comprehensive overview of every aspect of a company’s operations. The devices can also be utilized to gather data for use in more effective promotions and more efficient strategic planning. The PROXiMITTER line was designed to integrate with any beacon platform management tool or any existing data-analysis systems, Proximity Technologies explains.
The devices are available in a range of different packaging configurations, as well as multiple power options. Proximity Technologies has developed a proprietary mobile application to serve as an interface for the entire line of PROXiMITTER devices. The software is designed for integration with a range of cloud-based content-management systems.
Proximity Technologies’ solutions are designed to be deployed globally and provide a range of capabilities, including device and data security, workplace and asset management, mobile customer engagement, payment solutions, real-time tracking and location services. The company also provides custom firmware and solutions for businesses and works with clients to create IoT services.
Smartrac Announces Partnerships With Plastilam, Catalyst
Plastilam, a provider of RFID hotel key cards, has announced a contract to purchase millions of secure Smartrac Prelam inlays for contactless access cards throughout the next three years. In a separate announcement, Smartrac has announced a partnership with Catalyst Retail Solutions.
Smartrac inlays are designed to provide a gapless proof of authenticity and origin for contactless cards and products, according to Smartrac. Smartrac Prelam inlays combine NXP Semiconductors’ Mifare chips and Smartrac’s antenna technology. NXP’s Mifare ICs and Smartrac’s Prelam inlays are fully compliant with the EAL4+ Common Criteria and ISO standards. According to Smartrac, the deal with Plastilam confirms that there is a clear trend toward enhanced security and extended services in the hospitality, leisure and entertainment markets.
“Our customers depend on us to provide the best solutions possible for their hotel key card needs,” said James McGuire, Plastilam’s director of sales, in a prepared statement. “With their state-of-the-art products and superior attention to quality, we are pleased to have Smartrac as a trusted partner. Our hospitality clients can rest easy knowing they are getting the best product coupled with outstanding service every time.”
Smartrac also struck a deal with Catalyst, a global supplier of retail solutions. The two have signed a memorandum of understanding to develop RFID and Internet of Things solutions designed to help retailers and brands leverage data to improve in-store performance and optimize customer experiences and product lifecycles.
Smartrac and Catalyst have independently developed and marketed solutions based on RFID technology and the IoT for brands and retailers. By combining their respective strengths, the two companies say they are better positioned to respond to increasing market demand for solutions that enable compelling services for retailers, brands and consumers.
As part of the agreement, the companies report, Smartrac will contribute its RFID experience, its IoT capabilities as demonstrated by its Smart Cosmos IoT delivery platform, and its Retail Store Optimization and Smart Brand Experience solutions. In addition to its retail technology solutions, the companies add, Catalyst draws upon its knowledge and expertise in the supply chain and retail industries, as a part of Li & Fung, a leading consumer goods design, development, sourcing and supply chain management company.
AIM Publishes Guidance on Data Content and Structure for Passive Tags
AIM, a global industry association for the automatic identification industry, has announced the release of “Guidance on Data Content and Structure in Passive Tags,” a document designed to help system integrators select the best options when installing RFID tag systems to identify objects. According to AIM, the guidelines document is intended to assist RFID tag system implementation and compatibility.
While AIM notes that the concept of storing data and identifying objects with an RFID tag is not new, research has shown that many companies still do not fully understand the implications of tag numbers, the potential for problems, or how and where to obtain a unique number that works in their respective environments. Because of this, the organization explains, the members of AIM’s RFID Experts Group decided to write and publish a comprehensive guideline that provides a better understanding of options, along with components to detail numbering standards that currently exist, and which resources offer the best compatibility of numbering for an organization.
Each section in the guideline includes a high-level description followed by more in-depth discussion; detailed technical information can be found in the annexes. The guideline explains the various options for encoding data on a passive RFID tag to ensure unique identification and system integrity. It also offers explanations of the various issuing agency codes (IACs) that help provide uniqueness, and the possibilities for representing an application’s data using application identifiers (AIs), data identifiers (DIs), text element identifiers (TEIs) and proprietary methods. RFID encoding methods (for example, as defined in the ISO 15962 standard) are briefly discussed in later sections.
In addition, the guideline explains how an RFID tag’s memory structures can be used to identify an item that has a tag attached to it. It describes methods of structuring data in an RFID tag in both standardized open-systems and proprietary closed-loop systems, and helps to distinguish between open and closed-loop systems. The guideline does not address data content for active RFID tags.
A copy of the publication for $200 can be purchased through the AIM Marketplace.
Atlas RFID Solutions Opens New Asian Office
Atlas RFID Solutions has announced the opening of a new Asian office in Seoul, South Korea. The Seoul office will be led by Jin Namkoong, the company’s VP of Asia sales. Jin has more than 20 years of experience in supply chain management and IT solutions for various industry verticals, including oil and gas, according to Atlas RFID. Most recently, Jin served as a project manager and logistics manager for a large-scale oil and gas capital asset project that deployed the company’s Jovix solution to increase efficiencies and visibility across the modularized supply chain.
Jovix is Atlas RFID Solutions’ material readiness application developed for the capital-asset market. It combines web-based server software with mobile and automatic-identification technologies, the company reports, to extend access to information to decision makers in the field, as well as digitize and automate manual paper-based data-collection processes.
As a Jovix user, Jin has first-hand knowledge of the benefits of digitizing and automating outdated manual, paper-based data-collection processes of the past, according to Atlas RFID Solutions.