“RFID Readers and tags are designed to work flawlessly indoors and outdoors with extreme temperature, metal and liquid environment with modified antenna design, tag design with waterproof, temperature resistant materials.”
RFID technology is currently being used in almost all kinds of businesses including retail, supply chains, logistics, manufacturing, and healthcare, and the global RAIN RFID tag chip shipment is projected to reach 115 Billion units by 2028, as per the latest report by RAIN Alliance. RFID technology is used indoors in warehouses, retail stores, and manufacturing units as well as outdoors whether it is to track athletes, golf balls, delivery shipments, consignments of raw materials or finished goods, or valuable assets.
RFID is currently the most used technology in track and trace. The technology is highly efficient and being adopted rapidly. The retail industry alone accounts for the largest market share in RFID uses, which stood at 10.4 billion in 2021 and is proliferating.
RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology has revolutionized how businesses track and manage their assets, inventory, and equipment. However, the application of RFID in harsh environments, such as outdoor settings, high-temperature conditions, and areas with metals and liquids, presents unique challenges that require innovative solutions.
The use of RFID in Harsh environments in various applications is supported by the application-centric design of RFID tags, readers, and RFID antennas that are optimized to work flawlessly.
Let’s explore the complexities of using RFID in these harsh environments further.
RFID in Outdoor Environments
RFID systems designed for outdoor environments face several challenges, including exposure to weather elements, varying temperatures, and potential physical damage. In outdoor settings, RFID tags and readers must be able to withstand rain, snow, UV radiation, and extreme temperatures. Additionally, the read range and accuracy of RFID systems can be affected by environmental factors such as foliage, buildings, and other obstructions.
To address these challenges, manufacturers have developed ruggedized RFID tags and readers that are designed to withstand harsh weather conditions and physical impact. Some RFID Readers such as Zebra RFD40 Handheld Sled, Chainway C72 Handheld reader, etc. are designed and tested for concrete drops and outdoor uses with rugged handling.
Enclosures and protective coatings are used to shield RFID components from moisture, dust, and UV exposure. Furthermore, advancements in antenna design and signal processing have improved the performance of outdoor RFID systems, allowing for reliable operation in challenging outdoor environments.
High-Temperature Environments and RFID
In industrial settings, RFID technology is often required to operate in high-temperature environments, such as manufacturing facilities, foundries, and automotive plants. Traditional RFID tags and readers may not be able to withstand the extreme heat and thermal fluctuations present in these environments, leading to reduced performance and potential failure.
Therefore, High-temperature RFID tags, RFID temperature sensor tags, and readers have been developed to address such issues using materials and components that can endure extreme heat without compromising performance. Heat-resistant materials, such as ceramic and high-temperature plastics, are used to construct RFID tags (RFID hard tags) capable of withstanding temperatures exceeding 200°C. Similarly, specialized high-temperature RFID readers and antennas are designed to operate reliably in these challenging conditions, enabling the tracking and monitoring of assets in high-temperature environments. RFID Temperature sensor tags are also designed that withstand high heat and measure accurate temperature in various applications.
RFID around Metals and Liquids
RFID performance can be significantly impacted when applied to metal surfaces or used in the presence of liquids and metals. Metals can interfere with the propagation of RFID signals, causing signal reflection and absorption, which can lead to reduced read range and reliability. Liquids, on the other hand, can absorb RF energy and detune RFID antennas, further complicating the use of RFID technology in these environments.
To overcome these challenges, specialized metal-mount and on-metal RFID tags have been developed, featuring unique antenna designs and shielding to mitigate the effects of metal interference.
EnCstore.com is a leading supplier of Metal On-mount RFID tags (RFID Anti Metal tags) that can easily overcome the interference caused in a metal environment. These tags are designed with advanced substrate and by modifying the antenna design to capture and transmit RF signals optimally.
In addition, encapsulated and waterproof RFID tags are employed to ensure reliable operation when exposed to liquids. RFID washcare labels, laundry tags, RFID taffeta tags, etc. are extensively used in liquid environments and can withstand up to 200 wash cycles. Similarly, RFID fixed and handheld readers such as Zebra FX9600, Impinj R700 fixed readers, Zebra FXR90 Integrated readers, etc are designed to withstand water and solid ingress with IP Ratings of 52, 53, 67, 65, etc.
Advanced signal processing algorithms and frequency-hopping techniques are also utilized to enhance the performance of RFID systems in the presence of metals and liquids, allowing for accurate asset tracking and identification in these challenging environments. Also, in high interference zones, readers can use Dense Reader Mode (DRM) to read specific frequency RFID tags and eliminate reader collision issues.
RFID in Cold Storages and Cold Chain Inventory
Businesses such as cold storage and cold chain logistics often deal with items that need to be stored at a particularly low temperature, say fresh food, meat and veggies, chemicals, medicines, blood, vital organs, etc. RFID tags are designed to withstand low temperatures in cold chains when attached to such assets as well as RFID temperature sensors can accurately detect the temperature. It allows businesses in cold chain inventory to manage the logistics and storage of such items easily. RFID tagging of these items can create an accurate chain of command in the supply chain and ensure real-time visibility which is crucial in logistics and order fulfillment. Particularly in the healthcare sector, RFID tags can be used to tag medicines, vaccines, track blood sample tubes, organs for transplant, etc. that need to be stored carefully with constant temperature monitoring. RFID sensor tags are crucial for such applications. RFID tagging also plays an important role in ensuring that the right vaccines, medicines, etc. are correctly administered to patients.
Finally, the successful deployment of RFID technology in harsh environments, such as outdoor settings, high-temperature conditions, and areas with metals and liquids, requires the use of specialized RFID components and innovative design approaches. Manufacturers continue to develop robust and reliable RFID solutions tailored to these challenging environments, enabling businesses to leverage RFID technology for asset tracking, inventory management, and process optimization in even the most demanding operational conditions.
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