RFID TutorialRFID Tutorial

Jamie CooleyJamie CooleyAmbient Intelligence, MIT Media LabAmbient Intelligence, MIT Media Lab

Nostalgia for the UPCNostalgia for the UPC

Wallace Flint first suggested an automated checkout in Wallace Flint first suggested an automated checkout in 19321932UPC bar code formats developed in the 40’s, 50’s, 60’sUPC bar code formats developed in the 40’s, 50’s, 60’sGrocery Industry adopted the UPC (based on an IBM Grocery Industry adopted the UPC (based on an IBM proposal) April 3, 1973proposal) April 3, 1973With computerized scanning, inventory, With computerized scanning, inventory, UPCsUPCs are are ubiquitous on every product!ubiquitous on every product!

http://educ.queensu.ca/~compsci/units/encoding/barcodes/history.http://educ.queensu.ca/~compsci/units/encoding/barcodes/history.htmlhtml

RFID General OverviewRFID General Overview

Radio Frequency Radio Frequency IDentificationIDentificationIs really not a specific technology, but an Is really not a specific technology, but an entire class of “tagging” items by radio entire class of “tagging” items by radio accomplished through a variety of meansaccomplished through a variety of meansRFID has been much hyped recently as RFID has been much hyped recently as the replacement for the UPC… and morethe replacement for the UPC… and morePrivacy Concerns have cropped up…Privacy Concerns have cropped up…

RFID history RFID history WWII roots as the British put IFF transponders in WWII roots as the British put IFF transponders in planes (Identification: Friend or Foe) to identify planes (Identification: Friend or Foe) to identify returning aircraftreturning aircraftIn the 70’s, Los Alamos developed RFID tagging In the 70’s, Los Alamos developed RFID tagging of nuclear equipment and personnel for safetyof nuclear equipment and personnel for safetyAmtechAmtech ((TranscoreTranscore) and ) and IdentronixIdentronix spun off of spun off of released researchreleased researchCattle stock monitoring, tracking (after trying and Cattle stock monitoring, tracking (after trying and failing to use Bar Code Technology) through failing to use Bar Code Technology) through railroadsrailroads

RFID history (cont.)RFID history (cont.)

Some obvious spinSome obvious spin--offs:offs:Fleet vehicle identification (tractors/trailers/cargo)Fleet vehicle identification (tractors/trailers/cargo)Toll collection on highwaysToll collection on highways

FastLaneFastLane (automated toll collection on Mass (automated toll collection on Mass Pike, etc.) uses an active transponder operating Pike, etc.) uses an active transponder operating in the 900MHz bandin the 900MHz band

Remote keyless entryRemote keyless entry

By 1984, several manufacturers, several By 1984, several manufacturers, several flavorsflavors

http://http://members.surfbest.net/eaglesnest/rfidhist.htmmembers.surfbest.net/eaglesnest/rfidhist.htm

RFID FlavorsRFID Flavors

Operating FrequencyOperating Frequency900/1800MHz, LF, MF, VHF, UHF, microwave900/1800MHz, LF, MF, VHF, UHF, microwave

ProgrammabilityProgrammabilityWORM (write once, read many times) usually WORM (write once, read many times) usually at manufacture or installationat manufacture or installationDirect Contact or RF (reprogrammable Direct Contact or RF (reprogrammable 10,00010,000--15,000 times)15,000 times)Full Read/Write (Full Read/Write (IdentronixIdentronix had some 64 had some 64 kBkBprototypes by 1984)prototypes by 1984)

RFID Flavors (cont.)RFID Flavors (cont.)

Operating SchemesOperating SchemesTransmitter Transmitter –– where batteries provide where batteries provide electrical power for tag (clearly has it’s electrical power for tag (clearly has it’s disadvantages)disadvantages)Transponder Transponder –– where tag receives power and where tag receives power and clocking from the reader.. THIS is what is of clocking from the reader.. THIS is what is of keen interest today, applicable as easily as keen interest today, applicable as easily as UPCsUPCs

http://http://members.surfbest.net/eaglesnest/rfidhist.htmmembers.surfbest.net/eaglesnest/rfidhist.htm

RFID Further RFID Further DevelopmentDevelopment

In 1985, AB RFID system In 1985, AB RFID system looked like this:looked like this:

http://http://members.surfbest.net/eaglesnest/rfidhist.htmmembers.surfbest.net/eaglesnest/rfidhist.htm

RFID Further Development (cont.)RFID Further Development (cont.)

By the Mid 1980s, RFID development By the Mid 1980s, RFID development shifted to improve performance, cost, size shifted to improve performance, cost, size rather than new applicationsrather than new applicationsMany (BIG) companies were now getting Many (BIG) companies were now getting involved: Motorola, TI, BTG, EM involved: Motorola, TI, BTG, EM Microelectronic, Philips, Microelectronic, Philips, SokymatSokymat

http://http://members.surfbest.net/eaglesnest/rfidhist.htmmembers.surfbest.net/eaglesnest/rfidhist.htm

A Brief Foray into the TechnologyA Brief Foray into the Technology

RFID (particularly the passive/transponder variety) by its RFID (particularly the passive/transponder variety) by its very nature and design depends upon proximityvery nature and design depends upon proximityThis relates to both how it works and how it’s usedThis relates to both how it works and how it’s used

More Examples: More Examples: SensetableSensetable

In Hiroshi’s group, the In Hiroshi’s group, the SensetableSensetable uses some uses some varieties of RFID taggingvarieties of RFID tagging

More Examples: Intel Research RFID GloveMore Examples: Intel Research RFID Glove

Somewhat mysterious Somewhat mysterious (no pictures) but (no pictures) but some assembly/parts some assembly/parts info given on websiteinfo given on websiteGloveGlove--based reader based reader and broadcast using and broadcast using Crossbow/UCB Crossbow/UCB Mica2Dot Mote Mica2Dot Mote

http://seattleweb.intelhttp://seattleweb.intel--research.net/projects/guide/projects/iglove/RFIDglove.htmresearch.net/projects/guide/projects/iglove/RFIDglove.htm

More Examples: My Final ProjectMore Examples: My Final Project

Similar to Intel Glove, though more of a complete Similar to Intel Glove, though more of a complete system rather than just a reader. (system rather than just a reader. (ieie, we read, but , we read, but then using ambient semantics work, then using ambient semantics work, interpret/augment the data in an interesting way)interpret/augment the data in an interesting way)

CONTROVERSY!!!!!!!CONTROVERSY!!!!!!!The Dark Side of RFID tagging everything The Dark Side of RFID tagging everything is that the technology could be used to is that the technology could be used to invade privacyinvade privacyProducts could be tracked into a home, Products could be tracked into a home, marketing could be targeted on products in marketing could be targeted on products in the home, etc.the home, etc.Purchases could be tied to people, etc.Purchases could be tied to people, etc.

ConclusionsConclusions

This is a very hot, hyped field right now, it This is a very hot, hyped field right now, it remains to be seen how this technology is usedremains to be seen how this technology is usedSupplySupply--chain people think it’s the best thing ever, chain people think it’s the best thing ever, while privacy advocates think it’s the worstwhile privacy advocates think it’s the worstThere is plenty of info on RFID (too much, in fact) There is plenty of info on RFID (too much, in fact) if you want to learn more. Here are some if you want to learn more. Here are some additional references:additional references:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RFIDhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RFIDhttp://www.rfidprivacy.org/blog/http://www.rfidprivacy.org/blog/http://www.newsfactor.com/perl/story/22439.htmlhttp://www.newsfactor.com/perl/story/22439.html