white paper - mcs.trimble.com · intermodal transport industry, in 24 countries, according to the...

Rail Industry AEI: Integrated RFID and Mobile GPS for Safety, Efficiency and Value 1

New international government regulations on rail are speeding the need for the industry to update its aging infrastructure and tracking equipment. Ultra-High Frequency (UHF) RFID is ubiquitous as a standard asset tracking solution across multiple industries, and rail is no exception. However, the traditional fixed readers—sheltered RFID tag readers that automatically read rail car tags as they roll by on the track—are limited by design as they can only track rail cars at specific locations.

Today’s rail customer wants more data about their products and shipments, and rail managers need to know exactly where their rail cars and stored materials are located. They want to know what’s moving, and what’s sitting still.

Safety concerns

Of course, safety concerns dictate that any RFID reader should accurately pick up tags from at least 2.5–3 meters (8–10 feet) away from the train itself. Trimble has now developed a mobile, integrated handheld, UHF RFID Automatic Electronic Information (AEI) tag reader that meets safe distance requirements while still providing accurate, omni-directional tag reads.

This integrated handheld easily bests the few currently available AEI mobile solutions, as most are attachments or “sleds” that clip on to separate data collectors. They are further limited as users need to be very close to the train to get an accurate read. This distance limitation is why so much of the current RFID reader infrastructure needed to be “fixed” so trains can roll by devices that are closer than a human is allowed to be to active tracks.

Adding to the complexity of the problem, rail-specific AEI tags are not the only kind of RFID tags used in intermodal product transportation. Many countries use UHF EPC tags on rail cars, and EPC tags are often used on pallets of materials that are shipped via rail.

Rail Industry AEI: Integrated RFID and Mobile GPS for Safety, Efficiency and Value

UHF RFID AEI and EPC Applications in the Rail Industry:

• Maintenance and Repair System• Record and Track Locomotive

Fluid Samples• Yard Tracking (Tracking of Rail

Cars)• Tracking Containers in Rail Cars• Rail Inspection• Rail Transload (Bulk Product

Transfers from Rail to Truck)• Logistics• Supply Chain Tracking• Railcar and Material Storage• Weigh Scales• Rail Car Monitoring• Fault Detection• Billing• Highly Accurate Location

Intelligence

WHITE PAPER


The Trimble® Juno® T41 R-AEI meets international rail requirements by reading both AEI and EPC tags at the same time. It also includes built-in 1–2 meter (3–6 feet) GPS positioning capability. The combination of RFID and GPS technologies gives rail companies actionable business intelligence they can provide to their customers. It also helps better coordinate loads safely and efficiently, as product moves through multi-modal transport from production to final destination.

A mobile, lightweight, fully-rugged field computer, with integrated RFID reader, designed for rail industry needs with AEI and EPC readership ability... yes. It’s here.

Technology to Improve Rail Customer Service

The information provided by AEI RFID tags can be used by a railroad’s traffic and customer service departments to locate customer shipments at almost any point during transportation. The RFID information is also crucial in accurate waybill generation and auditing because hand-written notes are notoriously inaccurate and subject to error.

For customers who need to track shipments across multiple railroad companies, AEI RFID information can be used by railroads’ Car Location Message (CLM) systems allowing rail companies to share the information between their systems. This has helped standardize reporting to customers and has been helpful to the industry as a whole—making RFID tag reading more important for accuracy and consistency in meeting customers’ expectations.

AEI: Created by the Rail Industry, for the Rail Industry

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology has been in existence for decades now and is proven to be safe, long-lasting, and reliable. RFID information is transmitted over radio frequencies and most RFID systems for rail in North America use frequencies near 915 MHz, which is considered Ultra-High Frequency (UHF).

A standard AEI tag utilizing RFID technology

The Association of American Railroads (AAR) has required all cars and locomotives have AEI data tags mounted on their sides since the end of 1994.

8.9 million AEI tags have been installed throughout the rail and intermodal transport industry, in 24 countries, according to the leading AEI tag manufacturer, TransCore.

24 Countries

8.9 Million

INTEGRATED TECHNOLOGY FOR RAIL

In North America, Mexico, Australia, and many other countries, the rail standard for RFID tagging is Automatic Electronic Information (AEI). AEI is a very specific type of rugged UHF RFID tag which is bolted onto rail cars for inventory and location tracking. The European rail industry and some others regions use Electronic Product Code (EPC) UHF RFID tags. Rail is not alone in using both AEI and EPC tags—numerous related industries around the globe, including marine and truck transportation; and many aerospace, mass transit and international shipping companies use both AEI and EPC tags. The international realities of transportation today mean that the best, most efficient solution for rail tracking should offer the capability of reading both types of “Gen 2 protocol” RFID tags– AEI and EPC, so intermodal equipment and tracking can be facilitated.


UHF is the radio frequency band over which the RFID information is transmitted. UHF EPC tags are a standard developed by a global body (EPCGlobal, ISO 18000-6C), usually referred to as a “Gen 2” protocol tag.

With an early recognition that UHF RFID technology would be appropriate for the rail industry, AEI tags were developed by TransCorp in the late 1980s, with oversight by the Association of American Railroads (AAR). At the time, RFID tags in general were not built to be rugged. The rail industry re-quirement for tags that could withstand years of use in all kinds of extreme weather environments led to the TransCorp AEI tags being the most rugged ever developed to that point. Over the next 20 years, the AEI tags were adopted by other transportation industries around the world, due to its industrial-level toughness in the field.

RFID and GPS Technology in One Lightweight Device

Trimble is world-renowned for its GPS location technology. Many rail businesses are familiar with Trimble solutions that focus on applications where accurate location intelligence is crucial.

That unique Trimble expertise is built in to every Juno T41 handheld computer. Standard within every Juno T41 R-AEI model is a 1–2 meter (3–6 feet) enhanced GPS capability antenna that automatically uses SBAS corrections. Integrated into the same device as the RFID reader, this GPS technology works to enhance the accuracy of data collected. In addition to providing high precision, enhanced GPS also works in difficult GPS locations, such as close to rail cars and under canopy. The Juno T41 R-AEI integrated receiver and antenna also facilitates a very fast connection time to the GPS satellites (as fast as 3 seconds).

WHAT IS SBAS?

A Satellite-Based Augmentation System (SBAS) is composed of multiple ground stations, located at accurately-surveyed points, that automatically take satellite measurements and broadcast augmented accuracy corrections to people who are collecting location data within that SBAS area. There are a number of overlapping SBAS service areas, covering the majority (but not all) of Earth’s globe.

In the United States, SBAS is part of the Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) operated by the United States Federal Aviation Administration. In Europe the SBAS is part of the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS).

GPS/GNSS APPLICATIONS CURRENTLY IN RAIL

• High Density Command and Control Systems—Including Positive Train Control (PTC)* in the United States and the European Train Control System (ETCS)

• Low Density Line Command and Control Systems—For full signaling capabilities supported by GPS on lines with small to medium traffic.

• Asset Management—GNSS is a standard source of position-ing and timing information for fleet management, need-based maintenance, and intermodal transfers.

* PTC implementation is becom-ing a standard regulation across the United States. It combines control, communications, and information systems for safety, security, precision, and effi-ciency of train movements. GPS is the positioning technology usually specified in PTC require-ments.

Image courtesy of Persimplex. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

UHF RFID TAG TECHNOLOGY

As RFID becomes more common, different technologies within the category might create confu-sion. Here’s a quick breakdown:

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) uses wireless electromagnetic fields to transfer data. This technology was invented during the 1940s and has been in continuous use since; although today’s more sophisticated tags and readers have vastly improved the data collected and has made RFID inescapable for accurate business intelligence.

RFID comes in Low Frequency (LF), High Frequency (HF), and Ultra High Frequency (UHF). For pur-poses of of this paper, we will only be considering UHF, which operates at a radio-band frequency of 902-928 MHz in North America and 865-868 MHz in Europe (other parts of the world also have designated frequencies for UHF).

UHF, because of its greater capabilities, as become the frequency of choice amongst large govern-ments and corporations for tracking assets. It was the subject of an international set of standards called the “Gen2 Protocol” that allows tag and reader manufacturers to be able to test their prod-ucts reliably and provide standardized results for read-range and data storage. .

Both EPC and AEI tags are used around the world to track transported materials and the trains/trucks/ships themselves. While the AEI tags were originally developed in the United States, they have been adopted by many other national rail systems because of their ruggedness. In many areas of the world, the capability to access both AEI and EPC tag information is important and has caused the headache of requiring two different readers along the transportation routes.

Because the Juno T41 R-AEI reads EPC as well as AEI tags, it has the capability to access read-write information from EPC tags. So, if a multimodal transported shipment contains EPC tags, all the information can be accessed.


To improve asset management, passenger experience, and infrastructure management, the rail industry has already heavily invested in GPS technology:

• Signaling applications are now GPS time-enabled, replacing legacy signaling solutions• GPS provides necessary asset and rail-positioning information expected by customers in reporting• Globally, passengers are relying on location information for precise travel information on mass

transit and traditional rail routes and GPS can provide those position and time elements to resolve those needs

GPS technology can cut operational costs for rail while also increasing safety. For instance, maintenance of on-board balise reader equipment located under most trains is expensive. GPS technology can reduce reliance on balises, when they are used to update train location information.

In another example, the mass transit location coordination application of Transit Signal Priority (TSP) —which is still dominated by old technology such as infrastructure beacons—will be significantly improved over the next few years through the use of GPS technology. All the data collected from new GPS time and position enabled systems can be shared with other transport modes, such as bus systems, for more efficient operation and customer service. Passenger rail is also using both EPC and AEI RFID in its management and tracking.

The Juno T41 R-AEI improves accuracy even in tough GPS environments where satellite signals are not optimal, such as under canopy or in ‘canyons’ (for example between railroad buildings). And, the device will capture GPS data with an average cold start (just turned on) of less than 33 seconds, or a warm-start of less than 3 seconds—helpful in a fast-moving rail yard. Geotag tracked assets and know immediately when they leave or enter a designated location. This is a significant business benefit in addition to the RFID tag recognition.

JUNO T41 AEI RAIL INDUSTRY BENEFITS:

• Reads rail-industry specific AEI tags, developed by and for the rail industry.

And, reads UHF EPC tags, often used in asset tracking, inventory control, maintenance applications, inspection operations

• Reads tags from any orientation: front, side, above, below

• Small, lightweight, handheld form factor for complete mobility

• Ultra-rugged and integrated for reliability in all environmental conditions

• Capable of 8–10 feet AEI read- range and 12+ feet EPC read- range (for safety)

• Choice of Microsoft® Windows® Embedded Handheld 6.5 or Android™ 4.1 operating system

• CDMA /GSM 3.75G data-only dual-mode WWAN connectivity

• 4.3” sunlight-readable display screen for easily read data, forms, documents and notes

• Future-proof for years of use with latest tech – roadmap for rail solutions

• Enhanced GPS capability built in for 3–6 feet (1–2 meter) accuracy

• 8 MP Camera for photos and videos


HOW DOES RFID WORK?

• All RFID tags include some memory, operating power, function control, an antenna and a radio frequency.

• All RFID readers include a radio receiver, antenna, signal processing capability, and a data interface.

• If the RFID reader is connected to (or in the case of Trimble technology, integrated with) a computer, more functionality, such as photographs and written data, can be added by the worker with the device.

• Low-Frequency (LF) and High Frequency (HF) RFID tags are generally not used in transportation as their read ranges are generally very short, within 1-6 inches.

Rail-worthy rugged

The Juno T41 R-AEI weighs just 500 g (14 oz.), but its lightweight form factor is certified to IP68 and MIL-STD-810G standards, making it impervious to dust and water (from hard rain to submersion) and capable of withstanding extremely low or high temperature conditions, shock, drops and vibration—all hazards that standard handheld computers could not endure but that are business-as-usual in a busy rail yard.

The full-color, sunlight-readable, Gorilla® Glass 4.3” display screen on the Juno T41 R-AEI gives workers an easy workspace for filling in forms, accessing documents and sending text messages. The built-in 8 MP camera provides photos and videos. With a standard 32 GB flash memory, the device can hold data from shift to shift. The built-in battery is designed for all-day work and an optional External Battery Pack adds up to 10 hours of additional time for continuous work before a recharge is required.

Trimble’s integrated handheld computers are built to be fully rugged for the outdoor, mobile worker, whether the rail yard is a remote rural line or a busy urban location. The Juno T41 R-AEI handheld is ultra-rugged, specifically designed for field use, built from the inside-out to withstand the harshest environmental conditions and the roughest treatment by workers in the field.

All Juno T41 handheld computer models come with a standard two-year manufacturer’s warranty, and additional extended warranty options are offered. In short, these are industrial grade. They are significantly more reliable than any consumer-grade device with a purchased casing, which may protect against a few drops of rain but which could still fail and cause delays when used in the tough conditions of a rail yard.

Most clip-on RFID reader devices must tether with their data collector through a Bluetooth® connection, or cable and port. These solutions do not meet the temperature or read range requirements of the Juno T41.

Location information is used by a variety of train control and information systems such as Computer Based Train Control (CBTC), Automatic Train Protection (ATP), Automatic Train Location (ATL), and Automatic Train Separation (ATS) systems, door control systems, and audio and visual annunciation systems.


The RFID set up icon is on the opening screen of the Juno T41 R-AEI with Windows operating system.

Tap “Configure Application” to do initial set up. After initial set up, go straight to “Read RFID Tags”. Though it is possible to update settings later if required.

Now your Juno T41 R-AEI will read both AEI and EPC (GEN2) tags at the same time.

For initial set up, tap “Reader Settings”.

Tap “Tag Types” to enable both AEI and EPC tag reading.

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Goods today are transported through multi-modal means. Both EPC and AEI tags are used. The Trimble Juno T41 can read both, automatically and concurrently.

Simple to Set Up and Use — Windows


A pop up will show that both EPC and AEI tags are now selected, click “OK” to confirm.

RFID set up is located in “Settings” in the Juno T41 R-AEI with Android operating System.

For initial setup, tap “RFID Setup” under “Settings”.

Tap “Scanning Options”.

Select, “MultiTag Mode” then tap “Protocols”.

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Simple to Set Up and Use — Android

©2015, Trimble Navigation Limited. All rights reserved. Trimble, the Globe & Triangle logo, and Juno are trademarks of Trimble Navigation Limited, registered in the United States and other countries. Android is a trademark of Google, Inc. Windows Embedded is a trademark of Microsoft, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

PN 106847Rev. A 12/7/2015

Trimble Navigation LimitedP.O. Box 947Corvallis, OR [email protected]/mobilewww.trimblemcs.com/junot41r_AEI

The Trimble MCS Product Portfolio

The MCS product portfolio covers a range of devices that span from entry level rugged data collectors to specialized devices that are designed for specific customer workflows. These include handheld data collection devices in a variety of form factors, to smart accessories, such as standalone GNSS receivers that connect to smartphones.

Trimble Navigation Limited – Company Background

Since 1978, Trimble has applied technology to make field and mobile workers in businesses and government significantly more productive. Solutions are focused on applications requiring position or location—including surveying, construction, agriculture, fleet and asset management, public safety and mapping. In addition to utilizing positioning technologies, such as GPS, lasers and optics, Trimble solu-tions may include software content specific to the needs of the user. Wireless technologies are utilized to deliver the solution to the user and to ensure a tight coupling of the field and the back office.

Trimble products’ reputation for reliability and its longevity in the development of GPS and related technologies has made it the “go-to” company for such products around the world, in more than 140 countries. Trimble employees reside in more than 30 countries, working with a highly capable network of dealers and distribution partners to serve and support our customers.

Mobile Computing Solutions (MCS) Division of Trimble

Trimble Mobile Computing Solutions (MCS) is a division of Trimble Navigation, providing handheld and wearable data collection devices to industries served by Trimble, including rail, construction, agriculture, natural resources, government, law enforcement, and many others. MCS is ISO 9001 certified.

Trimble MCS is transforming the mobile workplace ecosystem—arming the mobile worker with hand-held and wearable products that are fit for purpose and which carry intelligence, interoperability, and harsh-condition communication protocols specific for their needs.

An innovation leader Trimble MCS is continually developing products for mobile and field workers. Its products include the first rugged computer with a Microsoft Windows operating system (the Ranger, in 2000), and the smallest rugged handheld (the Recon, in 2003). MCS continues to provide industry-leading technology applications to meet specific market needs, such as its recent introduction of the PG200 GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) receiver designed to work with cany location aware software application installed on almost any handheld computer, including consumer products like iPhones.

With product such as the made-for-rail Juno T41 R-AEI handheld it helps fulfill the goal of supporting the rail industry through collaborative partnerships resulting in a better, safer, and more efficient field workplace for rail workers.

The External Battery Pack clips firmly on the Juno T41 and adds up to 10 hours of extra continuous use.

white paper - mcs.trimble.com · intermodal transport industry, in 24 countries, according to the...

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