The World of RFIDThe World of RFIDWhat do you think???What do you think???

VideoVideo

Presentation on Presentation on RFIDRFID

Presented By:Presented By:BuckleUpBabyBuckleUpBaby

Ashley Morris, Christina Saechao, Ashley Morris, Christina Saechao, & Katie Smith& Katie Smith

Concept MapConcept Map

Edelwiess

Problem Description

ResearchStrategy

RFID Overview

DifficultiesExpected

Ranges

Pros/Cons Suggestions

Durability Costs Providers Implementation

Who is Edelweiss???Who is Edelweiss??? An Armed Forces Recreation Center (AFRC)An Armed Forces Recreation Center (AFRC)

– Vacation destination designed especially for military personnelVacation destination designed especially for military personnel Located in Garmisch, GermanyLocated in Garmisch, Germany Newly opened in September 2004Newly opened in September 2004 Services a resort complete with 2 mountain ski resortsServices a resort complete with 2 mountain ski resorts

– Vacation Village, Conference Centers, & Guided Tours Vacation Village, Conference Centers, & Guided Tours Complete with all of the comforts and amenities of a world-class resortComplete with all of the comforts and amenities of a world-class resort

– Broad collection of recreation, entertainment, fitness, dining, beverage Broad collection of recreation, entertainment, fitness, dining, beverage and hospitality servicesand hospitality services

Services up to 300,000 guests per year Services up to 300,000 guests per year  One of the most desirable destinations in the Bavarian Alps and Germany's One of the most desirable destinations in the Bavarian Alps and Germany's

premiere winter and summer sports centerpremiere winter and summer sports center

ProblemsProblemsEncounter occasional problems Encounter occasional problems

– Tracking equipment and loss preventionTracking equipment and loss prevention

What steps are required for the implementation of RFID What steps are required for the implementation of RFID chips?chips?

What expected ranges could be expect to cover (say for What expected ranges could be expect to cover (say for instance we need to track our transportation, which travels instance we need to track our transportation, which travels to and from Munich)? to and from Munich)?

How much does the implementation cost?How much does the implementation cost? Who provides RFID implementation and maintenance?Who provides RFID implementation and maintenance? In the case of use with ski badges, avalanche rescue, and In the case of use with ski badges, avalanche rescue, and

other events; what kind of durability can we expect?other events; what kind of durability can we expect?

Research Strategy & Research Strategy & OrganizationOrganization

Read about Edelweiss to become familiar with their company and Read about Edelweiss to become familiar with their company and needsneeds

General search of RFID to become experts on the topicGeneral search of RFID to become experts on the topic Used questions from Edelweiss to form and narrow down our Used questions from Edelweiss to form and narrow down our

searchsearch Generated a reading list covering major topics and concernsGenerated a reading list covering major topics and concerns

– Reading list is logically organized by grouping readings from Reading list is logically organized by grouping readings from several different areas we felt fit into certain categories:several different areas we felt fit into certain categories:

Provides a general idea of what RFID isProvides a general idea of what RFID is How certain companies use it and how it can potentially be usedHow certain companies use it and how it can potentially be used How and what to consider when considering implementationHow and what to consider when considering implementation General concerns that RFID creates for everyone.General concerns that RFID creates for everyone.

Verified sources to check credibilityVerified sources to check credibility– Used professional journals, government websites, and non Used professional journals, government websites, and non

biased organizationsbiased organizations

DifficultiesDifficulties People feel that reviewing information from companies who People feel that reviewing information from companies who

supply RFID is unreliable because they are biased. We feel supply RFID is unreliable because they are biased. We feel that the information may be biased, but it is reliable that the information may be biased, but it is reliable because these firms specialize in RFID and are because these firms specialize in RFID and are knowledgeable.knowledgeable.

Generalized costs – Not specificGeneralized costs – Not specific Quantifying how good the information was – How to decide Quantifying how good the information was – How to decide

what was good and what was notwhat was good and what was not Finding information on RFID related to this company and Finding information on RFID related to this company and

the uses that they desiredthe uses that they desired– More related to retailMore related to retail

Very new and evolving; New developmentsVery new and evolving; New developments– Quirks being worked out and regulatedQuirks being worked out and regulated

Implementation is typically large scaled - requiring top Implementation is typically large scaled - requiring top management and a high amount of analysismanagement and a high amount of analysis– Specific information is not readily availableSpecific information is not readily available

RFID OverviewRFID Overview

RFIDRFID

Provides real-life examples of companies who are using itProvides real-life examples of companies who are using it Shows a magnitude of the many possibilities of RFIDShows a magnitude of the many possibilities of RFID

FrequencyFrequency Active tags:Active tags:

– Has its own power source (usually a battery)Has its own power source (usually a battery)– Can be read up to 300 feet awayCan be read up to 300 feet away– Commonly used for toll road collections and tracking Commonly used for toll road collections and tracking

hospital equipment, railcars, and other valuable assetshospital equipment, railcars, and other valuable assets– Bulky and expensive; not used for retail itemsBulky and expensive; not used for retail items

Passive tags: Passive tags: – Used in libraries and retail establishmentsUsed in libraries and retail establishments– Contain no internal power source (battery)Contain no internal power source (battery)– Powered by signals generated by readersPowered by signals generated by readers– Advantages: less expensive, smaller and thinner, without Advantages: less expensive, smaller and thinner, without

a battery they have a longer lifea battery they have a longer life

Frequency Cont.Frequency Cont. Read range: The distance from which a tag can be readRead range: The distance from which a tag can be read

– Depends on a number of factors: Depends on a number of factors: Frequency of radio waves used for tag-reader communicationFrequency of radio waves used for tag-reader communication Size of tag antennaSize of tag antenna Power output of the readerPower output of the reader Whether tags have a battery to broadcast a signal or gather energy from a reader or merely reflect a Whether tags have a battery to broadcast a signal or gather energy from a reader or merely reflect a

weak signal back to the reader weak signal back to the reader – Battery-powered tags typically have a read range of 300 feetBattery-powered tags typically have a read range of 300 feet– If tags are attached to products with water or metal, the read range can be significantly lessIf tags are attached to products with water or metal, the read range can be significantly less– If the size of the antenna is reduced, the read range will be reducedIf the size of the antenna is reduced, the read range will be reduced– Increasing the power output could increase the rangeIncreasing the power output could increase the range– Governments restrict the output of readers so that they don't interfere with other RF devices (cordless Governments restrict the output of readers so that they don't interfere with other RF devices (cordless

phones)phones)

DurabilityDurability Integrity needs to be maintained prior to, during, and after applicationIntegrity needs to be maintained prior to, during, and after application

– Implement carefully controlled handling techniques and storage Implement carefully controlled handling techniques and storage proceduresprocedures

Withstand an extraordinary amount of abuseWithstand an extraordinary amount of abuse– Endure being stomped on or run over by forkliftsEndure being stomped on or run over by forklifts– Harsh environments (Snow, rain, and sunlight)Harsh environments (Snow, rain, and sunlight)– Dirty environments (Dirt, dust, moisture, and oil)Dirty environments (Dirt, dust, moisture, and oil)

Can be read through a variety of substances Can be read through a variety of substances – Snow, fog, ice, paint, crusted grime and other visually and Snow, fog, ice, paint, crusted grime and other visually and

environmentally challenging conditionsenvironmentally challenging conditions– Detection distances may be reducedDetection distances may be reduced

Tags will last for decadesTags will last for decades– Prone to scratching and tearingProne to scratching and tearing

CostsCostsAdopting to RFID…….Adopting to RFID…….

Investments in tags, printer/encoders, readers, Investments in tags, printer/encoders, readers, middleware, and professional Servicesmiddleware, and professional Services

If w/o current bar-coding, also invest in back-If w/o current bar-coding, also invest in back-office manufacturing and a system to use RFID office manufacturing and a system to use RFID datadata

According to Forrester Research the typical According to Forrester Research the typical supplier that attempts to comply with a mandate supplier that attempts to comply with a mandate can expect to spend as much as $9 million RFID. can expect to spend as much as $9 million RFID. This figure can increase of decrease depending This figure can increase of decrease depending on the size of the distribution network. on the size of the distribution network.

Tags make up around 80% of costs and are not Tags make up around 80% of costs and are not decreasing anytime soon. Professional services decreasing anytime soon. Professional services run high and the cost will only increaserun high and the cost will only increase

Costs Broken DownCosts Broken Down Tags: $ 7.6 MillionTags: $ 7.6 Million

– Biggest investmentBiggest investment– Variable cost (Tag price around 40 cents per item)Variable cost (Tag price around 40 cents per item)

Hardware: $329,000 Hardware: $329,000 – Includes both servers and readersIncludes both servers and readers

Software, box, antennas, cabling, power and installation: $8-10,000Software, box, antennas, cabling, power and installation: $8-10,000– Basically everything needed to make RFID fully serviceableBasically everything needed to make RFID fully serviceable

Middleware: $183,000Middleware: $183,000– Manages the readers and the database to contain the EPC codesManages the readers and the database to contain the EPC codes

Consulting and integration: $128,000Consulting and integration: $128,000– Based on an hourly rate of $250 for an RF engineerBased on an hourly rate of $250 for an RF engineer– High rate due to demand in market and few people know how to High rate due to demand in market and few people know how to

implement this right nowimplement this right now Internal Project team: $315,000Internal Project team: $315,000

– Full and part time resources, IT and logistics, customer services Full and part time resources, IT and logistics, customer services associates, packaging and financeassociates, packaging and finance

Tags reader testing: $80,000Tags reader testing: $80,000 Additional warehouse labor: around $500,000Additional warehouse labor: around $500,000

– Includes costs for the time it took to apply tags to shipIncludes costs for the time it took to apply tags to ship– 2-3 people a shift2-3 people a shift– Including the cost of $39,000 for new and existing employees Including the cost of $39,000 for new and existing employees

Who Provides RFIDWho Provides RFID

Subscribe to Subscribe to RFID Journal RFID Journal – ““Request a Quote”Request a Quote”

Searches over 500 vendors without Searches over 500 vendors without commissioncommission

Precision Dynamics CorporationPrecision Dynamics Corporation – – Identification wrist bandsIdentification wrist bands– http://209.85.141.104/search?http://209.85.141.104/search?

q=cache:fhRVZNqg0vIJ:www.dag-q=cache:fhRVZNqg0vIJ:www.dag-access.com/access.com/+rfid+vendors+ski+resort&hl=en&ct=cl+rfid+vendors+ski+resort&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=9&gl=usnk&cd=9&gl=us

RFID Pros/ConsRFID Pros/Cons

RecommendationsRecommendations

At this time, we do not recommend RFID At this time, we do not recommend RFID implementation for your company.implementation for your company.– New and Changing New and Changing High Price High Price– Doesn’t properly fit all of the intended uses Doesn’t properly fit all of the intended uses

your company wantsyour company wants Too far of a distance for reading rangeToo far of a distance for reading range

– AltitudesAltitudes Does not fit your need to track transportationDoes not fit your need to track transportation

– Set up readers at check pointsSet up readers at check points In the future, once more widely accepted and used, it In the future, once more widely accepted and used, it

would be more beneficial.would be more beneficial.