RFID - resilient and adaptable
Leon Theremin with his radio frequency instrument, circa 1928.
Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) has been around for a long time. The precursor technology to RFID was originally developed as a musical instrument by the Russian physicist Leon Theremin, patented in 1928. The Theremin produces music by manipulation of electromagnetic fields around two antennae to produce sound.
Key technology during WWII
During WWII, the British used radio frequency identification to detect which incoming aircraft were friend or foe. They placed a radio transmitter on each plane. When it received signals from radar stations on the ground, it began broadcasting a signal back that identified the aircraft as friendly. This is the key function of RFID. A signal is sent to a transponder, which wakes up and either reflects back a signal (passive system) or broadcasts a signal (active system).[1]
Hedy Lamarr in a media shot for the movie “The Heavenly Body”, 1944.
Manipulation of radio frequency also played a role in protecting Allied war ships during WWII. In the early 1940s, the Allies were gearing up for a war that would determine the history of the world and were using all available technologies to gain an edge. One of the new weapons was a radio-controlled torpedo that could enhance the range and accuracy of the weapon. A Hollywood actress with a genius-level IQ and an interest in technology heard about this technology. Hedy Lamarr was aware that these torpedoes could easily be jammed by the enemy, rendering them ineffective. Radio jamming is the intentional transmission of radio signals on the same frequency as another communication channel, with the goal of disrupting or interfering with that communication. She believed that if the frequency used to control the torpedo was constantly changing, it would be much more difficult for the enemy to jam the signal and prevent the torpedo from reaching its target.
Replica of the “The Thing” radio listening device.
So she set to work with a friend, Georg Antheil, a composer with an interest in machinery and developed “frequency-hopping” to ensure the radio signals couldn’t be jammed. In frequency hopping, the transmitter and receiver rapidly switch between different channels in a predetermined sequence. This sequence is known to both the transmitter and the receiver, and it is usually designed to cover a wide frequency range to increase the likelihood of finding a clear channel. Lamarr and Antheil received a patent for this technology and donated it to the US Navy, never getting any money from it.[2]
Later, radio frequency technology was used by the Soviets to produce a covert listening device. In 1945 the Soviet Union presented a hand-carved ceremonial seal of the USA to the US ambassador, Averell Harriman. Unfortunately, this wasn’t just a gift, it was a new kind of listening device. Hidden within the artwork was an antenna activated by radio waves that were directed at the US embassy by the Soviets. This served as a microphone and broadcast private conversations back to the Soviets. It wasn’t initially found by embassy staff because the device had no batteries or wires to detect. For seven years, private conversations in Harriman’s study were unknowingly broadcast to the Soviets.[3]
Computers & RFID - a powerful combination
By 1973, memory was added to the radio frequency technology. It consisted of a transponder with 16 bit memory for use as a toll device for the New York Port Authority. The basic patent covers the use of radio frequency (RF), sound and light as transmission carriers.[4] The commercial uses of the technology for passive, contactless identification were apparent, and rapid development and commercialization began in earnest.
Graph derived from a market report by MarketsandMarkets, titled RFID Market Size, Share, Statistics and Industry Growth Analysis Report by Offering (Tags, Readers, Software & Services, Tag Type (Active, Passive), Wafer Size, Frequency (Low Frequency, High Frequency, Ultra-high Frequency), Form Factor, Material, Application and Region - Global Forecast to 2032.
Today, the market for RFID is exploding. According to a comprehensive report by MarketsandMarkets, the global RFID market size is projected to reach USD 40.9 billion by 2032 from USD 15.8 billion in 2023; it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 11.1% from 2023 to 2032. This growth is indicative of the increasing adoption of RFID technology as a powerful enabler of connectivity and data visibility.[5]
Now, RFID is used across all sectors of industry, from agriculture to manufacturing, education, health care, retail, supply chain management – anywhere the instantaneous, contactless and precise identification and tracking of any item is needed. Its simplicity and versatility means that it can be combined with other technologies to deliver location-based data immediately. For example, RFID is being used with artificial intelligence technologies to reliably predict patient falls and detect human activities. It can help provide insight into transport conditions for perishable products, and support sustainability by helping to identify and reduce waste in supply chain management.
RFID & GIS
RFID is now being tapped to help manage all types of assets in combination with Geographic Information Systems (GIS). When used together, GIS and RFID deliver accurate, verified information about any type of asset – even below-ground. This information is incredibly useful when re-locating buried assets before excavation. RFID means that field workers can know exactly what’s below simply by scanning the buried RFID asset tag through InfraMarker RFID apps that display that specific asset’s data.
Berntsen’s partnership with Esri gives users of the popular Survey123 and Field Maps data collection apps the opportunity incorporate the benefits of InfraMarker RFID into their asset tracking. Berntsen’s partnership with HID means that its RFID tags and readers come in a wide variety of configurations, from rugged underground magnetized markers to ultra-thin labels designed for accurate and reliable inventory control.
RFID Journal Live Conference
In a few days, experts will be unveiling the future by sharing the latest applications, enhancements, and new advancements RFID technology. The Conference brings together users, developers, and exhibitors from all over the world at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas from April 9-11. Mike Klonsinski, president of Berntsen will be presenting a session about a unique use of our versatile InfraMarker RFID technology:
Dinosaur Dig to Display: Transforming Asset Management in the Field
Tuesday, April 9 | 1:50 pm to 2:30 pm Room No: 357
Session Description
When 347 fossil specimens were discovered on Standing Rock Sioux lands in South Dakota, the Earth Science Foundation (ESF) turned to technology to advance their fossil recovery operation. The ESF team led the excavation, documentation and handling of paleontological specimens and needed an innovative solution. In response to that need, InfraMarker RFID, HID and Esri ArcGIS joined forces to deliver best asset management practices.
Learn how the solution uses the combined technology to improve field workflows, tracks, and traces bones from field to display, and aids dashboards for operations managers and remote stakeholders.
RFID continues to be a core technology for our future, and the RFID Conference highlights how this simple technology is making our lives better. We look forward to seeing you there!