1 Sloan Information Period (SIP) RF.450 Information Infrastructure Needed for Effective Utilization of RFID AutoID technologies Part 1 – RFID Technology & Application Areas Subject RF.450 @ E51-145 on Monday , Oct 24, 2005 at 2:30-5:30 PM Abstract: This is an exploratory research SIP activity. A high degree of interaction and student participation and discussion is expected. In order to maximize the effective use of RFID, existing intra- and inter-organizational business processes must be re-thought and re-structured, and an appropriate Information Technology (IT) infrastructure must be established both across organizations and between organizations.
Transcript
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Sloan Information Period (SIP) RF.450Information Infrastructure Needed for Effective
Utilization of RFID AutoID technologies
Part 1 – RFID Technology & Application Areas
Subject RF.450 @ E51-145 on Monday , Oct 24, 2005 at 2:30-5:30 PM
Abstract: This is an exploratory research SIP activity. A high degree of interaction and student participation and discussion is expected.
In order to maximize the effective use of RFID, existing intra- and inter-organizational business processes must be re-thought and re-structured, and an appropriate Information Technology (IT) infrastructure must be established both across organizations and between organizations.
Prof Stuart Madnick, <[email protected]>, Room: E53-321, Ext: 3-6671.[Revised 10-23-2005. Latest version in http://web.mit.edu/smadnick/www/SIP2005/ ]
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General OutlineIn this SIP activity we will discuss:
• What is the RFID technology?
• What are the possible/claimed benefits of RFID?
• What are existing or likely information infrastructure deficiencies,- Especially in the areas of information exchange and data standards?
• What are some IT research directions to address these problems?
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COMMUNICATIONS & CONNECTIVITY AMONG INFORMATION (Tues & Thurs, 10-11:30; E51-376 – Primarily for Sloan MBA’s)
15.565 / ESD.565 – INTEGRATING INFORMATION SYSTEMS: TECHNOLOGY, STRATEGY, AND ORGANIZATIONAL FACTORS(Tues & Thurs, 10-11:30, E51-376 – Similar, but more technical)
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Some RFID HypeRFID AutoID technology has received considerable media attention,
innovation ideas, and controversy. For example:
"Study shows RFID benefits for retailers. Retailers can expect extensive inventory and labor cost savings from the adoption of radio frequency identification (RFID) technology, but some consumer product manufacturers will face higher costs and delayed benefits from adopting the technology. That is the conclusion of a new report on RFID and the Electronic Product Code (EPC) from global management consulting firm AT Kearney." ( from http://logistics.about.com/b/a/042898.htm )
"Dvorak Slams RFID. It's bad news, claims John Dvorak. Those tiny radio transmitters that promise convenience and flexibility are just another path toward big brother domination. And it's going to get a lot worse. ( from http://ct.eletters.whatsnewnow.com/rd/cts?d=181-480-1-278-107259-23183-0-0-0-1 )
"A Manufacturer of soft drinks can identify with the click of a button how many containers of its soda cans are likely to reach their expiration date in the next few days and where they are located at various grocery outlets. ( from CACM, August 2005, p. 103 )
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What have you heard?Unusual or Intriguing Applications?
• Bank of Nagoya installing RFID-based document management system
• Automatically scan you when you entered classroom – so no need to sign “sign-in” sheet
• • • • •
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The Hype Cycle
Visib
ility
Time
Technology Trigger
Peak of Inflated
Expectations
Trough ofDisillusionment
Slope ofEnlightenment
Plateau ofProductivity
Source: Jackie Fenn, Gartner Group
RFID Today! (?)
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Some Sources Used for Background Materials (found with assistance of H. Zhu)
OutlineBackground (2:35-3:55)• Introduction• RFID Technology
– Comparison with Bar Codes– Example Applications
• Focus on Supply Chain– EPC Tag and EPC Global
• ROI Issues & Challenges• MIT Auto-ID Center Some of Sloan’s Research issues (4:05-5:25)• RFID IT Infrastructure • Challenges to “Data Synchronization”• Role of MIT’s Context Mediation Technology in
addressing the “Data Synchronization” challenge• Discussion
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What is Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)?
Substrate
Tag IC
Antenna
Die attach
- Can be Passive or Active- Can be Read-only or Read-Write
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Some Claimed Advantages of RFID vs. Barcode
• No requirement for line-of-sight• Many tags can be read at the same time• High memory capacity if needed• Dynamic information carrier (read/write)• Robust and reliable• Performs in rugged, harsh environment• Cheaper in long term• No human intervention• Reader virtually maintenance free
Adapted from Interaction Design Institute RFID Project Presentation - 2002
• 1966: Sensor- matic & Check-
point EAS
• Over 350 direct - reference patents
• 1948: Harry Stockman -
Communications By Means of
Reflected Power
• Fairchild, RCA & Raytheon
initiate pgms
• 2005: Walmartinitial deadline• 1969: Mario
Cardullo RFIDconcept
• 1973: Cardullopatent
RFID: The History
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Technical Aspects of RFID Tag Power Source Tag Components Read - Read/Write Anti-Collision Who talks first? Protocol
Ultimate focus of this SIP activity
Standards? The RFID industry suffered from a proliferation of standards, according to Sue Hutchinson, director of product management for EPCglobal. EPCglobal had two GEN-1 standards, while ISO had two UHF air interface standards. (December 17, 2004)
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RFID Tags Come in Different Forms – Can be attached to almost anything
Class V tags Readers. Can power other Class I, II and III tags;
Communicate with Classes IV and V.
Class IV tags: Active tags with
broad-band peer-to-peer communication
Class III tags:semi-passive RFID tags
Class II tags: passive tags with additional
functionality
Class 0/Class I:read-only passive tags
• Tags can be attached to almost anything:
– pallets or cases of product
– vehicles– company assets or
personnel– items such as apparel,
luggage– people, livestock, pets– high value electronics
Systems/Protocols (uses back scatter technology) Range: Typically Measured in “Inches”, Working Toward “Meters”
(dependant system layout, interference, etc.) Used Predominantly in Retail Systems and Transportation Systems. Characteristics: Small Tag Loaded with License Plate Data Typically Mounted to End Item, Reader Captures Data as Item Moves
Through Choke Point (door, pathway, frame, etc.). Data Capacity Limited.
RF antenna(power source)
Memory(EEPROM)
Digital Logic Digital Logic & Control& Control
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Tag Types: Semi-Active
Semi-Active or Battery Assisted Passive On-board battery power source
Uses Passive Technology (no transmitter) Greater range but higher cost (less than active) Requires less power from reader Finite life Can use thin batteries (little change to form factor)
RFantenn
a
Memory(EEPROM)
Digital Logic Digital Logic & Control& Control
BatterBatteryy
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Tag Types - Read vs Read/Write Read Only:
Information can only be read from an RFID device – programmed at manufacture
User Programmable WORM - Write Once Read Many - Ability to initialize
an RFID device outside of the RFID manufacturer’s facility after manufacture
Read/Write: Information can be read from or written to an RFID
transponder during the time it is presented to a reader/writer
Typically asymmetric read and write operating range
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Technical Considerations Anticollision
Ability to communicate with several transponders simultaneously Important in longer range readers Must be implemented in the silicon of the RFID device
Who Talks First Tag Talks First (TTF)
After the tag is energized, it sends out a signal that says “I am here”
Reader Talks First (RTF) As reader sends out energization signal it says “who is there”
Problems With TTF you can get tag pollution but slower total read time
Compatibility issues?
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Protocol
The method used to talk to a tag
Modulation method
Error correction
Anti-collision technique
Message format
Commands
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Low Frequency (125 – 134 kHz)Used in Access control, livestock, race timing, pallet tracking, automotive immobilizers, wireless commerce
High Frequency (13.56 mHz) – Smart LabelsUsed in supply chain, wireless commerce, ticketing, product authentication
Ultra-High Frequency – UHF (900+ mHz)Emerging technology, applications still in development
RFID technology detects if an item is removed from a
store without tag being deactivated
Amorphous magnetic strips
Destructible tuned circuits
But - Existing technology cannot uniquely identify goods
New RFID technology provides significant features:
Able to write SKU number into transponder
Automatic inventory with a hand held reader
Anti-collision mandatory for this feature
Cash registers can automatically ring up merchandise
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"A Manufacturer of soft drinks can identify with the click of a button how many containers of its soda cans are likely to reach their expiration date in the next few days and where they are located at various grocery outlets.”
( from CACM, August 2005, p. 103 )
• How easy / realistic is this?• What infrastructure must exist?
RFID – Supply Chain Perspective
Adapted from im jae hyoun
PART 1b
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how it works…
Adding Identity to Products
Coke
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how it works…
Adding Identity to Cases:Assembly lineapplications
Reduction in costs > RFID technology investment = +ROI
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• Concern #1: ROI – Easier said than done
Tag and Ship - no data integration
Tag and Ship - with data integration
Limited Mfg Adoption - no data integration
Full Corp. Adoption - with data integration
Limited Mfg Adoption - with data integration
“Slap & Ship” = pure cost May be the majority
Link to trading partners
Reduces some real costs
Reduces more real costs
Maximizes cost reduction
Step
s to
RO
I
Inve
sted
$$
incr
ease
sP
ote
nti
al R
OI i
ncr
ease
s
Note importance of data integration (addressed in part 2)• Challenging within a large company• Very challenging between/among multiple companies
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60,000mandatedsuppliers
Two primary concerns for Supply Chain users:
• Concern #2: Partnerships Let’s do the math
• One of the largest RFID S.I. (“handle maybe 100”)
• <100 RFID Vendors & S.I.s * - 100 x 50 = 5,000 • Must mobilize >1000 new RFID Solution Providers
just to meet the demand for partnerships
* RFID Journal
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Winners & Losers ?
• AT Kearney study• Retailers benefits
– Reduce inventory by 5%– Reduce store & warehouse expenses by 7.5%– Reduce “out of stock” $700,000 per $1B
• Manufacturers costs– High impact (expensive) v. low impact (cheap)– Low impact: $155M in capital costs
(assuming $.15/tag, 10 year horizon, 12% cost of capital
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What about “closed loop” & Enterprise applications?
• RFID technologies have been available for a decade
• For many applications the tag cost was too high
• Supply Chain volume reduce tag costs
• All those applications are still waiting for an RFID solution
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Edge ServerEdge Server
ERP CRM
Middleware
LightStack
SensorsRFIDReader/encoder
Bar code Scanner
Scale
MessageBoard
Read Failure
PLCPrinter/encoder
Enterprise Level Applications
Re-define the “Edge”of an enterprise
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OutlineBackground (2:35-3:55)• Introduction• RFID Technology
– Comparison with Bar Codes– Example Applications
• Focus on Supply Chain– EPC Tag and EPC Global
• ROI Issues & Challenges• MIT Auto-ID Center Some of Sloan’s Research issues (4:05-5:25)• RFID IT Infrastructure • Challenges to “Data Synchronization”• Role of MIT’s Context Mediation Technology in
addressing the “Data Synchronization” challenge• Discussion
