INTRODUCTION:
Contactless payments, automatic toll booths and smartwatches. We can no longer do without them.
La RFID technology has become a valuable everyday ally for citizens, but especially for companies that aim to innovate their digital equipment with an eye to the future of the market. Thanks to the reliability and versatility of this technology, RFID-enabled devices are suitable for use in various industries. Among them are the rugged terminalsthrough the use of systems NFC and UHF are perfect for use in multiple contexts, supporting automated management and ensuring product traceability.
If you are looking for detailed information on RFID technology and the devices that are equipped with it, you are in the right place. In this article:
- we will see that what RFID means e i advantages of its use;
- we will delve into the types NFC e UHF and we will analyse what are the differences;
- we will study a practical, everyday example where the use of rugged devices with RFID technology: the smart waste collection.
What RFID means and how this technology works
RFID stands for Radio Frequency Identification and indicates a particular technology of identification and automatic data collection. How does it work? It is a communication wireless based on radio frequencies that requires the interaction between three elements: a reader, an electronic label called a 'tag' and a business management software.
The ultimate goal is the storage and the timely and accurate exchange of data.
This system guarantees total traceability of the production chain and can be used for objects and animals. It is a technology that began as a refinement of the barcode and has evolved rapidly over the years due to its versatility: a system stable and highly effective for reduce costswhich has become an essential tool in sectors such as industrial, civil, automotive and medical.
As we have seen, this system makes use of 'tags', electronic labels that have the characteristic of being unique and non-repeatable. Tags can be passive, i.e. they do not have their own power source, or active, i.e. they are equipped with one. Thanks to tags, any object can be uniquely identified. To use a metaphor, we could say that the application of a tag is like a baptism: an object (or animal) is assigned a name and surname to recognise it among all the others.
As far as readers are concerned, this is where the rugged devices. These handhelds and industrial tablets allow complete control of production processes and are able to read radio frequency tags quickly and reliably. With their robust construction, up-to-date systems and long-life batteries, these scanners have become an indispensable tool for companies of the future and present.
The benefits of using RFID for companies
RFID technology, first and foremost, allows many processes to be improved and 'streamlined', reducing the time spent and the margin of error through automation. Thanks to this system, total traceability of each product can be guaranteed and its life cycle can be reconstructed. Let us take the example of logistics and supply chain, where an inventory needs to be carried out. Thanks to the tags, the transmission of data is immediate and operators can know the up-to-date situation of the warehouse in real time. In addition, scanners can take readings multiple also at long distance (over 10 metres), thus simplifying the flow and speeding up the handling of goods.
Automated identification, tracking and transfer: the logistical flow becomes controlled in a timely manner.
UFH AND NFC: two types of RFID technology
NFC and UHF are two acronyms indicating two different types of RFID technology.
NFC stands for 'Near Field Communication"(also known as HF or "High Frequency'), while UHF stands for 'Ultra High Frequency'. Two systems very similar in that they are based on radio frequency identification where data transmission is wireless. The difference lies in the frequency at which they operate: frequency is defined as "high' in the case of NFC and "very high' in the case of UHF.
The applications of use are consequently different. For example, NFC technology is present in all smartphones, while the more sophisticated UHF technology is mainly used in industry.
Let us look in detail at some application contexts:
- NFC allows two nearby devices to communicate with each other in a bidirectional manner. This is precisely why it is so common among smartphone and allows data to be transferred without using cables or entering credentials. It is currently used mainly for payment transactions, such as those in contactless.
- UHF, on the other hand, guarantees a high data transfer rate and longer reading distance. These aspects make it ideal for theautomation industrythe, the logistics and supply chainthe sector retail and new applications such as electronic toll collection and waste collection.
In short, RFID systems are now indispensable for the exchange of information between the physical and digital worlds, supporting consumers and industries in their daily activities.
To meet this need, specialised companies have come up with powerful, handy and innovative devices, such as tablets and rugged smartphone. If you want to learn more about how these devices work and study their characteristics click here. Smartphones and rugged tablet are available in both NFC and UHF variants and are designed to offer a tailor-made solution for every company.
Smart waste: UHF technology for greater sustainability
They deliver your recycling bags to your home. I hear you, they look more personalised than your smartphone cover and you feel watched like in Orwell's 1984.
This advanced traceability is possible thanks to the use of RFID technology. Smart waste management is one of the most topical issues in smart cities, in which this technology system plays a key role.
How does it work? A tag is applied to the recycling container with a unique code and is subsequently associated with each user when the equipment is distributed. The objective is greater sustainability, made possible by the punctual tariff: the citizen is stimulated to differentiate correctly as his expenditure will be calculated on the basis of the waste produced. To enable this traceability, reliable and powerful readers are needed to support the operator in his activities. Rugged devices are designed precisely for this applicationThrough the scanner, the operator reads the tag and obtains information about the operator, the user, the municipality and the volume of waste. RuggTek readers are handy, have long-lasting batteries, highly readable screens and always up-to-date systemsideal for making city management even smarter.
Rugged tablets and smartphones for punctual waste pricing
In the wide range of devices Ruggtek, we find tablets, smartphones and handheld pc with integrated RFID technology, both NFC and UHF. Variants with Android, Windows or Linux operating system, 1D and 2D barcode reader are available, Wi-Fi and 4G LTE connectivity and 6,8,10 and 12 inch displays: RPX 600, RPX 620, RT 410, RTA 309.
Since this is a highly sophisticated technology, it requires the advice of qualified personnel who can help each company choose the type of device best suited to its needs. The frequency, the antenna, the architecture of the instrumentation and all analytical systems are factors that influence the choice of equipment, based also on the specific objectives of each sector.
Conclusions
The smart city scenario thus becomes a perfect field for the use of devices Ruggtekdesigned to provide the best product for the operators and companies involved in this transformation of our cities.
Contact us to find out how we can support your reality with our technology supply.
