8 A] What is RFID? Explain its working.
• RFID stands for radio frequency identification.
• This technology uses tags and readers for communication. RFID tags have data encoded onto them digitally. The RFID readers can read the values encoded in these tags without physically touching them.
• RFIDs are functionally similar to barcodes as the data read from tags are stored in a database. However, RFID does not have to rely on, line of sight operation, unlike barcodes.
• The automatic identification and data capture (AIDC) technology can be considered as the precursor of RFID. Similar to AIDC techniques, RFID systems are capable of automatically categorizing objects. Categorization tasks such as identifying tags, reading data, and feeding the read data directly into computer systems through radio waves outline the operation of RFID systems.
• Typically, RFID systems are made Up of three components: 1) RFID tag or smart label, 2) RFID reader, and 3) an antenna.
• In RFID, the tags consist of an integrated circuit and an antenna, enclosed in a protective casing to protect from wear and tear and environmental effects. These tags can be either active or passive. Passive tags find common usage in a variety of applications due to its low cost; however, it has to be powered using an RFID reader before data transmission. Active tags have their own power sources and do not need external activation by readers.
• Tags are used for transmitting the data to an RFID interrogator or an RFID reader. The radio waves are then converted to a more usable form of data by this reader.
• A host computer system accesses the collected data on the reader by a communication technology such as Wi-Fi or Ethernet.
• The data on the host system is finally updated onto a database. RFID applications span across domains such as inventory management, asset tracking, personnel tracking, and supply chain management.