Two companies that make up part of the asset management giant LINPAC Group have joined forces to offer the materials handling industry the latest in asset tracking packaging systems.
Automatic Identification/Datacapture, AIDC, RFID
Automatic Identification and Data Capture (AIDC) refers to the process of automatically identifying and collecting data about objects/goods, then logging this information in a computer. The term AIDC refers to a range of different types of data capture devices. These include barcodes, biometrics, RFID (Radio Frequency Identification), magnetic stripes, smart cards, OCR (Optical Character Recognition) and voice recognition. AIDC devices are deployed in a wide range of environments, including: retail, warehousing, distribution & logistics and field service. The first RFID solutions were developed in 1980s. It has since been deployed in a range of markets including Automated Vehicle Identification (AVI) systems due to RFID's ability to track moving objects. RFID is also effective in challenging manufacturing environments where barcode labels might not prove resilient enough.
Linpac Materials Handling and Intellident combine to offer RFID-ready multi-trip container systems
Aug 22, 2006
IBM Taps RFID for Pharma Industry Helping Protect Consumers From Counterfeit Drugs
Aug 15, 2006
IBM has unveiled a radio frequency identification (RFID) system for tracking and tracing of pharmaceuticals.
AEROSCOUT ENHANCES INDUSTRYS LEADING WI-FI-BASED ACTIVE RFID TAG
Aug 15, 2006
Innovative and Enhanced Capabilities Extend AeroScout Leadership in Healthcare, Manufacturing and Other Industries
SYMBOL TECHNOLOGIES INTRODUCES INDUSTRYS FIRST VALUE-PRICED RUGGED BAR CODE SCANNER
Aug 14, 2006
LS3008 Bar Code Scanner Provides an Affordable, High-Performance, Rugged Scanning Solution
Item level RFID - the prosperous market 2006-2016
Aug 14, 2006
Item level RFID is set for substantial growth over the next decade. A new study from IDTechEx forecasts and explores key markets that will apply item-level tagging, advances in technology and the mass adoption that will follow. Dr. Peter Harrop from IDTechEx summarises this study below.
BT CATCHES EFFICIENCY SAVINGS IN ITS FOODNET
Aug 11, 2006
BT launches a quick and easy way of identifying products for targeted recalls
Hand Held Products reveals five things you never knew you could do with a handheld scanner!
Aug 07, 2006
Hand Held Products sees a growing number of unusual ways to use handheld devices, which in addition to traditional data collection, are also used for a broad variety of other purposes.
Texas Instruments Announces Availability of EPCglobal Certified Generation 2 RFID Silicon
Aug 04, 2006
Advanced design improves chip performance to ease supply chain RFID adoption
2000 RFID Case Studies Reveal Surprises
Aug 02, 2006
The IDTechEx RFID Knowledgebase, the worlds largest searchable database of RFID in action, has reached 2000 cases, revealing surprising trends. In this article Dr Peter Harrop analyses the trends.
European RFID Users and Vendors Join to Push Forward Technology and Applications
Jul 28, 2006
RFID technology providers, vendors and users have now the possibility to affect the conditions of competition for RFID technology and its further development in Europe and to reinforce the political environment of RFID at European level.
Automatic Identification and Data Capture (AIDC)
Automatic Identification and Data Capture (AIDC) refers to the methods of automatically identifying objects, collecting data about them, and entering that data directly into computer systems (i.e. without human involvement). Technologies typically considered as part of AIDC include bar codes, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), biometrics, magnetic stripes, Optical Character Recognition (OCR), smart cards, and voice recognition. AIDC is also commonly referred to as “Automatic Identification,” “Auto-ID,” and "Automatic Data Capture."
Barcoding has become established in several industries as an inexpensive and reliable automatic identification technology that can overcome human error in capturing and validating information. AIDC is the process or means of obtaining external data, particularly through analysis of images, sounds or videos. To capture data, a transducer is employed which converts the actual image or a sound into a digital file which can be later analysed. Radio frequency identification (RFID) is relatively a new AIDC technology which was first developed in 1980’s. The technology acts as a base in automated data collection, identification and analysis systems worldwide
In the decades since its creation, barcoding has become highly standardised, resulting in lower costs and greater accessibility. Indeed, word processors now can produce barcodes, and many inexpensive printers print barcodes on labels. Most current barcode scanners can read between 12 and 15 symbols and all their variants without requiring configuration or programming. For specific scans the readers can be pre-programmed easily from the user manual.
Despite these significant developments, the adoption of barcoding has been slower in the healthcare sector than the retail and manufacturing sectors. Barcoding can capture and prevent errors during medication administration and is now finding its way from the bedside into support operations within the hospital.
Radio-frequency identification (RFID) is the wireless non-contact use of radio-frequency electromagnetic fields to transfer data. Unlike a bar code, the tag does not necessarily need to be within line of sight of the reader, and may be embedded in the tracked object. It can also be read only or read-write enabling information to be either permanently stored in the tag or it can be read-write where information can be continually updated and over-written on the tag.
RFID has found its importance in a wide range of markets including livestock identification and Automated Vehicle Identification (AVI) systems and are now commonly used in tracking consumer products worldwide. Many manufacturers use the tags to track the location of each product they make from the time it's made until it's pulled off the shelf and tossed in a shopping cart. These automated wireless AIDC systems are effective in manufacturing environments where barcode labels could not survive. They can be used in pharmaceutical to track consignments, they can also be used in cold chain distribution to monitor temperature fluctuations. This is particularly useful to ensure frozen and chilled foods have not deviated from the required temperature parameters during transit.
Cost used to be a prohibitive factor in the widespread use of RFID tags however the unit costs have reduced considerably to make this a viable technology to improve track and trace throughout the supply chain. Many leading supermarket chains employ RFID insisting that their suppliers incorporate this technology into the packaging of the products in order to improve supply chain efficiency and traceability.
