Year
2009
Abstract
Radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology has the potential to revolutionize the tracking of high value assets such as UF6 cylinders. By affixing an RFID tag to a valued asset, one can track the item throughout any facility where ultra-high-frequency (UHF) readers are in place, thereby alerting inspectors to theft, misuse, and misplacement of the tracked item. Because of the utility of this technology, system designers should be interested in which features are needed and which UHF readers are best suited for a given application. This paper identifies important variables to consider when selecting a UHF reader and examines different types of readers to determine which readers optimize these variables for a proposed application. This is accomplished through study of prior comparisons (if available), through claims made by different manufacturers, and by in-lab experimentation involving different readers. This paper presents the findings in a general manner to facilitate their usefulness for diverse applications.