wilamowski-b-m-irwin-j-d-industrial-communication-systems-2011

8-16 Industrial Communication Systems
Table 8.2
National Standards in Selected Countries
Authority Frequency Maximum Power Characteristics
European Union 865.6–867.6.MHz 2.0.W ERP a LBT
United States of America 902.0–928.0.MHz 4.0.W EIRP FHSS
China 840.5–844.5.MHz 2.0.W ERP FHSS
920.5–924.5.MHz
Hong Kong 865.0–868.0.MHz 2.0.W ERP LBT
920.0–925.0.MHz 4.0.W EIRP FHSS
Taiwan 922.0–928.0.MHz 1.0.W ERP, indoor FHSS
0.5.W ERP, outdoor
Singapore 866.0–869.0.MHz 0.5.W ERP
920.0–925.0.MHz 2.0.W ERP
Japan 952.0–954.0.MHz 4.0.W EIRP, with license LBT
952.0–955.0.MHz 20.mW EIRP, w/o license
Korea 908.5–910.0.MHz 4.0.W EIRP LBT
910.0–914.0.MHz
India 865.0–867.0.MHz 4.0.W EIRP
a
1 ERP = 1.64 EIRP.
8.22 Hands-Free Bar Code System
Apparently, the primary objective in developing the UHF RFID is to extend the range of coverage of
the HF RFID. Having a longer range is definitely one of the means of achieving the aim, but it is not
the ultimate one. The principal aim appears to be the development of a hands-free bar code-scanning
technique for automation processes.
The development began in 2003. As the military forces of the United States were preparing for a swift
and decisive invasion of Iraq, it was deemed that all military supplies and other provisions for the allied
force of 300,000 for the blitzkrieg must be ready for immediate use in Saudi Arabia before the first bomb
was dropped. It was also decided to use the UHF RFID for speeding up the counting of military and
nonmilitary supplies, in hundreds of million. Partly due to the RFID, the 6-month task in the First Gulf
War in 1990 was completed in 2 weeks [19].
By 2004, critical components, specially designed hardware, and tailor-made software were ready for
development of a pilot RFID inventory system for civilian use in peace time. In early 2005, the RFID was
used by the U.S. armed forces for receiving and dispatching various supplies bundled on a pallet. For the
enhanced version, every case was required to possess a unique RFID tag. It was scheduled that every individual
item must be equipped with an RFID label in 2009. The Pentagon claimed that the pilot RFID inventory
system saves over 80 million dollars for its government annually, not to mention the intangible gains.
An equally pioneering project was conducted on the other side of the Pacific Ocean in 2006. By replacing
the bar code on a baggage label with an RFID tag (Figure 8.11), the luggage accepted by a check-in counter in
the Hong Kong Airport could be automatically sent through a maze of RFID-monitored conveyor belts to the
cart earmarked for the designated aircraft (Figure 8.12). Besides gain in speed, the rate of erroneous delivery
has been significantly reduced. With tens of strategically located interrogators, a baggage dropped from the
kilometers of conveyor belts or mishandled in whatever way could be located on time before flight departure.
8.23 Bar Code Mentality
As a hands-free bar code, the development of the UHF RFID is practically completed and the remaining
tasks are simply fine-tuning the microchip, miniaturizing the hardware, enhancing the antenna, and
debugging the control system and other software. In general, these chores should not arouse the interest
© 2011 by Taylor and Francis Group, LLC