RFID, or Radio Frequency Identification Technology, is used in many industries and has created efficiencies in processes that have saved billions of dollars since its inception over 80 years ago. It is used for asset management and tracking, such as by hospitals to track equipment and similarly by construction companies to track their heavy machines. Now, the various industries can know their inventories in real-time, as well as know where each item is located.
SITECH Rocky Mountain offers various RFID systems, including our Tracker RFID System that integrates with Trimble Asset Manager to make the tracking of your heavy equipment and more easy. Below, we’ll take a look at the history of RFID technology and what this technology can do for you. Contact us to get started today!
HISTORY OF RFID TECHNOLOGY
RFID technology harkens back to World War II. Radar, which is the sending out of electromagnetic pulses on high-frequency waves that then bounce back and convey information, was the forebearer of RFID. The military needed a way to tell whether aircraft were friend or foe. Radar could track aircraft but not identify it. The Germans discovered that if aircraft rotated when they returned to base, the radio signal changed, creating the first passive RFID system.
RFID was advanced by a scientist named Harry Stockman in 1948 when he published a paper called Communications by Means of Reflective Power. In a famous use of one of the first RFID technology inventions, the US Ambassador to the USSR was presented with a ceremonial seal that sat in the US embassy broadcasting conversations for seven years before it was discovered.
At its core, RFID technology is essential for radio broadcasting and radar combined. A transmitter sends a signal that is then reflected back by a transponder.
The 1950s and 60s were a time of much talk about the benefits of radiofrequency technology with not much practical progress. It was an era of studies in order to create safe operating environments in coal mines, oil and gas, and nuclear. Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) took root so commercial activities could get what they need. This was the first use of RFID on tags that would beep when taken out of a store that was not deactivated first.
THE HISTORY OF RFID TECHNOLOGY FROM THE 1970s
RFID took off in the 1970s as the technology began to be embraced by more industries. They were used to monitor railway carriages and used by grocery store chains to track assets and shipments across the United States. They were used by farmers to track cows that were vaccinated. RFID was used to track nuclear materials and used to read key cards.
However, RFID was officially invented in 1983 by Charles Walton when he filed the first patent using the word “RFID.” Like most major changes, embracing RFID technology was a slow process. With no empirical evidence to support its listed benefits, many companies were hesitant to invest.
RFID continued to advance with the effort to standardize the systems beginning in 1999 at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). IBM joined in the fun by inventing ultra-high frequency (UHF) RFID that was able to receive and transmit a signal from up to 20 feet away. Wal-Mart was an early adopter of RFID technology, recognizing instantly its value in tracking goods that were shipped across the United States.
RFID TECHNOLOGY TODAY
Today you’ll find RFID used to track anything and everything, from the construction industry to aerospace, biomedical labs, logistics, and so much more. Plus, RFID can be used by marketers to help better understand the needs of businesses’ customers. This allows for more targeted marketing, as well as more sales. The sky’s the limit when it comes to RFID’s implementation and uses.
CHOOSE SITECH ROCKY MOUNTAIN TODAY
SITECH Rocky Mountain offers the best construction project management software and other technology solutions, such as machine control systems, site positioning systems, and fleet and asset management, including the use of our Tracker RFID System to help your construction company do its work better and faster, saving you time, effort, and money in the long run. Our software solutions can help you create accurate, integrated 3D models for sites and highways quickly and easily, as well as help streamline processes. Our powerful software can integrate with many others, cutting down on the number of software programs you need.
SITECH Rocky Mountain is the leading name for construction equipment technology in Colorado, New Mexico, and far west Texas. Contact us to get started today!