As a revolutionary technology, RFID has attracted widespread attention from various vendors in the fields of chips, tags, software, card readers, system integration and printing, as well as logistics, packaging, retail, manufacturing, transportation, and public utilities. So what is the current application in China? In which areas will it be applied first? Let us listen to the voices of relevant experts and representatives in the RFID industry chain!
Opinion 1
RFID will be the first to apply in non-open loop supply chain management
Wang Huazhen, general manager and senior engineer of Shanghai Huashen Smart Card Application System Co., Ltd.
Due to the increased level of technology and the significant cost reduction of integrated circuit chips, the use of electronic tags for the identification of bulk items has become a reality. The rapid development of this technology will revolutionize global supply chain management. However, starting from the actual situation in China, although China has gradually become the world's manufacturing center and the largest market for electronic label applications in the future, due to the underdeveloped logistics industry, relevant departments have insufficient preparation for RFID technology, especially for the most widely used in the supply chain. UHF tags, the frequency and communication interface standards are open to a large amount of work to be done, especially the relevant departments of China, will not fully accept EPC Global's electronic label application program, and in the establishment of China's independent electronic label standard system It still takes a while, so it is too early for China's logistics industry to adopt a large number of electronic labeling technologies in its supply chain management in the near future.
On the contrary, China has an urgent need for electronic label application in article anti-counterfeiting, animal quarantine, food and drug safety supervision, hazardous chemical safety management, and compulsory verification of measuring instruments. Such item identification labels generally use low frequency (such as animal identification using 134.2KHz) or high frequency (such as hazardous chemicals, etc. 13.56MHz) label. In particular, the frequency range of high-frequency tags is consistent with China's second-generation ID card and big city public transportation card card IC card. The industrial sector has matured in technology for the production of such tag chips, thus providing the above-mentioned non-open-loop supply chain. The application of managed electronic tags has created favorable conditions. Taking Shanghai as an example, Shanghai local standards for animal electronic labels have been introduced. Shanghai's pet and livestock immunization has been managed according to this standard; electronic chemicals such as liquid chlorine, acetylene and other dangerous chemical cylinders, city fireworks and taxis The electronic check-up management is also fully implemented in the powerful inspection and measuring instruments; the Shanghai Metro has implemented a one-pass transfer of RFID one-way tickets. Currently, Shanghai is developing a biometric-based visitor biometrics standard and will establish an electronic tag-based visitor and its document management system. To this end, China's IT industry generally believes that the first application of electronic tags in non-open-loop supply chain management will promote the maturity of China's UHF electronic tag technology and industry. At that time, RFID will be large in China's supply chain. Scale applications will come.
Opinion 2
I am optimistic about the investment in RFID applications.
David Yates, partner of Tiger Capital Partners
As a person with 7 years of investment in RFID, I am still optimistic about the development of RFID in the Chinese market. RFID is one of the important technologies to realize enterprise and social informationization. It will be possible to create new service forms, new business models and new industrial structures while enhancing the competitive advantage of enterprises. China's current RFID market size and technology level are relatively lagging behind Europe, America, Japan, and South Korea. China's RFID companies are currently small in scale, lack of capital strength, insufficient independent research and development capabilities, and relatively backward technology. But the current Chinese market should have A good opportunity. At the same time, the potential of the Chinese market is huge. It is believed that China, as the "source" of the supply chain, will eventually become the center of the world in RFID technology.
But it is not good for me to conclude whether the future investment in technology is feasible. I am still optimistic about the technology in the application. The Chinese government has taken a lot of energy and financial resources from the standards because of the national industry's test rate. However, as an investor, I don't care about the standards. Now there are standards in the international arena. It is suggested that China can also be in line with the international standard, so that it can focus on the application of RFID.
Opinion 3
RFID will be given priority in export products and logistics companies
RFID senior expert Wang Liang
We have two inferential conclusions that are still confirmed: one is that RFID will be widely used in export products, and the other is that RFID will be heavily equipped in logistics companies.
Our inference comes from two aspects, one is Wal-Mart's mandatory requirements for suppliers, and Wal-Mart's global chain of companies, at least more than 30 billion US dollars of Chinese goods are flooding; Second, the Internet of Things and global economic integration The architectural trend, and the logistics enterprise that serves as the task of circulation of goods, has also increased the requirements of RFID equipment by customers in the real-time monitoring process of visibility.
From a foreign perspective, Wal-Mart's main supplier is actually the most enthusiastic promoter of RFID, rather than the passive acceptance role we have imagined in the past; professional logistics service provider DHL invested heavily in RFID technology in its logistics center. Testing and equipment; UPS with 600 large freighters also identified RFID technology applications in the parcel separation process and the exact location of the package.
At the beginning of this year, we finally waited for a test message from logistics companies in RFID applications. Unlike Baisha Logistics, this Shenzhen logistics company is completely quietly testing: the flow of goods is from outside to inside, that is, the way in which imported products enter the country; the stage of RFID testing is the application stage of Americans. That is to say, it is still not allowed in China; the test items are mainly containers, and they are supplemented by subcontracting methods. RFID reading devices are installed in transportation vehicles, pallets, bayonet, Storage gates, warehouses and other places. According to the company's chief executive who provided logistics services to Wal-Mart, the testing time was short but very successful.
Since then, the tobacco industry has experimented with RFID applications.
The construction of the digital warehouse of Kunming Tobacco Company, the application of RFID technology, the focus is on warehousing and distribution, especially the storage part. Incoming goods: When the goods enter the warehouse through the infeed conveyor, the information of each pallet is written into the pallet through the inbound port reader, and then the shipping position is calculated through the computer storage management information system, and the inventory instruction is sent to the forklift vehicle system through the network system. , according to the requirements to store the corresponding location. Shipment: The forklift receives the shipping order and forks the palletized goods to the designated location. The forklift front forklift reader reconfirms the accuracy of the pallet cargo, and then sends the palletized goods to the delivery port conveyor. The delivery port reader reads the pallet label information accurately and verifies the shipment without errors.
Hangzhou Cigarette Factory under the project of China's tobacco industry cigarette production and management decision-making management system, the application of the finished tray out of the RFID system, the use of RFID electronic tags in the pallets of Chengdu-Chongqing transport, through the combination of barcode and RFID electronic tags, solved The interaction and unification of the logistics and information flow of Chengyu cigarettes.
In addition, Chinese ports, large shipping companies, and logistics and warehousing companies have some RFID application tests around containers.
As far as the impact of RFID on our daily lives is concerned, the application of single products is far closer than that of containers and pallets. We also saw the cooperation between Shihua Kai Company and a Japanese company in the RFID application of alcoholic products. This experiment included the flow of goods, warehousing and anti-counterfeiting.
Overall, we are exposed to the application of RFID in China, still in the test or testing stage.
Perspective 4
RFID applications have opportunities and challenges in China
Ze Jun, CEO of Zebra Technologies Greater China
In terms of applications, radio frequency identification technology will effectively improve the overall level of China's supply chain management. As a veritable world processing factory in China, suppliers certainly feel the pressure, but they should see opportunities. RFID technology can not only improve the efficiency of manufacturers' warehousing and supply chain management, but also help enterprises to achieve process management reengineering and improve their comprehensive competitiveness. Secondly, due to the outstanding features and advantages of RFID technology, radio frequency identification technology will be widely used in transportation, electronic ticket, food tracking, anti-counterfeiting, national defense and military.
In terms of industrial development, just as the development of network technology has driven the revolution of the Internet, the development of radio frequency identification technology will trigger the revolution of the Internet. This is why the world's giants such as IBM, HP, Intel, and SAP have all taken huge sums of money into the ranks of RFID and contributed to it. Revolution means industry reshuffle, which means opportunity! It is undeniable that China will be a potentially huge consumer market for RFID technology, requiring a large number of application software developers and system integrators to turn the vision into reality and turn technology into enterprise value. The application of RFID technology will also promote the development of hardware technology and products, such as chip technology, electronic label packaging technology, label compilation/printing technology, reading technology, network and database product technology...
Despite the bright future of RFID technology, some issues still need to be paid enough attention. First, radio frequency identification as an information technology for open systems, standards development should be first and should fully consider compatibility issues with international standards. Second, RFID technology is developing rapidly, and users should fully consider system compatibility and upgrade/extensibility when choosing a solution. Third, like other technologies, radio frequency identification technology is not a panacea. Therefore, there should be reasonable expectations for RFID in the demonstration of project requirements. Fourth, radio frequency identification technology has many advantages over bar code technology. However, this does not mean that RFID can quickly replace bar codes. The relationship between RFID and barcode is complementary rather than replaced. In many areas, bar codes will continue to be widely and widely used with low cost and high reliability technologies.
Opinion 5
Cost makes RFID difficult to produce in China
Hui Zhimin, Chairman of Shenzhen Huitian Industrial Co., Ltd.
The development of RFID in China, some people think that it is currently in a difficult stage. Where is it difficult? There are three general views: cost, standards, and applications. I agree with this point of view, I think the more important thing is the cost, especially the cost of the label. A tag is a few dollars, too expensive, and it limits the application.
Where is the label expensive? The production of inlay, that is, how to realize the interconnection (electrical connection) between the chip and the substrate carrying the antenna, this work is called flip chip production technology (an internationally recognized excellent semiconductor chip packaging technology), which is The key to reducing the cost of label production.
Regarding standards and applications, I think the application should go ahead of the standard. We can't just peg the standard or wait for the standard to be introduced. We must do both the industry and the market (that is, the application). It is like the three lines of football. The application is the striker, the industry is the midfield, and the standard is the defender.
We have to keep the door, but we have to score more. I think our national defenders are doing a good job, but the frontcourt still needs to work hard. I think we are a midfielder. First, we need to make a good ball to the striker and let the forwards use the electronic tags.
No one doubts that the market for electronic labels is huge. I already have some friends who have made money in this industry. They have done earlier than me. I believe we are about to make money.
A senior in the RFID industry said a word, "People like Jay Chou, I like electronic tags." Let us share this. In fact, foreign markets have been formed, standards and industries have been formed, but the cost is high. What to do, look for Chinese people, they think that the Chinese have the best way to do this, indicating that the Chinese can contribute to the world.
Opinion 6
The key application problem is the problem of integrating information systems.
Executive Secretary of China RFID Industry Alliance Ouyang Yu
At present, the application environment of RFID is still not mature. Because there are weak basic R&D strengths in the domestic RFID market, insufficient participation of enterprises in standardization, and domestic enterprises mostly adopt a wait-and-see attitude, the actual use of RFID should mainly adopt closed-loop systems within enterprises and open systems between enterprises. The closed-loop system is more practical, mainly because the open system has not yet effectively solved the problem of how much the various companies in the supply chain should bear. For closed systems, if the investment is directly proportional to the return, it can be effectively and widely promoted.
Although China's RFID technology started late, radio frequency identification technology has made some progress. Some companies already have the ability to integrate systems and develop related applications in several specific areas, providing a complete solution for electronic label applications.
The large-scale application of RFID in China does not depend entirely on the determination of frequency and the introduction of standards. The key is the degree of market awareness of Chinese companies, China, and whether the price is enough to attract the attention of enterprises. Standards are not a key issue affecting RFID applications; cost issues are not a major issue for certain industries, such as the container industry, rail wagon management, real estate licenses, and vehicle management; and key application issues It is a problem of integrating information systems.
Therefore, in view of the above situation, China should establish a research base and talent echelon related to RFID technology as soon as possible, raise special funds, engage in research and development of RFID cutting-edge technology, support experimental projects, and actively participate in the establishment of international standards, without having to fully cater to ISO or EPC standards gradually establish the status of China's RFID standards. If Chinese companies' products want to join the international mainstream distribution channels, they need to cross the new threshold of information exchange technology, use technology application standards with independent intellectual property rights and be compatible with the international mainstream RFID standard electronic label technology.
Specifically, the strategy of China's RFID market should focus on the following aspects:
1. Widely advertised that China's development of RFID standards is not to set technical or trade barriers, but that local enterprises are beginning to seek the right to speak, which is a reflection of the maturity of Chinese IT companies;
2. Increase investment in R&D of enterprises and encourage independent innovation;
3. By adopting the method of merger or purchase or purchase of technology patents, the research and development cycle can be shortened, and the mode of “introduction, absorption and innovation†can be adopted;
4. Introduce frequency applicable standards in a timely manner, giving Chinese enterprises a space and time for rapid development;
5. Piloting the application of RFID in priority areas such as licenses, anti-counterfeiting, animal epidemic prevention, child safety, traffic management, and dangerous goods management.
6. In the retail field, for specific customer groups (group customers, VIPs), the first way to use RFID technology to carry out VIP stores 7. Technical strategy and standard strategy are synchronized. It is unobjectionable for China to launch its own standards. According to the WTO Technical Barrier Agreement, countries have the right to formulate relevant technical standards and regulations within the five legitimate objectives of national security, fraud prevention, environmental protection, protection of human health and safety, and protection of animal and plant life and health.
8. Adhere to the principle of “promoting standards with application and applying with standardsâ€.
The basic structure of RFID system Radio frequency identification technology is a technology that uses radio frequency signals to realize contactless information transmission through spatial coupling and achieve the purpose of identification through the transmitted information.
Radio frequency identification systems typically consist of electronic tags, radio frequency compilation and readout devices. The surface of the electronic tag is usually indicated by a bar code, and the tag has a certain format of electronic data. The electronic label information can be written at the time of shipment from the factory, or the barcode can be encoded at the job site by the barcode printer of the built-in electronic label compilation unit and the relevant information can be printed as a barcode label at the same time. The electronic tag is attached to the item to be identified as an electronic mark of the item to be identified. The reader and the electronic tag can exchange information according to the agreed communication protocol. Usually, the reader sends a command to the electronic tag, and the electronic tag returns the identification data of the memory to the reader according to the command of the received reader. . This communication is achieved in a non-contact manner using spatial coupling of an alternating magnetic field or electromagnetic field and radio frequency signal modulation and demodulation techniques.
Another important performance metric for RFID systems is the read distance or the coverage of the RF system. The maximum distance a reader can reliably read a tag depends first on the performance of the tag. Battery-powered active tags have a long read range, while passive tags without battery power have a shorter range of distance from the reader. Secondly, the performance of the tag and reader antenna, as well as environmental factors, will affect the reading distance. Typically, passive tags are generally used at low frequencies such as 13.56 MHz, and the communication distance is about 10 to 30 cm. In the high-frequency UHF band, the communication distance of passive tags can reach 3 to 10 m. Systems in higher frequency bands typically use active tags with a reading distance of up to 100 meters. (奚å›æ¦)
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