RFID meets shipping carton

By Staff -- Modern Materials Handling, 12/1/2004

When it comes to RFID, there's no more misleading phrase than "slap and ship." That may describe the label application process used by some in the supply chain. But it doesn't give any hint of the complexities of ensuring the tag is in the right place on the shipping carton for maximum readability.

Instead, that's a primary focus of the Auto-ID Labs at MIT, says Dr. Daniel Engels, research director/executive director. He heads up research programs sponsored by various companies.

"We're trying to replace the art of RFID with the science of RFID," Engel explained in a presentation at Pack Expo.

Several projects are being concluded now with more planned for next year. One is the development of simulation software that correlates environmental issues with RFID readability. The software allows users to predict which antennae types will work best.

Another project entails evaluation of the impact of a specific package on RFID tag readability. It takes into account carton dimensions, materials and contents, and placement among other factors.

"These and the projects planned for next year are all intended to help people determine how to integrate RFID tags with packaging," says Engels.