RFID: Integrated, scalable tower system monitors badges

Siemens Energy & Automation Inc., in collaboration with URS/EG&G’s Systems Development & Engineering Services, formally unveiled what it calls the next generation of supply chain, radio frequency identification (RFID) technology. The RFID PathMinder is said to deliver the reliable, real-time, asset tracking required in manufacturing, supply chain logistics, and retail distribu...

By Staff July 1, 2007

Siemens Energy & Automation Inc., in collaboration with URS/EG&G’s Systems Development & Engineering Services, formally unveiled what it calls the next generation of supply chain, radio frequency identification (RFID) technology. The RFID PathMinder is said to deliver the reliable, real-time, asset tracking required in manufacturing, supply chain logistics, and retail distribution centers. At the Siemens Automation Summit 2007, in Orlando, June 12-15, a nine-tower PathMinder RFID implementation counted visitors.

The system combines the RFID integration and domain expertise of URS/EG&G with Siemens RFID product technology. “The RFID PathMinder is much more than housing for an RFID reader,” says Alex Stuebler, Siemens RFID business manager.

The RFID PathMinder offers a wide array of optional, fully integrated functionalities, including RFID reading (UHF), advanced event triggering, pre-processing and filtering RFID readings, wireless networking, PLC control, motion control, optical data matrix reader interfaces, status indicators (light column, audio alarms, HMI), and UPS protected power.

In another recent show-based application, more than 300 system integrators, vendors, and journalists received a special greeting as they entered two meeting areas of the Control System Integrators Association (CSIA) Conference in Santa Fe, NM. A monitor positioned at each entrance flashed the names of the participants as they walked past two RFID antennas, using the UHF frequency of 928 Mhz. The information was read instantaneously from RFID tags attached to each attendees name badge. The monitor and RFID antennas were provided by Siemens Energy & Automation Inc. In addition, Siemens Scalance W industrial Ethernet LAN established a wireless network that passed the information to and from each work station and a server.

While the RFID exhibit was a first for CSIA, the technology has been available from Siemens globally for a long time, the company noted, having installed more than 250,000 reader devices worldwide over the past 20 years.

www.sea.siemens.com