RFID SYSTEMS
RFID has finally arrived at our doorstep. Scary, perhaps?))
— I'll start with the good news: Not at all! Can we end the article here?)
I will continue for the curious and the forward-looking...
But without the excessive fluff that RFID specialists use to fertilize any description of it, let's go:
1. Technical Part
RFID technology is merely an umbrella term for a type of data reception from a tag, which consists of:
an antenna, a capacitor, and a CHIP containing the necessary pre-programmed information.
If we exclude the CHIP from the schematic, in the case of 13.56MHz tags, guess what we get? A standard-looking RF tag. How so? The physics of reading 8.2MHz and 13.56MHz tags is entirely similar.
Frequencies and Types of RFID Tags:
- 125–134 kHz — Used only for contact reading methods; its range is extremely limited.
- 13.56 MHz — Can be used in walk-through gates as passes or for reading data from boxes, but no further than 1 meter for quality data reading.
- 860–928 MHz UHF — OUR range, where ultra-high frequencies combined with special antennas allow reading up to 3 meters with stable results.
- 2.45 + 5.7 GHz — Not currently used in mass retail; this is a more specific system for reading tags from even greater distances for movement tracking.
Why was UHF (Ultra High Frequency) chosen?
The ratio of system price / tag price / reading range.
Options 1 and 2 are unsuitable due to low range and poor readability.
Option 4 is prohibitively expensive for retail regarding tag costs, though this may change someday in the distant future.
For comparison, AM (acousto-magnetic) and RF (radio frequency) antitheft systems also use tags but operate on different frequencies.
AM systems use a frequency around 58 kHz, and RF systems use 8.2 MHz.
These lower frequencies allow AM and RF tags to be simpler in construction, as they do not contain a chip with information, but merely a resonant circuit.
However, this also limits their reading range compared to RFID tags operating at higher frequencies.
2. Appearance of Tags
1) Soft sensors-stickers and labels
Features:
Dual-antenna configuration usually 2×5 cm, sometimes much smaller, but length is typically consistent;
Combined RFID+RF dual-antenna square 4×4 cm;
Other configurations do not work on this frequency due to the impossibility of energy transfer. No spirals with many turns work at ultra-high frequencies; spirals are needed for RF systems and 13.56 MHz access systems.
Readers see tags not only in the control area (entry/exit) but also detect tags much further to the sides.
Software signal analysis methods have the ability to determine the tag's location very precisely — this works because the tag has 2 antennas, and readers are tuned and calibrated specifically for the tags used in that store or retail chain.
2) Hard sensors with embedded RFID tags
Features:
— Often marked with "RFID" inscription;
That's it... meaning in some cases you won't be able to distinguish them visually from AM or RF unless you know the assortment of such tags, so I will post what I have in my photo database from real clients.
What needs to be noted here:
1. 2-in-1 sensors from Sensormatic, which embedded RFID into their gray SuperTags before 2010 (AM tag plus a thin flat contour RFID);
2. 2-in-1 sensors from CheckPoint, which we also see around early 2010 (typical RF tag and RFID tag around the circle);
3. Sensors from other manufacturers, who are increasingly ramping up production and filling the currently empty niche.
There is an important point here: all hard tags from each manufacturer have... the same tag code, meaning logically they are marked simply as an ANTITHEFT SENSOR.
Meaning they are not programmable and carry no specific information about the item to which they are attached!
.... The juice of this important moment is that if you have a small shop and are tired of all these gates, you can... simply install an RFID system, change the sensors, and that's it, without complex software infrastructure tied to the information in the sensors. Just simply writing in the reader settings that "this specific RFID code" is a sensor... DONE.
3. Appearance of RFID Tag Readers
!!! Attention to the experienced... I think you will easily notice that all these readers differ in design from manufacturer to manufacturer, just like AM or RF gates !!!
OVERHEAD MODELS
NEDAP — rounded forms, integrated LED dots (the thing with two black eyes is a visitor counter, ignore it):
Sensormatic chose a maximally rectangular design to match the style of the latest AM Synergy gates:
Zara and Inditex are currently supplementing AM systems with RFID panels in many countries. The manufacturer is unknown to us, but given compatibility, these are likely their own developments:
Checkpoint stands out particularly and is recognizable by its two-part main antenna and additional antennas that cover "blind spots" at other angles:
EMBEDDED RFID MODULES IN GATES
NEDAP has a separate line of gate models with an RFID module that looks like an expanded section in the middle; the first models were released over 10 years ago, and have been developed in the new series as well:
Sensormatic offers additional retrofit (supplementing AM) modules that are mounted as a panel on the latest model of AM Synergy gates, completely covering the frame area:
Checkpoint developed and implemented additional modules for their gates, installed directly on or inside the gate frame, like in Decathlon's box frames. Found in UNIQLO and other places where upgrading is cheaper than replacing the entire system:
The latest innovation from Checkpoint is the SFERO model, a complex system combining 2 powerful readers on the sides and an additional module or multiple modules overhead. I'll leave a promo video here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_1hOU6cix8
4. Vulnerabilities
RFID tags, as it turned out in field tests, are not significantly vulnerable to physical impact. Watch the video which clearly shows that you need to isolate the chip from BOTH antennas, otherwise we simply reduce the reading radius but do not deactivate the tag.
Questions that may arise after watching the video and their answers:
Do I need to cut in two places next to the chip?
— Study the photos of the tags and you will see that if you cut the tag in the middle of its length, you will definitely break the contact between the chip and the antennas.
What happens if I don't cut it completely?
— The reading radius will decrease, which will likely allow you to pass through a system that only has overhead readers, as their radius is smaller.
Why do you show the first cuts not next to the chip?
— To demonstrate the survivability of this tag against minor damage.
RFID PROBLEMS:
— Like RF, they are not read if stuck on metal objects; the wave does not pass through metal, and reading is only possible in line of sight under conditions of radio transparency of obstacles (i.e., the item it is stuck on);
— Vulnerability to physical damage.
That's it...
Just these two initial factors multiply the chances of fully replacing all other antitheft systems by zero.
That's what we thought when the article was written, around 2021, but the world changes incredibly fast, and now it is an inevitable reality.
What we can do for you:
1. RFID tag searcher, so you can quickly find and physically remove or deactivate them — already created by us, but no time to launch sales yet, I think we will do it simultaneously with the jammer;
2. RFID tag deactivator planned for creation in 2024;
3. Our favorite — Jammers, and we are already doing this (as of 15/02, the first prototype jammer was publicly tested), but we cannot give exact release dates, likely early summer 2024.
Initially, the jammer will be sold only as a separate product, and subsequently, we will try to combine it with the AMRF jammer, but that is a separate story.
WATCH THE DEMONSTRATION OF OUR PROTOTYPE:
BUT WHAT ABOUT FOIL??? You can't put MD against foil and hurray we can return to the past!!!
— No... you can't. The frequencies of AM, RF, and RFID are in different universes. RFID bends around obstacles easily and effectively, and you only have one option — an iron pot with an iron lid (or a box), but foil also works if wrapped very tightly.
I tried to write a text explaining the hows and whys, but it turned out simpler to find an old bag made of the best foil and conduct actual tests where RFID tags are not lying at the very bottom of the bag, but slightly higher, yet below the middle of the bag's height! I think no questions will remain after seeing that EVEN A PORTABLE reader sees tags from a distance of 3 meters from the side of the bag, and overhead RFID systems will definitely peek into it.
Just see for yourself:
5. Perspectives
Since the article was written in 2021, the entire INDITEX network (Zara, Bershka, etc.) has implemented RFID systems everywhere — both overhead and add-ons to the outer passage frames.
This happened in a flash, and literally within a few months, I received messages from all countries that it had begun.
INDITEX had been implementing RFID for a very long time in logistics, accounting, and goods movement, but this was stalled until the last moment.
Where did INDITEX embed the tags?
— Under the sewn-in label (brand label) usually with the size of the item;
— In the label describing composition and care instructions;
— And also, a very long time ago, RFID tags were embedded into AM SuperTag sensors.
It is worth noting that Checkpoint posted a video about the future on their YouTube channel 10 years ago, where the entire RFID operation scheme is shown clearly, specifically at the level of antitheft technologies, see for yourself:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQYs6rqGY-k
The main problems were the high cost of RFID equipment and the shortage of qualified specialists. These specialists must be able to configure systems qualitatively and in accordance with certification requirements.
Over time, manufacturers ramped up production and reduced costs, lowering prices for many system elements, and the Chinese are mass-producing RFID tags, making them cheaper as well.
For these reasons, RFID has started appearing on almost all products, I'm sure you've noticed this in the last 5 years, which opens up scope for application in antitheft technologies.
The last to join will likely be grocery hypermarkets, as it will still be costly (RFID sensors are still more expensive) for them due to the large volume of low-margin consumer goods.
What did we miss?
— RFID is not just tags and readers... it is very expensive Software, it requires additional computing power and administration, scanners, and warehouse accounting with the full complex of RFID use from the factory to the hands of the buyer leaving the store. Otherwise, all this makes no sense and has no ROI. You can study the details of commercial offers and motives for implementation on a fairly high-quality page:
https://dk-sp.com/o-kompanii/publics/rfid-sistems
Which chains will likely start using RFID in the future, completely replacing AM or RF?
— I'm betting on the H&M chain since they are installing only NEDAP gates with a built-in RFID module in all new locations;
— ADIDAS and NIKE are closest to implementation, as they have been marking a large part of their goods from the factory for quite some time and have warehouse RFID accounting methods;
— Part of JD Sports stores have already implemented RFID in some of their shops;
— Celine, CK, Marco Polo, Etam... it doesn't matter anymore, I think by now you understand where to look.
Here is a promo video from ADIDAS about RFID implementation; they also collaborate with NEDAP, which is specifically a European company:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0-xl3F-Vuc
Small local chains are not noticed for such development; they are completely uninvolved in implementation or even attempts.
!!! BUT... as soon as the mass-market giants switch completely to RFID, a multitude of implementation and support specialists will be freed up, and antitheft companies will begin to aggressively advertise their systems to smaller stores.
I will also note my own observations related to the fact that AM and RF systems have been pushed to the maximum of their technological capabilities and are not developing further, which means the "finale" for these technologies and gradual total replacement, as they will break, become obsolete, and so on. And RFID systems also mean global analytics of sales, movement of goods, and PEOPLE in space, since an RFID tag from one store is read everywhere and by everyone by other RFID readers of any manufacturer (without specific data of course, but if they start sharing with each other and merging data into one database... you can be tracked not only by your phone's movements)...
6. How it works through the eyes of a shoplifter and security
An item not yet sold with a tag has a code in the chip specific to that item (essentially a serial number assigned at the factory).
When you approach the reading zone with this item and tag — a notification is sent to the guard's special smartphone stating: "item such-and-such was in the zone of reader such-and-such", then the guard will approach you if he was nearby at that moment and ask "gotcha?)"...
No, first he will ask where this specific item is, then check you with a handheld reader which has a narrower search zone and find the tag.
But such handheld readers are STILL very expensive, though soon you will see them more and more often.
But if the item was at the checkout, the RFID of this item was read, and the item passed through the receipt — no notification will come, but everything will be displayed in the smartphone program and on its screen when you pass through the readers. Consequently, even a purchased item will enter the store's database marked "left the store".
What can be done with this information?
— A question for your imagination based on this and other data taken from my site; I won't prompt or teach specific actions, you know how to do everything yourselves.