Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is an automatic identification method, relying on storing and remotely retrieving data using devices called RFID tags or transponders. An RFID tag is a small object that can be attached to or incorporated into a product, animal, or person. RFID tags contain silicon chips and antennas to enable them to receive and respond to radio-frequency queries from an RFID transceiver. Passive tags require no internal power source, whereas active tags do.
Boston’s Logan Airport is instituting a pilot program that will use RFID to track passengers and baggage from airport arrival to their final travel destination. The funding for the project is coming from Boston Engineering, located in Waltham, MA, is partnering with Vienna, VA-based Inkode to utilize their Chipless Remote Identification System (CRIS) technology.
The pilot, nicknamed SEATS (Secure Environment for Airport Terminal Systems), uses an interesting and convenient RFID sticker, which is chipless. The process employs a wireless tracking mechanism developed by Boston Engineering that tracks passengers from the time they check in to a self-service kiosk for their boarding passes. At this point, the hardware scans the person?s ID, captures his photo, and verifies a ?passenger profile.? The process continues from within the kiosk where the traveler?s ID is scanned and prints the photo on the baggage tags. The bag continues to an in-line bag conveyer reader with ramp loader, and a reader tracks the bag through the system. The gate boarding pass confirms the passenger has boarded the aircraft.
As the process employs chipless RFID technology, static electricity that is generated by huge conveyers carrying luggage is not affected, according to Boston Engineering COO Mark Smithers. The tags are reported to have a read range beyond the standard 10 meters for other airport tracking systems being considered.
The Mass Port Authority is not funding this beta test. Smithers stated:
Boston Engineering and INKODE Corporation are very excited to be allowed to demonstrate the chipless RFID technology at Logan Airport. However, it is important to note that the Massachusetts Port Authority [the governing body of the airport] has not actually ‘contracted’ with Boston Engineering…This is a pilot project to be funded by Boston Engineering and INKODE to demonstrate the effectiveness of the chipless RFID technology for wireless baggage tracking. Massachusetts Port officials have agreed to allow a demonstration of the technology with the future possibility of adopting it, however, they have not contracted it, nor are they funding it at this time. Boston Engineering and INKODE are very optimistic that this demonstration will be successful and lead to future adoption of this technology at Logan and other airports nationally.
It is exciting to see this pilot. Innovative technologies add to streamlining the process of passenger check-in and offer another layer of security. It will be interesting to see what the results will show. Time will tell, but it is encouraging to see how industrial research can collaborate and that investment in pilot projects such as this is welcomed.