Research and Development Needs for RFID Thomas J. Sommer European Commission DG Information Society and Media / Unit G2 "Microsystems" Abstract: As technology is progressing, additional requirements both from industry and citizens (society) are formulated. Those are in turn translated into research needs with the objective to implement them allowing for improvements and for new applications. The paper describes the research needs for the three different categories of RFID tags (passive, semipassive and active tags) based on their specificities and foreseen use. Costefficiency for mass applications is a must and the added value as compared to barcodes has yet to be convincingly demonstrated to the citizens. Furthermore, research needs for RFID readers/interrogators are addressed. In addition, some important issues of general relevance are pointed out, e.g. the existing technological ISO/IEC standards and interoperability with barcodes during the period of their co-existence. Research addressing technology improvements should among others allow for privacy (one of the most important road-blocks on the way towards world-wide broad-scale implementation), interoperability, userfriendly applications of real benefit to everybody, while enabling industry to achieve productivity gains. Only if demonstrated benefits for the citizens will clearly prevail over the potential residual risks, a broad acceptance can be expected. This will facilitate the uptake and acceptance of the ubiquitous computing (one person surrounded by many computers) leading to the next generation of Internet – the Internet of Things. Although the basic RFID technology is not new, it is still technology in progress, expected to benefit from future improvements in semiconductors, antennae, materials and fabrication technologies [1]. There are many issues, which need considerable research and

development in the next future which would enable to introduce this technology on a truly wide scale worldwide and in several innovative applications and services. The general research trend is moving from simple identification towards more information and additional functionality, hence towards smart and networked systems. As far as technology is concerned, one has to distinguish between the research related to RFID tags and RFID readers. 1. Research and development topics for RFID tags: There are three categories for research and development on RFID tags [2]: A. The passive tags, which should not cost more than 1 to 5 cent for the actual mass applications where simple identification is sufficient. For some applications even passive tags need additional functionality like security features (authentication, encrypted communication) or larger rewriteable memory. Passive RFID tags use the energy from the reader’s RF field (magnetic or electromagnetic) to generate the backscatter modulation as well as to supply the tag circuitry. B. The so-called semi-passive tags do use the same technology as passive tags for the tag to reader communication (backscatter modulation) but use an auxiliary energy source (e.g. battery) to support data processing and additional functionality (e.g. crypto engines, sensors, memory).

C. The active tags are using an auxiliary energy source (e.g. battery) not only for the creation of the response modulation but also for the active generation of the RF energy for the tag-to-reader communication. These tags are considerably more expensive, but can combine identification with sensing, data processing, decision making, hence adding intelligence, more storage and communication. The added value will be the transition from mere passive identification to two-way information exchange, e.g. in a cooling chain from food production to the customer. To achieve this, RFID has to be combined with sensors or, in general, with micro-systems.

The range of products in the semi-passive RFID area is still very small. Since semipassive RFID tags do not have to take energy out of the magnetic or electromagnetic field of the reader in order to supply the logic, they can both provide higher reading ranges as well as additional functionality. Semi-passive tags can be combined with sensing functions, processing, decision making, intelligence, storage and communication. Even very large memories, complex crypto engines or energy consuming sensors can easily be integrated into the tag. New battery (e.g. polymer) or energy scavenging technologies may push this RFID sector to new and more powerful RFID applications. Ad C: Active tags reach the maximum of reading range since they establish a real two-way communication channel between the reader and the tag with the help of a strong energy source (e.g. battery) so the RF energy from the reader only serves for communication not for power supply purposes. In applications where additional functionality is required the energy from the auxiliary energy source may be partly used to support sensors, processors, memory and other devices. To achieve the objectives ad C) several research challenges are to be addressed.

Ad A: For the time being, the RFID chips are based on silicon material. Even with mass production of silicon based RFID chips, the cost per interconnected chip plus antenna is expected to be still too high to enable the expected breakthrough in applying it massively by the industrial users. In order to break the cost barrier, non-silicon materials e.g. based on polymers might be necessary. Use of polymer electronics for RFID tags promises cost reduction by ca. one order of magnitude what is needed for truly mass applications. In this context printable electronics and the so-called 'Reel-to-reel' manufacturing are foreseen.

1. Active tags, combined with sensing functions, processing, decision making, intelligence, storage and communication. 2. Smart tag networking: inter-tag communication or in general wireless sensor networks if one considers sensors embedded in tags.

For the mass production of RFID tags the environmental aspects have to be taken into account. Environmentally compatible or neutral RFID tags will be needed to avoid huge amount of 'special waste'.

3. Internet of Things combining the physical world with computers. It is the next step in enterprise computing. The "Internet of Things" is actually focused on identification with passive tag technology for mass markets. Although semi-passive and active tags may participate in the "Internet of Things" in principle, they are still used in niche and higher value market with lesser need for global networking due to higher costs.

So far, tags with integrated encryption engines exist for HF RFID (13.56 MHz) and symmetrical encryption only. There is a growing demand for crypto tags on UHF RFID. More secure and easier to handle asymmetrical encryption technology has to be developed and implemented for all RFID technologies (HF + UHF). Ad B:

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4. 'Real-time-enterprise': This will increase the potential for efficient logistics and manufacturing. With the 'Just-in-time' philosophy one will minimize the time, components and products stay in stock. It will also enable to know where and at which point of time the different components in the manufacturing process in a plant exactly are. A universal numbering scheme for any item produced worldwide, assigning to any object a unique ID number enables the Real World Awareness to work with information sharing between enterprises.

17. Multi frequency transponders (HF and UHF) 18. Advanced packaging and mounting (connection) technologies

2. Research and development topics for RFID readers: -

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5. Further miniaturisation and development of sensors with small power demand. 6. Advanced power supplies taking into account energy management, scavenging and storage (e.g. polymer batteries).

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7. Real-time localization and tracking (if not completely addressed under point 4) [3].

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8. Data security: energy efficient encryption technology [3]., non “clone” ability, privacy 9. Higher frequencies enabling smaller antennae, compact hand-held readers, enhanced positioning resolution [3].

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10. Ultra -Wideband (UWB) technologies (low power, bandwidth efficiency) [3].

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11. Printable electronics (e.g. organic electronics) [3]. 12. Environmentally independent smart tags 13. For on-metal tags and on-liquid tags: minimising the interference with metals and liquids 14. Reduced inter-tag interference 15. Increase of reliability (identification rate near 100%), robustness in harsh environment, avoiding false positive reads 16. Improvement of ultra low power design of tag IC

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Multi frequency readers: Readers able to operate at different frequencies (LF, HF, UHF). Multi standard readers: Looking to the easy to use and usable way to change from one standard to another. “Adaptive readers”. Even if readers comply with the same ISO standard, the type of signal modulation might make the distinction. Going all the way down to mini and micro readers. Looking beyond the SD (Secure Digital) and MiniSD readers and the Nokia/Samsung/SAGEM NFC embedded readers. Currently, the smallest readers are of the size of ca. 3cm x 3cm x 0.5cm and are in few cases already embedded in mobile phones. Reader to reader synchronisation in order to provide higher reader densities (coverage) and interoperability. Working on new anti-collision protocols and fast reader controller able to read more tags inside the reader antenna field. There is in general a trade-off between cheap and low-power electronics on the one hand and processing speed and possibly additional functionality on the other hand. If the processing speed of the reader is too low, there is a danger that the reader cannot read all tags offered at once or in a very short interval of time (e.g. the tags integrated in the textile worn by runners in a marathon race passing a gate). Working on cheap and strongly directional reader antennae in order to limit reading areas and reduce reader-to-reader

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interference. However, regulations may limit the reader system's RF output power. The latter plus antenna gain should not exceed a limit. Hence, the usage of directional antennae may not increase the amount of RF energy received by the tag (hence readability). It may reduce power consumption and costs on the reader side. To reduce cost of readers and cost of readers' management (new intelligent reader approaches)

The Position Paper entitled "To Strengthen European Technology: The Support of RFID within FP7" by CE RFID describes 10 technological research fields and one socio-economic study [4]. The research fields (by far not to be considered as complete) are entitled: - Packaging (also smart packaging) - IC Design (system on chip: example: sensors, energy supply, RF components on 1 chip) - Energy awareness (energy scavenging and thin layer batteries,) - RF Technology - Manufacturing (e.g. self-assembly of chips) - Polymer Electronics - Bi-stable Displays (visual display of the tag data in certain applications) - Sensors (low-power event-triggered sensors and their monolithic integration into the chip) - Cryptography - ICT Architectures

Research issues, in general relevant for all RFID applications regardless of the type of RFID tag: Research on Privacy Enhancing Technologies (PET) to disable unsolicited reading of tags (possibly also using Near Field Communication (NFC) technology which doesn't support reading distances of more than few cm). Research is needed on solutions supporting privacy (e.g. making the functioning of a tag subject to combination with another necessary physical variable, e.g. exposure to a certain wavelength and intensity of light).

There are some additional aspects to be considered:

- Keeping track of exact location of items

- To apply the important standards concerning the product code for RFID tags ISO/IEC 15459-4 and the Communication Protocol Standard in UHF band ISO/IEC 18000-6 Type C

- Shift from simple RFID to networked RFID systems - Interoperability: closed vs. open systems - Security and safety aspects - Power autonomy: attention is to be drawn to the innovative printed micro biofuel cells

- It seems however necessary to develop a technology which will enable reading of multiple numbering schemes, e.g. the Electronic Product Code EPC developed by EPCglobal and the Ubiquitous ID code (128 bit "u-code") developed by the YRP uID Center, Japan

One of the Working Groups (WG) of the European Technology Platform (ETP) EPoSS (European Platform on Smart Systems Integration) is the WG on RFID/Logistics. It consists of leading European RFID users and vendors (Metro, Deutsche Post World Net, NXP, UPM Raflatac, Siemens, …) and aims at elaborating a concise RFID technology roadmap and detailed recommendations for the European RTD and legislation policy on RFID. This group currently conducts a coordination action called “CE RFID” that will help to define RFID-related future R&D needs.

- During the migration phase towards RFID interoperability between barcodes and RFID has to be ensured

- Reliability of tag reading under difficult conditions (metal, liquids) to be improved

- To increase the power autonomy and to contribute to the power management: attention is to be drawn to the innovative printed micro bio-fuel cells -There are also other innovative concepts under consideration: - Chipless tags [5]

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highest importance will be in the logistics and related areas like real-time-enterprise, offering increase in productivity, saving costs and time. But also e.g. tracking of medication in hospitals, cross-checking of medical prescriptions e.g. against potential allergies, food traceability, anticounterfeiting, access control, helping handicapped and elderly persons and many other applications of benefit to our society might soon see the widespread introduction of RFID and smart tags.

- "Thinking Tags" is the name for combination of identification, sensing, processing etc. [6] - RFID Modular Platform seems to be an interesting idea to enable cost-efficient RFID solutions. A common technological platform would be necessary in order to enable a mass production of tags at very small cost [7] - System Integration: in order to introduce the new technologies in an optimum way in the respective industrial and commercial sectors, it is crucial for all RFID related projects to stress system integration (of particular attention are the interfaces to the systems of different vendors; therefore the interfaces are to be included into the system concept) [7].

References: [1] C. Heinrich: RFID and Beyond, p.70 (2005) [2] “Standardization Requirements within the RFID Class Structure Framework”, MIT AUTO-ID Labs Technical Report, Jan 2005 http://autoid.mit.edu/CS/files/11/down load.aspx [3] G. Wolfram: Implementing the European Research Area for Smart Systems Technologies: launching of the EPOSS ETP, Brussels, 05/07/2006 [4] Position Paper entitled "To Strengthen European Technology: The Support of RFID within FP7" from 23/09/2006 prepared by CE RFID [5] Item Level RFID in IDTechEx Report, p. 231 [6] Item Level RFID in IDTechEx Report, p.225 [7] W. John, Fraunhofer IZM, private communication, unpublished

- Security and Safety (e.g. an interaction among smart cars and road signs). Real-time localisation technology combined with passive, semi-passive or active RFID tags. - Extension of active RFID systems to RFID or sensor networks in order to achieve higher reading rates and/or higher reading ranges. - Interoperability of RFID tag systems with other networks (e.g. low-power sensors networks using for example ZigBee technology). - Networking of readers: to considerably increase the distance in case of wanted inter-tag communication. The reader could use one frequency for communication with the tags and another one for communication with other readers (meshing of readers) and a third one for communication with a central database. Prospects of later de-centralisation towards a network of intelligent objects can be envisaged.

________________ Disclaimer: The views expressed in this paper are solely the views of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position of the European Commission.

Dipl.-Ing. Thomas J. SOMMER Principal Scientific Officer European Commission DG Information Society and Media Unit G2 “Microsystems” BU 31 4/17 B-1049 BRUSSELS Tel: +32-2-29-64871 Fax: +32 2 29 98249 E-mail: [email protected]

RFID has the potential to revolutionise the way of producing, transporting and consuming various goods and its use is interesting in innumerable applications in several areas of our daily life. Probably the

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