What is an RFID tag?
An RFID tag is an identification device that electronically stores information like a barcode tag. Each tag contains an EPC or Electronic Produce Code for unique product identification.
In the FASTag system, the EPC code consists of 13 digits issued by GS1 India, an authorised barcode registration body. They ensure that each vehicle receives a unique customer ID with their FASTags. The radio frequency signals from an RFID scanner can track the EPC to initiate a digital payment transfer at a toll plaza.
Also, read: How to find FASTag customer ID using vehicle number?
Components of RFID technology
There are four major components involved in RFID technology.
1. RFID tag
An RFID tag is a small device that conceals an electronic microchip as well as an antenna inside. The microchip inside the tag contains a unique ID number.
2. RFID antenna
An RFID antenna operates at a particular frequency based on the purpose of its application. Attached to an RFID reader, the role of this antenna is to detect RFID tags when they come within the range of its signal. Similarly, the tag conceals an antenna that catches the signal from the reader’s antenna.
The shape and size of an antenna can differ based on the operating frequency and application of RFID. For instance, a handheld RFID reader can have a very small antenna attached.
3. RFID reader
The reader is the hardware component that conceals an antenna to read RFID tags for information based on its application. These readers are responsible for transferring information within the system to initiate the process depending on the application.
4. Software
The RFID technology system requires software to operate. The type of software may change depending on the RFID application, but its major role is to control the reader, initiate scans and retrieve data from RFID tags to store in a database.
How does RFID work?
The RFID technology utilises the principle of inductive coupling that involves a receiver and a source antenna. The microchip in the RFID tag contains its unique identification code, manufacturing date, model access information, expiry date, etc.
An RFID reader sends small radio frequency signals to track and transfer data from an RFID tag. The tag catches the signal from the reader and begins data transmission back to the RFID reader. It is an entirely digital and contactless process of transferring data.
There are two types of RFID tags based on their power source.
An active RFID tag consists of a battery to power the transfer of information.
This battery is small in size and needs replacement after some time.
These types of tags offer a long communication range.
They can initiate communications and perform diagnostics as well.
A passive RFID tag doesn’t contain a battery.
It operates only using the electromagnetic energy sent by an RFID reader.
These tags are more economical to manufacture and last longer than active tags.
The FASTag system of toll collection uses Passive RFID tags.
What are the major RFID tag uses?
The ease of data transfer makes RFID a valuable technology in many industries. This technology has made its way into the retail, supply chain, security, healthcare, logistics, toll collection, etc.
Let’s discuss some of the major RFID technology applications in detail.
1. Toll payment collection
RFID technology is an efficient alternative to manual toll payment collection worldwide. In India, the FASTag system introduced by the government uses this technology to collect tolls at national highway toll plazas.
Almost all toll booths on national highways now have FASTag readers. All four-wheeler motor vehicle owners need a FASTag sticker attached to their vehicle’s windshield for electronic toll transactions.
A FASTag contains a microchip that secures all data associated with the vehicle, its owner and payment source. When a vehicle comes within 20 feet to 30 feet range of an RFID reader, it detects the signal and initiates the electronic transaction of toll amount.
Using this technology, the Government of India is improving the toll payment experience for vehicle owners. Toll booths are able to quickly collect payments and avoid long waiting periods.
2. Retail
RFID technology is bringing operational efficiency into supply chain management. Stores can manage their stocks efficiently, while customers can get product information faster.
Many fashion stores have adopted RFID to modernise their store experience for customers. It allows retailers to ensure faster customer checkouts without increasing the number of customer support staff.
The same technology helps to reduce the threat of theft in retail stores. The RFID system can detect whether the items passing through an exit door have been paid for or not.
3. Healthcare
RFID technology has many potential uses in the healthcare industry as well. It can ease the process of tracking medical equipment, stock of medicines, and even authorising access in different areas at a hospital.
RFID tag usage in healthcare removes the need for barcode scanning, which can improve the pace of various procedures. It also helps to further reduce the chances of human errors, making medical procedures more satisfactory for patients. By implementing this technology, hospitals and clinics can decrease the wait time for patients on busy days.
4. Security
RFID also improves access control in corporate offices, airports, hospitals, manufacturing plants, etc. Employers can provide different levels of authorisation to employees using RFID. Each employee can have a personal identification badge, and employers can install RFID readers at strategic locations of a company.
5. Logistics
Shipping and logistics are the primary sectors of RFID technology applications. Earlier, the manual tracking of inventory movements used to be overwhelming due to the large number of stored items at manufacturing plants, warehouses, etc.
With the arrival of RFID, it takes seconds to read and track hundreds of items without making a mistake. Moreover, all the data related to the stored items is updated without any manual work.
Installed at the gates, RFID readers can maintain an accurate record of everything going out and coming into the warehouse. Thus, this technology is increasing warehouse management efficiency on a large scale.
6. Baggage management in aviation
RFID technology is also improving the efficiency of baggage handling at airports. Unlike barcode scanning, an RFID reader doesn’t need a specific angle to read a tag. Similarly, operators can keep accurate track of baggage that moves out or comes into luggage storage.
RFID Tagging vs Barcode System
RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tagging and the traditional barcode system have advantages and limitations for automatic identification and tracking of objects. Here is a perspective on both technologies:
Parameter | RFID Tag | Barcode System |
|---|
Cost and Durability | RFID tags have higher upfront costs but more excellent durability in the long run. This is essential for Indian conditions involving dust, debris, and extreme weather. | Barcode labels are cheaper than RFID tags. However, they are also more prone to physical damage, which leads to replacement costs. |
Line of Sight | RFID tags can be read without a line of sight as signals can penetrate materials. This allows more reliable reading despite Indian conditions. | Barcode scanners require a clear line of sight to read labels accurately. They only succeed if the label is oriented towards the scanner. |
Data Volume | RFID tags can store over 1000 characters. This allows RFID systems to capture more information related to toll payments, vehicle registration data, and integrated payments. | A barcode label's data capacity is under 30 characters. |
Read Range | RFID systems can accurately read tags from ranges of 3-10 meters, allowing toll collection at higher vehicle speeds. This results in lower waiting times, fuel savings and reduced emissions. | Barcode systems have a maximum read range of 10-60 cm, requiring vehicles to slow down. |
Advantages of RFID technology in FASTag
The use of RFID technology in FASTag has turned out to be highly beneficial in many ways. Toll collection on highways is now much easier and less time-consuming. Let’s discuss the benefits in detail!
1. Cashless toll payments
Drivers don’t have to worry about carrying cash for toll payments anymore. Before FASTags, drivers used to pay tolls with cash, credit/debit cards at toll booths. But manual toll collections often tend to cause traffic jams, resulting in too much honking from vehicles in the queue.
The arrival of the RFID-enabled FASTag system has made toll payments cashless. Hence, the toll booth experience becomes much smoother and hassle-free for vehicle drivers.
2. Saves your time and fuel
Long queues of vehicles were pretty common at toll booths before the FASTag system. It significantly increased the time and fuel spent on a journey for drivers. The more time they spent stuck at toll booths, the more fuel they needed to complete their journey.
With RFID technology in place, now this problem has been almost resolved from toll plazas. It takes less than 60 seconds for a vehicle to cross a toll with automated payment deduction.
A car has to stop just for a few seconds for the RFID reader to detect a FASTag. Upon successful transaction, the toll gate opens immediately. It saves from long waiting periods at toll booths.
3. Minimal human intervention
Apart from cash payments, manual data logging was also a reason for time-taking toll collection before FASTags. Toll collectors at plazas had to collect the cash, log the data (such as the vehicle number), prepare the bill and give it to the customer. All this took too much time and increased the chances of errors too.
Now with RFID technology, the FASTag system has minimised human intervention in the process of toll collection. An automated network takes care of the scanning of tags and ensures accurate transactions and data logging.
4. Secure transactions
RFID technology has added more security and transparency to toll collection on Indian highways. Each FASTag comes linked to a digital wallet secured with a user ID and password. Moreover, a car owner has to register with his/her mobile number while buying a tag.
Thus, a user can conveniently track all toll deductions digitally. In fact, you will get an instant SMS alert on your registered mobile number for every toll amount debited from your FASTag wallet. Also, you can log into your digital FASTag wallet to overview all the expenses and recharge for future journeys.
Challenges in Implementing RFID-based Toll Collection in India
Integrating with Regional Transport Databases
Integrating with regional transport authority databases is critical for getting consolidated vehicle owner information and identifying toll violators. However, these databases often use legacy software and non-standard formats. Migrating them to modern systems with standardised data exchange APIs has seen slow progress. This integration needs to be faster.
Expanding FASTag Adoption
FASTag adoption among two-wheeler owners needs to be higher owing to poor awareness. Concerted efforts are required to mandate and incentivise its use for parking, fuel payments and linkages with insurance/vehicle registration to boost coverage.
Strengthening Digital Payments
Persistent connectivity issues at remote toll plazas lead to transaction failures, highlighting the need to build in payment gateway redundancies and enable offline digital payments for reliability.
Conclusion
Adopting Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) for electronic toll collection via FASTag has made highway travel smooth, cashless and hassle-free for vehicle owners across India. With the automatic deduction of toll fees and negligible waiting time, RFID technology has transformed the toll plaza experience. Though initial glitches like tag read issues and integration with regional databases need resolution, RFID has proven to be a successful innovation. Its ability to uniquely identify vehicles reliably under Indian conditions makes it the backbone of toll digitisation.
Frequently asked questions
Below we have answered some of the common questions about RFID-enabled FASTags.
