TORONTO, Feb. 12 /CNW/ - SAMSys Technologies Inc., (SMY:ME)
(www.samsys.com) of Toronto, a provider of Radio Frequency Identification
(RFID) reader hardware, has been selected by AVL Information Systems Ltd.
(YAV:V) (www.avlinfosys.com) of Fort Gratiot, Michigan to develop and adapt
active RFID protocols into SAMSys' current passive RFID reader architecture.
AVL will deploy the resulting SAMSys' active technology products into its
Chaperone asset tracking solution -- a global positioning system (GPS)
transceiver used for automatic vehicle location.
"This development and supply arrangement will help us broaden our
capacity to incorporate a higher level of functionality into our current
systems to take advantage of market opportunities for active RFID tag
applications," says SAMSys CEO Cliff Horwitz. "By further enabling our
technology that we have developed to date, we are able to provide active tag
reader solutions in tandem with our highly versatile and modular passive RFID
reader technology."
Passive RFID tags differ from active tags in that they incorporate its
own power source (battery on board) where the tag is a transmitter rather than
a reflector of radio frequency signals. Active RFID tags enable a broader
range of functionality due to having that power source -- high speed
interrogation, temperature monitoring, longer read range, LEDs and audible
alarms.
"SAMSys became our logical choice not only because of its technological
expertise, but it has become recognized as a global RFID reader specialist,"
adds AVL's chairman Peter Fisher. "As a GPS company that supplies 'add on'
equipment to vehicles allowing clients to track fleets, taxis and buses, AVL
is looking to build active RFID tag capabilities within our products. A
current issue with GPS tracking is that once indoors, users are out of
satellite range. Active RFID technology solves that problem by working
anywhere, making it especially valuable as a tracking solution. SAMSys'
technology will allow us to expand our market to those applications that must
operate both indoors and out."
"This is another new relationship with a company that has recognized the
uniqueness of what we are doing in the market," adds Horwitz. "They have
approached us to incorporate additional functionality into our readers that
eventually will translate into supply chain applications that are best
addressed by incorporating active RFID tags into the overall solution."
RFID is an electronic labeling system that uses radio frequency to count
closely spaced items without the need to separate and scan individual items.
RFID consists of a tag and a reader. The reader transmits a signal to the tag,
which is a small transceiver. The tag transmits encoded data back to the
reader, which logs it via computer. The tag has read-write capabilities,
enabling its data to be modified remotely. The system provides greater
flexibility over bar-code inventory-control systems because there are no line
of sight requirements and physical contact or operator intervention is not
required. |
