ODIN creates RFID baggage tag benchmark

In an effort to help airlines and airports choose the optimal tags and eliminate unnecessary expense, ODIN Technologies has created the first scientific RFID study for airline baggage tracking, the RFID Baggage Tag Benchmark. Several RFID tags designed specifically for airline baggage tracking have been proven to provide nearly 100 percent read accuracy across global RFID frequency testing. According to the IATA (International Air Transport Association) each piece of lost luggage costs between USD $90 and $100 in direct costs.

The RFID Baggage Tag Benchmark is designed to help airports and airlines understand the key characteristics behind successful RFID baggage tagging and how current tag offerings stack up to scientific scrutiny. Designed for end users, the data is presented for scientific RF tag performance as well as high speed conveyor testing. The RFID Baggage Tag Benchmark can save airport authorities and airlines tens of thousands of dollars in testing and narrow in on successful products available today.  

‘We've had airports contact us about using stimulus money to modernize baggage systems in an effort to make their airports more attractive to international carriers and cut costs at the same time,’ commented Patrick J. Sweeney II, ODIN’s founder. ‘Airlines and airports must replace 35 year-old barcodes, but don't know what RFID systems are best. ODIN’s RFID Baggage Tag Benchmark provides answers.

‘Already a dozen airports globally have adopted RFID for baggage tracking. We expect half the airports worldwide to be using RFID in the next five years. It is a very fast return on investment, especially since more than 10 percent of all baggage errors are caused by unreadable barcodes whereas over 98 percent of all RFID tagged baggage today is read properly the first time. For Class B airports or major carriers, RFID can provide a pay back in less than 12 months. In the past the US Department of Homeland Security has made funding for these projects available for airport authorities because of the faster access to tagged bags and enhanced security. Now that airports have more variety in quality tag choices and solid ROI case studies, there has never been a better time to invest in RFID.’

In the benchmark ODIN tested 13 tags using first scientific, laboratory based tests, and secondarily on a high speed baggage sorting system. The goal was to primarily test tag sensitivity of converted labels (baggage tags) across the global UHF frequency band (ETSI/Europe, FCC/United States, and TELEC/Japan). Europe and Japan represent the low and high end of the UHF frequency spectrum allocated for use globally, while the United States covers a wide spectrum in the middle. Other geographies typically allocate spectrum within these ranges. It is important to test across the UHF spectrum because tag performance often varies in different frequencies.

The test results include:

• Tag sensitivity consistency or manufacturing consistency
• Power effectiveness
• Orientation sensitivity
• Distance testing
• High speed baggage conveyor testing

The RFID Baggage Tag Benchmark is sponsored by Siemens. As one of the major suppliers of RFID systems, Siemens is using RFID as one of the key technologies to make airport operations more efficient. 

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