What is RFID?
Radio Frequency Identification
Objective: Introduce briefly the concept of RFID, and explain the operating principles of this technology; then, take a look to the global marketand make a focus on the retail sector.
Plan:
The technology
The market
A focus on the retail sector
The technology
A quick history The radio-frequencyidentification, or RFID, is the result of the fusion of two technologies: the radio technology and electronics which now has been replaced by microelectronics.

Here are the main steps of theevolution of RFID:
1948: The concept of the RFID system originates in the forties. Its purpose was to be able to make the difference between friendly aircraft and enemy aircraft. Huge tags, ortransponder, were placed in planes in order to be seeing as friendly to radars. This IFF system (Identity: Friend or Foe) was the first use of the RFID. Nowadays, the air traffic control isstill based on this principle.
1970: During the seventies, RFID systems remained protected technology for military use, supported by states for the security of some sensitive sites including thenuclear sector.
1980: The creation of micro-systems and the improvement of technologies lead to the use of passive tag (see below).
At the end of the seventies, this technology istransferred to the private sector. One of the first commercial applications is the identification of livestock in Europe.
The early eighties marked the manufacture and marketing of tags by manyEuropean and American firms.
1990: Beginning of standardization for interoperability of RFID equipment starting with the smart card systems and tags-readers in general. {draw:frame}Operating principles This technology is based on the emission of electromagnetic fields received by an antenna coupled to an electronic chip (transponder or tag). The field serves as a vehicle of…