In modern warehouse management, speed and accuracy are important yardsticks for measuring efficiency. With the rapid development of science and technology, RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology is gradually becoming a key force in promoting warehouse management to new heights. It not only optimizes the warehouse's operation process, but also promotes seamless collaboration between robots and humans, jointly shaping a more efficient and accurate logistics environment.
The core advantage of RFID technology lies in its ultra-high-speed data reading capabilities. Take UHF RFID devices such as the ASR-AL251G as an example. They can read more than 1,100 tags per second at a distance of 40 feet, which is much faster than traditional barcode scanners and manual recording methods. This powerful data capture capability enables warehouses to track and manage massive items in real time, significantly improving the accuracy and response speed of inventory management.
In the warehouse model where robots and humans collaborate, RFID technology plays a vital role. Take the Locus Origin robot as an example. This autonomous mobile robot (AMR) is combined with RFID technology to create an advanced warehouse management system. Robots move totes around the warehouse floor while humans pick products and place them into totes. In this process, RFID technology ensures that each product can be accurately and quickly identified and tracked, thereby greatly improving picking efficiency and accuracy.
It is worth mentioning that the launch of the wearable RFID device RecoHand has further promoted the intelligentization process of warehouse management. This device, jointly developed by AsReader and Teijin Frontier, has received US FCC/FDA approval and was named one of the best new products at the 2024 RFID Magazine Live Show. The RecoHand's design is unique in that its reading area is limited to two centimeters, meaning workers need to touch or nearly touch the tagged object with their hands to read the information. This precise reading method effectively avoids misreading and missing readings and ensures the accuracy of the data.
In actual applications, RecoHand has demonstrated amazing efficiency improvements. In actual warehouse environments in Japan, workers can use RecoHand to read tag information while grabbing items, combining two actions into one, greatly improving work efficiency. According to a Japanese government report, when RecoHand was used in hospital warehouses for first responders and COVID-19 first responders, its work efficiency was more than doubled.
In addition, RFID technology is also widely used in various industries that require inventory and tracking of assets. Whether in retail, manufacturing or medical industries, RFID technology can help companies achieve automation and intelligence in asset management. By tracking the flow and status of items in real time, companies can more accurately grasp inventory conditions, optimize supply chain management, and reduce operating costs.
RFID technology is driving warehouse management in which robots and humans collaborate into a new era with its unique advantages. With the continuous advancement of technology and the expansion of application scenarios, warehouse management in the future will be more efficient, intelligent and humane.
This paper is from Ulink Media, Shenzhen, China, the organizer of IOTE EXPO (IoT Expo in China)
