The Definition of Active RFID
Radio frequency identification tags can be attached to an item to make it easier to track. These tags are frequently used by retailers to track inventory, and they can also be attached to identification materials, such as a driver's license or a passport. An active RFID is a tag that includes a power supply; a passive RFID does not include this power supply.
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Cost
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An active RFID tag is larger than a passive RFID tag. Active RFID tags are frequently attached to items that do not have a power cord that connects them to a wall socket; the tag needs battery power. Because of the battery and the transmission equipment requirement, an active tag is also more expensive than a passive tag. According to the federal Department of Transportation, these expenses don't increase the cost of the tag much by themselves, but active tags usually cost a lot more than passive tags for users, because the active tag maker often includes additional communications equipment.
Activation
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Active RFID tags can send information without receiving a signal. If the tag continually sends out transmissions, its power supply will run out quickly. Many tags only activate after a sensor triggers a response. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, some common triggers for active tags are temperature, heat and humidity sensors. This feature can help prevent spoilage when the tag is used to track inventory in a warehouse, or a ship's cargo.
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Range
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Another benefit of an active RFID system is its increased communication range. A scanner can only detect a passive tag from a short distance, which depends on the amount of power that the scanner consumes. An active tag can transmit information from a much greater distance, especially if the tag does not send out frequent signals, so it can emit a stronger signal when it does send one.
Utility
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The transmission ability of an active tag makes it a better choice when it is necessary to discourage people from tampering with the tag. Active tags can be used to mark clothing in a department store, identify prisoners in a jail, and identify hazardous waste. Because a passive tag can't be read until it passes by a scanner, someone can simply remove the passive tag. The active tag can be designed to send out a signal as soon as it is removed, using a motion sensor.
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References
- Federal Aviation Administration: Airworthiness Approval and Operational Allowance of RFID Systems; Sept. 22, 2008 (PDF)
- U.S. Department of Transportation: Electronic Cargo Seals: Context, Technology, and Marketplace; Oct. 28, 2009
- Environmental Protection Agency: Tracking Radioactive Materials With Radiofrequency Identification Tags; March 15, 2011
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
