RFID, Sensors and Cold Chains

Filed in archive Tags and Readers on November 30, 2005

Since we are on a theme this week exploring not only RFID, but also other technologies such as sensors and GPS, it seems like a good time now to talk about a rather interesting solution I encountered recently.

Alvin Systems, located in Turkey, has launched a cold chain solution with smart labels that combine RFID, temperature sensors, and mobile Pocket PCs.

Think about it for a minute. They have added temperature sensors to active RFID labels, and then programmed handheld devices to be able to read the data stored on the labels. That way the labels can be read anywhere in a warehouse, for instance. It works off of a Microsoft Dot Net (.Net) platform:

Low-cost, credit card sized RFID labels with embedded temperature sensors from KSW Microtec provide a cost-effective and efficient way for monitoring the condition of temperature-sensitive objects in cold chain operations.

KSW-Tempsense RFID-Sensor labels - attached to items, cases or pallets - monitor and log the environment temperature at predefined intervals during transportation or product lifecycle. The recorded data, which is stored on the smart label memory, can be read and analyzed in real time across all nodes in the cold chain with the unique Alvin Pocket PC based solution, enabling mobile personnel to identify objects and determine whether the object has been exposed to unacceptable temperatures during shipment or storage.

The Alvin Pocket PC based solution empowers mobile personnel to read, analyze and program RFID-Sensor labels attached on objects anywhere and anytime, providing enhanced efficiency, because previously, users had to program and analyze the labels via desktop computer often proving inefficient because either tags or attached cases had to be taken near the desktop PC RFID Reader.

The solution is used for:

• shipping and retailing of perishable foods such as produce, seafood or meat


• healthcare applications such as for storing or transporting blood or specimens


• pharmaceutical logistics

I find it interesting because of the combination of technologies into one application, using sensors, RFID and wireless devices.

Photo credit: Alvin Systems website. You can find more information in this PDF document outlining Alvin's solution.