Radio-frequency identification (RFID) is the use of an object (typically referred to as an RFID tag) applied to or incorporated into a product for the purpose of identification and tracking using radio waves.
RFID can be used in a variety of applications, such as:
- Access control
- Tracking of goods
- Public transport ticketing
- Toll collection and contactless payment
- Transportation and logistics
- Libraries
- Passports and travel documents
- Identification of patients and hospital staff
- Airport baggage tracking
- Loyalty systems
- Race timing
- Ski resorts and ski-lift ticketing
There are many types of RFID tags, from contactless NFC smart cards used for ticketing applications, with a range of less than a couple of centimetres, all the way to windscreen mounted eTags used on toll roads, able to read a car travelling at 100kph with a range of up to 10 metres.
