Operational considerations in simulation and deployment of RFID systems

Abstract

Large-scale radio frequency identification (RFID) deployment is needed for efficient item identification in supply chains. To reduce cost and save time, simulations are often carried out before actual implementation, especially when RFID is used in regions in which strict regulations and standards must be adhered to. However, due to the unpredictable environmental effects on radio propagation simulation, simple results can be misleading and questions have been raised over the validity of many wireless simulations. This paper reviews, from the point of RFID antenna deployment, the sources of error in wireless simulations reported in some publications. Also, this paper offers important EMC information relevant to RFID system deployment