Auburn University is strengthening its foray into radio-frequency identification (RFID) technologies by opening the doors to a new Aviation and Aerospace ID Lab. As a complement to Auburn’s Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Lab, the new laboratory will add the aviation and aerospace markets to its current coverage of RFID for retail, supply chain, and manufacturing applications. RFID is of growing importance in tracking passengers and their cargo throughout the globe and into and back from space.
Tom Rogers, the managing director of the Aviation and Aerospace ID Lab, said: “All of the experiments and tests conducted by the lab will provide concrete, scientific evidence that the technology can cut cost, improve safety and enhance efficiencies of businesses and government organizations today.” Rogers, a former pilot and a 2012 alumnus of Auburn, added: “It is about proving that the technology will deliver a strong return on investment.” For inventory control and management, RFID tags and inlays placed on a passenger’s wrist or on inventory can be scanned by RFID readers from as far as several meters to access data related to that ID tag instantaneously.
In addition to RFID technology, the new laboratory is expected to explore advances in sensor technology, especially sensors capable of providing reliable detection while operating at low power levels, as might be used in Bluetooth or Internet of Things (IoT) sensors accessed via Internet connections. Rogers observed: “There are just a lot of applications for the technology in both the commercial aviation and aerospace sectors,” with visions for strong research advances fueled by partnerships with private and public team members. Rogers noted: “We are seeking to bridge the gap between industry and academia, being focused on the business case and technical implementation of RFID and other emerging sensor technologies.”