Our customer, a nationwide automobile and truck retailer required a complex automatic data collection application that was solved successfully using RFID technology. This application included a) asset inventory management, b) access security, c) time and attendance and d) computer security, all using a single RFID technology.

Each vehicle was tagged with a Texas Instruments low frequency transponder disk. Each employee was issued a low frequency ID transponder card. A database network held the authorized list of employees and total vehicle inventory.

As each employee clocked in for the day they presented their transponder card to a Time and Attendance terminal. After clocking in the designated employees could then access computers on their network that held secure information. Their ID card was also used to gain access into secure areas and departments.

In order to leave the lot with a vehicle you would approach a security gate. The gate housed a high performance RFID reader and antenna system. Upon presenting a valid personal ID card to the reader the antenna then scanned for a vehicle transponder. The vehicle was then logged out with the authorized employee.

This application is a remarkable technical showcase for RFID. By combining multiple applications into one installation the cost of such a system was easily justified