Best RFID technology for transit industry - DigiKey TechForum

Hi,

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I am currently working on a project with RFID technology. Since this is the first time I’m working with RFID, I could use some guidance.

Here are some of the product requirements:
• Install near a vehicle engine bay
• I will design the reader and could design the tags
• Should be able to read tag within 1-2 meters of range, or inside 20cm, depending on the approch chosen
• Will be place near metal and liquid (battery electrolyte)
• Must sustain (preferably) temperature from -40°C to 85°C
• The antenna must not be too big (ideally under 10cm of length/width)
• The reader might not have a direct line-of-sight with the tags

From what I have seen on Digi-Key website, there seems to have three approaches regarding RFID :
• Low frequency (LF)
• High frequency (HF)
• Ultra high frequency (UHF)

If you want to learn more, please visit our website UHF Rfid Reader Modules.

We would like to know, according to your experience, which technology best fits my needs, and which one is the most available/affordable? What IC do you suggest to implement the reader?

Thank you in advance for your time, have a nice day!

Hello @fapicard, Digi-Key does not have a large selection of RFID products nor do we have experience designing RFID systems. For 1-2 meter range you would likely need UHF frequency. I would suggest you start with a module before jumping into a chip design so you can do some real world testing evaluation to see if RFID is a viable solution for your application. I am not aware of any reader modules capable of -40 to +85 C operating temperature but you could look at something like https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/thingmagic-a-jadak-brand/M6E-MICRO-DEVKIT/ to do some initial testing/evaluation.

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