The Booming RFID Business in 2010

There are three types of active RFID system. First Generation is one tag per reader, the battery and chip in the tag usually enhancing range and/or managing sensors. Second Generation is Real Time Locating Systems (RTLS) as particularly seen in US hospitals and car production lines in the last few years for locating people and assets. Usually several interrogators read each tag to give position in 3D. Finally, Third Generation is Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) which are self organising, self healing tag networks rather like the internet with every tag doubling as a reader. WSN sales (military, process industries etc.) have recently overtaken RTLS sales.