NFC technology: smart objects and IIoT
In the world of the Internet of Things everything is connected and objects are smart objects that communicate data and information, helping the user in a more effective management, even in an industrial environment. A key to this connection is the NFC, acronym of “Near Field Communication”, technology capable of providing short-range two-way wireless connectivity.NFC Tags are small chips connected to an antenna that allows interactions with an NFC reader, such as a smartphone or a tablet. The small size of the tags allows it to be integrated into multiple supports, although the most common form is the sticker, an adhesive label that can be applied anywhere.NFC technology is activated through the magnetic field generated near an information reader device, ensuring that the tag does not consume energy and results sleepy when not in use. This feature is very useful in terms of time: the NFC can work for several years, continuing to share data and informations. The memory is variable according to the type of chip, always including a unique code (UID, not modifiable) and a rewritable part of memory.There are many possible uses allowed by this technology, ranging from identification and authentication of consumables to combat counterfeiting, to parametrization and diagnosis of machinery. NFC Tags offer advantages that can be applied to different fields, from daily use to industry, simplifying and improving the management of objects. Here are the most significant:You can have an immediate reading of the status, use and diagnostics of an object or a machine;Communication and flow of data and information take place through magnetic fields therefore without the use of a dedicated battery, guaranteeing a high duration of the Tags;It’s possible to quickly combine the devices and the connection can also be made with objects that don’t have access to the network;Data security is higher than open network, and can be further implemented by entering passwords, limiting the possibility of data interception.In relation to the world of industry, we have already seen how the connections are radically changing the way we manage work, improving efficiency and quality. NFC represents one of the possible and certainly most interesting solutions, which already has engineering applications such as the Zebra TC75 touch computers, able to give the user access to information about the machinery in real time, even with damaged or dirty barcodes, improving mobility in the field. There are also dynamic NFC sensors such as the AS3956 from ams, used for industrial applications exposed to difficult operating conditions, able to withstand extreme temperatures (from – 40°C to + 125°C) or to an extended operating life for equipment and wireless sensors for infrastuctures such as bridges, roads and public services.Already used for cards, bracelets, flyers and even t-shirt and bibs, NFC technology is therefore able to perfectly marry with IoT and also IIoT, resulting in considerable importance for the simplicity of application and management on any device.
In the world of the Internet of Things everything is connected and objects are smart objects that communicate data and information, helping the user in a more effective management, even in an industrial environment. A key to this connection is the NFC, acronym of “Near Field Communication”, technology capable of providing short-range two-way wireless connectivity.
NFC Tags are small chips connected to an antenna that allows interactions with an NFC reader, such as a smartphone or a tablet. The small size of the tags allows it to be integrated into multiple supports, although the most common form is the sticker, an adhesive label that can be applied anywhere.
NFC technology is activated through the magnetic field generated near an information reader device, ensuring that the tag does not consume energy and results sleepy when not in use. This feature is very useful in terms of time: the NFC can work for several years, continuing to share data and informations. The memory is variable according to the type of chip, always including a unique code (UID, not modifiable) and a rewritable part of memory.
There are many possible uses allowed by this technology, ranging from identification and authentication of consumables to combat counterfeiting, to parametrization and diagnosis of machinery. NFC Tags offer advantages that can be applied to different fields, from daily use to industry, simplifying and improving the management of objects. Here are the most significant:
- You can have an immediate reading of the status, use and diagnostics of an object or a machine;
- Communication and flow of data and information take place through magnetic fields therefore without the use of a dedicated battery, guaranteeing a high duration of the Tags;
- It’s possible to quickly combine the devices and the connection can also be made with objects that don’t have access to the network;
- Data security is higher than open network, and can be further implemented by entering passwords, limiting the possibility of data interception.
In relation to the world of industry, we have already seen how the connections are radically changing the way we manage work, improving efficiency and quality. NFC represents one of the possible and certainly most interesting solutions, which already has engineering applications such as the Zebra TC75 touch computers, able to give the user access to information about the machinery in real time, even with damaged or dirty barcodes, improving mobility in the field. There are also dynamic NFC sensors such as the AS3956 from ams, used for industrial applications exposed to difficult operating conditions, able to withstand extreme temperatures (from – 40°C to + 125°C) or to an extended operating life for equipment and wireless sensors for infrastuctures such as bridges, roads and public services.
Already used for cards, bracelets, flyers and even t-shirt and bibs, NFC technology is therefore able to perfectly marry with IoT and also IIoT, resulting in considerable importance for the simplicity of application and management on any device.