RFID Training And Research: The Radio Frequency Identification Center of Excellence At Penn State Behrend

Written by Tony Paris, managing editor, RFID Solutions Online

We have all heard the news about RFID and its emergence as the technology that has the greatest potential impact on our daily lives. From healthcare applications to consumer applications such as tracking our buying habits at the local grocery store, RFID is impacting our life and the way we do business. Studies everywhere support the belief that RFID is here to stay. Consider the following:

• 23% of companies polled by AMR Research are piloting RFID technology, while 38% plan to evaluate RFID technology in the next two years.
• RFID Tribe uncovered that by 2015, 1.3 million people will work in the RFID industry.
• Fast Track Technologies Ltd. says that by 2010, the market for RFID within the healthcare sector alone will reach $8.8 billion

Just down the road from the RFID Solutions Online office is one of the industry's leading proponents of RFID and its applications, the Radio Frequency Identification Center of Excellence At Penn State Behrend. The mission of the RFID Center is to conduct RFID applied research and outreach resulting in strategic advantage and economic growth for industry. Specifically, the RFID Center does the following:

• Assists businesses (manufacturers, distributors, retailers) implementing RFID
• Offers training to information technology providers to attain RFID expertise
• Conducts and coordinates applied research in the areas of RFID technology and its application to supply chain management
• Integrates RFID content into engineering and business courses

Recently, we had a chance to tour the facility, which is housed within the new $30 million, 160,000-square-foot, Research And Economic Development Center (REDC) at Penn State Behrend. Chris Wassel, RFID program manager for the RFID Center was our host.

Once you get past the sheer size of this incredible building, you can understand how truly state-of-the-art the RFID Center is. It includes an array of high-end portals, readers, label printers, handheld devices, tags, and more. It's here where Wassel and his team are conducting research and working with clients on various RFID applications. Wassel says, "With the DoD's mandate quickly approaching (12/31/07), the 60,000 plus vendors that work with the DoD are starting to feel pressure to comply. We view 2007 as the year where we will see a sharp increase in acceptance and actual integration."

Chris Wassel, RFID program manager for the RFID Center provides a demonstration of how CPG businesses are using RFID.

Wassel does not seem to be far off in his claim that 2007 will be the year of integration. As we continued our tour, various regional clients such as: Process and Data Automation, Inc.; GE Rail; Price Corporation; Softek; Hamot Medical Center; Erie Plastics; and others had projects in various stages of research and testing. One project the RFID Center team was working on was for a local hospital that is trying to integrate a real-time locating system (RTLS) for its medical equipment. Though it was just in a testing phase, the RFID Center team and client have already been able to work together with regular frequency.

Another aspect the RFID Center is focused on is its educational events, in particular, the RFID Center is concentrated on its new course offering — a two-day in-depth RFID training program with a hands-on lab. Attendees will be prepared for CompTIA RFID+ certification. "One of the goals of our educational program is to integrate RFID deeper into various curriculum and end user applications to foster the growth and support of RFID," explains Wassel.

In its short existence, the RFID Center has been able to accomplish quite a bit. Below are just a few of its recent accomplishments:

• Development of an RFID technology overview course
• Development of a DoD-focused RFID course (aligned with the DoD Procurement Technical Assistance Center partnership)
• Development of an advanced RFID training course with integrated lab activities
• Hosting of an RFID conference consisting of more than 200 attendees, 20 exhibitors, and 5 nationally known experts
• Initiated multiple RFID projects
• Integration of RFID technology into 3 Penn State University courses

If you are considering an RFID program, the Radio Frequency Identification Center of Excellence At Penn State Behrend could be a great place to get started. If you have specific questions regarding RFID and its potential role in your business, please ask us by e-mailing info@rfidsolutionsonline.com.