RFID in Japan

this pilot test is expanding. 1,300 taxicabs now RFID tagged.

via asahi.com

Suzuki Every is a small car designed for business users. The company recently released so-called "Every for Car Sharing" - a car that is equipped with an RFID reader for identifying multiple users (or drivers) of it. It is also equipped with a device that communicates with the management center.

via nikkei sangyo shimbun, november 1, 2006

via Pink Tentacle

A new project to develop ¡Èunmanned hotels¡É in Japan may soon eliminate the burdensome task of checking in at the front desk. A consortium of five companies, including the trading company Itochu and consumer credit provider Orico, are working to develop a network of hotels that rely on an online reservation and payment system, RFID-enabled Orico credit cards that serve as keys, and RFID-enabled door entry locks.

Chiyoda Maintenance developed a system to easily check "if everyone is here" using RFID. Imagine an excursion with your colleagues. "Alright, it's free time. Go play enjoy whatever you want. Just come back in 30 minutes, okay?" 30 minutes later, "is everyone here?" but what if you've got 400 colleagues travelling with you?

As you might have already guessed, the system uses RFID tags carried by people and a handheld device that reads the tags and shows a list of people who are missing. The read range is about 7-10 meters and takes about 5 sec to check 20 people but the system somehow supports as many as 400 people.

The company, Chiyoda Mainteneace -- their main business is actually to provide services for nuclear facilities.

via nikkei local edition, septermber 14.

via RFID blog

Fuji Xerox and Starway have collaborated for the development of recyclable packing boxes. These boxes can be used over a hundred times and tracked using RFID tags. Most of the traditional recyclable packing boxes are used for twice, not more than that.

NTT West recently unveiled an RFID system for repelling monkeys. Well, it's not only for monkeys, but their primary focus is monkeys. The system is designed to prevent monkeys/animals from messing up farms. Monkeys are first RFID-tagged. When they approach farms, the system detects them using RFID readers and notifies the residents via email. In addition, some lighting/sound alarms are used to scare off monkeys.

The system exploits "multi-hop RFID tags" that were developed by NTT Labs. The tags not only send out information but also read and relay information. When the tags are attached to monkeys, the tags are configured as a "transmitter." They can also be configured as a reader and installed in the environment. In mountains, where there is no wireless/network connectivity, the tags can be configured as relay devices and installed at key points. They are battery-powered and operate in the 429MHz band. The communication range is less than 1km.

via Nikkei IT Pro

Sanno University in Japan is experimentally using RFID tags to make classes more interactive.

RFID readers are installed on desks and students put their FeliCa RFID cards on the readers when a class starts. The RFID readers are integrated with devices that have four switches -- students can for example push the switches to answer a teacher's question. Then, the students' responses are automatically aggregated and shown on the teacher's personal computer.

via nikkei

TAGSYS gets largest library RFID deployment project in China - RFID Gazette reports.