# Collin's Lab: RFID ## Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VpEVkiMU18s Tiny tags that send & store data, powered by radio waves and small enough to be embedded under the skin – RFID is used all over, but it remains a fascinating technology. # Collin's Lab: RFID ## Transcript ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/017/351/medium800/projects_Collin's_Lab_-_RFID-a.jpeg?1402458670) Radio Frequency Identification is a method for identifying a tagged object wirelessly using radio waves. Sounds simple enough - but let’s take a closer look at an example, shall we? ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/017/352/medium800/projects_Collin's_Lab_-_RFID-a-1.jpeg?1402458721) An RFID “tag” consists of a tiny chip connected to an antenna. ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/017/356/medium800/projects_Collin's_Lab_-_RFID-a-2.jpeg?1402458869) The tag is attached to an object, like say - this lamp here. An RFID reader placed in close proximity to the tag, generates an electromagnetic field which causes electrons to move through the tag’s antenna and subsequently power the chip. ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/017/357/medium800/projects_Collin's_Lab_-_RFID-a-3.jpeg?1402458913) That’s right, there’s no battery in this tag - it’s powered wirelessly by radio waves emitted from the reader … which is a rather slick move if you ask me. ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/017/359/medium800/projects_Collin's_Lab_-_RFID-a-4.jpeg?1402458979) The powered chip inside the tag then responds by sending its stored data back to the reader in the form of another radio signal. That radio signal is interpreted by the reader which then sends the data out to a computer or microcontroller. ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/017/361/medium800/projects_Collin's_Lab_-_RFID-a-5.jpeg?1402459063) So reading our tagged lamp here informs us that … “LAMP”. … yes, I can confirm that this … is a lamp. True. ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/017/363/medium800/projects_Collin's_Lab_-_RFID-a-6.jpeg?1402459171) Of course, that’s just an example. The data stored in the lamp’s tag could have been a price or serial number, or some sort secret message … which would’ve been pretty cool in hindsight. Now there are “active tags” which are self powered via a battery and capable of sending data over a greater distance - but they can get relatively large and cumbersome. ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/017/365/medium800/projects_Collin's_Lab_-_RFID-a-7.jpeg?1402459250) All the tags I’m using here are know as “passive tags” as they have no power source of its own. The benefit of passive tags is that they can be made very, very small. Some even small enough to be embedded under the skin or simply compact enough to be embedded in a label … ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/017/366/medium800/projects_Collin's_Lab_-_RFID-a-8.jpeg?1402459308) … which is … “WICKED COOL” … I suppose that is true. uhh - who programmed these tags? ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/017/367/medium800/projects_Collin's_Lab_-_RFID-a-9.jpeg?1402459389) That reminds me - some RFID tags are read-only but as you may have noticed, the tags I’m using here are customizable. I can write data to their internal memory just as easily as I can read it. ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/017/368/medium800/projects_Collin's_Lab_-_RFID-a-10.jpeg?1402459464) RFID technology is used in a variety of ways nowadays. It allows us to pay a toll from our cars without stopping. ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/017/370/medium800/projects_Collin's_Lab_-_RFID-a-12.jpeg?1402459486) Open a locked door with a simple swipe. Or even be reunited with a lost pet. ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/017/371/medium800/projects_Collin's_Lab_-_RFID-a-13.jpeg?1402459581) The possibilities of what you can do with it are numerous. You could even make your own … “COOKIES” Guys - that one didn’t even make sense! # Collin's Lab: RFID ## Learn More ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/017/377/medium800/projects_Microchip_rfid_rice---4x3.jpg?1402460061) # Definition [from Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RFID) Radio-frequency identification (RFID) is the wireless non-contact use of radio-frequency electromagnetic fields to transfer data, for the purposes of automatically identifying and tracking tags attached to objects. The tags contain electronically stored information. Some tags are powered by and read at short ranges (a few meters) via magnetic fields (electromagnetic induction). Others use a local power source such as a battery, or else have no battery but collect energy from the interrogating EM field, and then act as a passive transponder to emit microwaves or UHF radio waves (i.e., electromagnetic radiation at high frequencies). Battery powered tags may operate at hundreds of meters. Unlike a barcode, the tag does not necessarily need to be within line of sight of the reader, and may be embedded in the tracked object.Projects - [Unlock Android Phone with Wearable NFC](https://learn.adafruit.com/unlock-android-with-wearable-nfc "Link: https://learn.adafruit.com/unlock-android-with-wearable-nfc") - [Babel Fish](https://learn.adafruit.com/babel-fish/programming "Link: https://learn.adafruit.com/babel-fish/programming") - [RFID iPhone](https://learn.adafruit.com/rfid-iphone/overview "Link: https://learn.adafruit.com/rfid-iphone/overview") - [Adafruit PN532 RFID/NFC Breakout and Shield](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-pn532-rfid-nfc/overview "Link: https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-pn532-rfid-nfc/overview") - [Adafruit NFC/RFID on Raspberry Pi](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-nfc-rfid-on-raspberry-pi) ## Featured Products ### Adafruit PN532 NFC/RFID Controller Shield for Arduino + Extras [Adafruit PN532 NFC/RFID Controller Shield for Arduino + Extras](https://www.adafruit.com/product/789) We've taken our popular Adafruit PN532 breakout board and turned it into a shield - the perfect tool for any 13.56MHz RFID or NFC application. The Adafruit NFC shield uses the PN532 chip-set (the most popular NFC chip on the market) and is what is embedded in pretty much every phone or... Out of Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/789) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/789/guides) ### PN532 NFC/RFID controller breakout board [PN532 NFC/RFID controller breakout board](https://www.adafruit.com/product/364) The PN532 is the most popular NFC chip, and is what is embedded in pretty much every phone or device that does NFC. It can pretty much do it all, such as read and write to tags and cards, communicate with phones (say for payment processing), and 'act' like a NFC tag. If you want to do... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/364) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/364/guides) ### 13.56MHz RFID/NFC Clear Tag - Classic 1K [13.56MHz RFID/NFC Clear Tag - Classic 1K](https://www.adafruit.com/product/361) This is a blank 13.56MHz Classic 'laundry' tag - often used for laundry or identification but also found in other systems where a small proximity card is desired. This one is clear!  The tag contains a small RFID chip and an antenna, and is passively powered by the reader/writer... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/361) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/361/guides) ### 13.56MHz RFID/NFC Clear Keychain Fob - Classic 1K [13.56MHz RFID/NFC Clear Keychain Fob - Classic 1K](https://www.adafruit.com/product/363) This is a blank 13.56MHz RFID/NFC keychain fob - often used for keys but also an easy way to tag something. The tag contains a small RFID chip and an antenna, and is passively powered by the reader/writer when placed a couple inches away. These can be read by almost any 13.56MHz... No Longer Stocked [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/363) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/363/guides) ### 13.56MHz RFID/NFC Card - Classic 1K [13.56MHz RFID/NFC Card - Classic 1K](https://www.adafruit.com/product/359) This is a blank 13.56MHz RFID/NFC card - often used for train/bus passes but also found in other systems where a proximity card is desired. The tag contains a small RFID chip and an antenna, and is passively powered by the reader/writer when placed a couple inches away. These can be... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/359) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/359/guides) ### 13.56MHz RFID/NFC Sticker - Classic 1K [13.56MHz RFID/NFC Sticker - Classic 1K](https://www.adafruit.com/product/362) This is a blank 13.56MHz RFID/NFC sticker - often used for inventory uses but also wherever a sticker is desired. The tag contains a small RFID chip and an antenna, and is passively powered by the reader/writer when placed a couple inches away. These can be read by almost any... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/362) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/362/guides) ### 13.56MHz RFID/NFC White Tag - Classic 1K [13.56MHz RFID/NFC White Tag - Classic 1K](https://www.adafruit.com/product/360) This is a blank 13.56MHz RFID/NFC laundry tag - often used for laundry but also general tagging. The tag contains a small RFID chip and an antenna, and is passively powered by the reader/writer when placed a couple inches away. These can be read by almost any 13.56MHz RFID/NFC... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/360) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/360/guides) ## Related Guides - [Adafruit PN532 RFID/NFC Breakout and Shield](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-pn532-rfid-nfc.md) - [Babel Fish](https://learn.adafruit.com/babel-fish.md) - [Mystery Box: Remote Chess Board Puzzle Lock](https://learn.adafruit.com/mystery-box-remote-chess-board-puzzle-lock.md) - [I2C Addresses and Troublesome Chips](https://learn.adafruit.com/i2c-addresses.md) - [Raspberry Pi NFC Minecraft Blocks](https://learn.adafruit.com/raspberry-pi-nfc-minecraft-blocks.md) - [Adafruit NFC/RFID on Raspberry Pi](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-nfc-rfid-on-raspberry-pi.md) - [NFC Ring Password Helper](https://learn.adafruit.com/nfc-ring-password-helper.md) - [NFC Raspberry Pi Media Player](https://learn.adafruit.com/nfc-raspberry-pi-media-player.md) - [RFID iPhone](https://learn.adafruit.com/rfid-iphone.md) - [Scannable Links with NFC](https://learn.adafruit.com/scannable-links-with-nfc.md) - [Unlock Android Phone with Wearable NFC](https://learn.adafruit.com/unlock-android-with-wearable-nfc.md) - [3D Printed RFID NFC Rings](https://learn.adafruit.com/3d-printed-rfid-nfc-rings.md) - [Adafruit Feather M0 Radio with RFM69 Packet Radio](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-feather-m0-radio-with-rfm69-packet-radio.md) - [Controlling Devices with RFID Wiz](https://learn.adafruit.com/controlling-devices-with-rfid-wiz.md) - [ScoutMakes FM Radio Board STEMMA I2C](https://learn.adafruit.com/scoutmakes-fm-radio-board-stemma-i2c.md)