Overview
The case study outlines the deployment of Orange RFID’s UHF system to track donation sacks by tagging each gunny (jute) bag with a flexible 100×100 mm UHF label. The tracking process relies on a network of fixed reader portals and handheld devices that log each bag’s ID as it moves from the initial donation collection point to storage and counting areas.
Deployment Scenarios
The report outlines three phased deployment strategies based on volume and scale:
- Small Scale (Pilot): Designed for a single donation hall handling 5–20 bags daily. It utilizes 1 fixed reader portal and 1 handheld scanner to validate the technology and reduce manual errors.
- Medium Scale (Main Temple): Tailored for multiple halls within a temple complex, processing 50–200 bags a day. This scenario deploys 2–3 fixed readers and pushes tag reads to a central database that integrates with the temple’s donation software.
- Large Scale (Enterprise): A multi-site or city-level solution (like Tirupati) managing 500+ bags daily. It features a distributed network of 4–6 fixed portals and mobile units, linking directly with enterprise ERP systems to provide end-to-end chain-of-custody tracking and zero unaccounted bags.
Technical & Operational Considerations
- Interference Challenges: The UHF RF signals can be absorbed by the metal coins inside the bags, as well as by the human bodies in dense crowds.
- System Optimization: To overcome interference, tags are attached at the bag’s lip away from the metal mass, and fixed portals utilize circular-polarized antennas from multiple angles to catch tags regardless of their orientation.
- Performance Targets: Depending on the scale, the system is designed to achieve bag read rates between ≥95% and ≥99%, reducing bag processing times to under 3 to 10 seconds per bag.
- Security & Privacy: The RFID tags store only an EPC code, ensuring no personal donor data is at risk. System data flows over secured networks, and physical access is strictly managed to preserve audit integrity.
