A Look At How RFID Revolutionised Parking Systems In SG
Gathering and tracking data have become integral to virtually all aspects of life. When consumers buy groceries, some personal information may be required by shops to give them insights on how they can better serve customers better to improve their shopping experience. At libraries, personal data is also needed to help them track the books that is borrowed. Tolling booths use RFID to manage private and public roadways as well.
Technological advancements have made gathering and tracking data from everywhere convenient. This is what Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is all about.
RFID is the wireless non-contact application of Radio Frequency Electromagnetic Fields to transmit data. It is used in various applications to automatically identify and track tags attached to different objects, including cars, books, etc.
RFID tool tracking is also used to manage and control reports and operations of parking systems. It tracks check-ins and check-outs using tags, readers, and barriers to ensure a smooth traffic flow inside parking lots. Drivers do not need to wait for their vehicles to be manually identified, as it will be done automatically when the readers detect the RFID tags in the In-Vehicle Unit (IU) of the car. It also heightens security inside carparks, giving vehicle owners peace of mind.
System Design
In carparks, RFID software and hardware are being used. These include readers, antennae, tags, labels, barriers, cables, and computers for the hardware requirements. For the software requirements, a data management system is utilised to store and manage data, while a programming language is used to collect and operate a car park’s data. Most of the readers used for parking systems have four ports to connect four different antennae to it in UHF (Ultra High Frequency).
Every RFID reader requires a fixed IP address to be able to store vehicle data, including plate numbers, vehicle IDs, and models. A reader will be connected to a computer to communicate between the software and the reader, as well as for the automation of barriers. The software or data management system will then create the database and reports.
How the System Works
All vehicle data is stored in the database. Respective tags and IDs are provided to the vehicle owners and accessed through the system. The RFID reader reads the data on a tag assigned to each vehicle that checks in at the carpark. The reader will then read all the information stored in each tag and transfer the data to the system. Cars that do not have tags on them will not be allowed entry. If the UHF RFID tag does not match any information in the system, the barrier will not open and can even trigger an alarm. The same thing happens every time a vehicle checks out of the carpark.
Conclusion
UHF RFID tags and readers help to ensure carparks are secure and well-managed. Automating the check-in and check-out of every vehicle that uses a slot in the carpark allows vehicle data to be managed and tracked easily and more efficiently.
