From Arkansas to Auburn
As the Auburn football team prepares to play against the University of Arkansas, there is no better time to look back at the lab’s history and growth over the past two decades. While the lab has been connected to Auburn University since 2010, it was originally founded by Bill Hardgrave at the University of Arkansas in 2005. During his time as a professor at Arkansas, Hardgrave, along with his then graduate student Justin Patton and Senthil CP, created the RFID Research Institute. When Patton and Senthil graduated, they continued with the lab and followed along as Hardgrave became Dean of the Harbert College of Business in Auburn. In a span of five years, the lab transitioned fully to Auburn, and as Hardgrave worked on growing the business school, Patton served as the Lab Director and Senthil as Technical Director. Since 2014, when the lab was completely transitioned to Auburn, the amount of growth in the RFID field has been immeasurable, but Hardgrave, Patton, and Senthil credit the University of Arkansas not only for their education, but also for the support needed to create the RFID Lab in the first place.
While the Lab is located in Auburn, there is a team from the lab based in Bentonville, Arkansas that works with industry partner Walmart. These hands-on developments happening at Walmart headquarters are vital to the success and growth of the lab and its partnerships. When asked about his time spent in Arkansas, Justin Patton said “My time as a graduate student at the University of Arkansas changed my life. Without Arkansas I would have never met Bill Hardgrave or helped create the lab. I cannot imagine a different path for my life and I am forever indebted to that school and town.” The opportunity to move the lab opened many doors for Hardgrave, Patton, and Senthil to expand their dream and become a powerhouse in the RFID world. Everyone here at the lab is very appreciative of the University of Arkansas for creating the foundation for the Auburn University RFID Laboratory, and in regards to the football game on Saturday…War Eagle and Go Tigers!
Auburn RFID Lab
Auburn University's RFID Lab specializes in the business case and technical implementation of radio frequency identification technology in retail, supply chain and manufacturing settings.
In moving to Auburn University in 2014, the lab was reunited with its founder, Harbert College of Business Dean Bill Hardgrave. Hardgrave helped launch the lab at the University of Arkansas in 2005.
The lab has continued to work with leading retail, supply chain, manufacturing and technology companies.