Meet Laura Reeder! Laura is the newest member of the RFID Lab and is joining the ARC team as a Program Manager. She graduated from UAB in 2011 with a degree in Excercise Science. After working as a Vet Tech, she moved to Auburn in 2014 and joined the School of Veterinary Science as a K9 instructor. There she worked on the Research and Development Team where she trained bomb sniffing dogs. After her work with the School of Veterinary Science, she began working at Publix, where she found her passion for managing people. She is now pursuing an Executive MBA at Auburn Univeristy, where she is honing her leadership skills and expanding her passion for working with people.
As Program Manager, Laura oversees the student operations of the ARC program. She organizes student schedules and makes sure that testing is running efficiently to ensure that the team is making good use of Auburn’s two testing chambers. Additionally, Laura makes sure that all of the various projects are adhering to their timelines and provides support to the student employees where needed. For Laura, each day looks a little different, but she is always working to ensure that the ARC Program is running smoothly.
Laura and Kim have been married for six years and are proud pet parents. They have four dogs, peanut, Loulou, Bo, and Idgie, and one cat, Kya. In her free time, she likes to upcycle old furniture, camp, and spend time with her family. Laura’s go-to gas station snack is a bag of Gardettos Rye Chips and a Diet Coke. Her favorite Auburn tradition is the eagle flight before football games. We are so excited to welcome Laura to our team and can not wait to see the impact that she will have on the lab!
The Auburn RFID Lab is excited to announce the 2024 Source Tagging Workshop! The workshop will be held in Auburn, AL on April 3rd and 4th, 2024. We are so excited to be able to welcome both tag suppliers and end users to this event to learn more about implementing RFID solutions for their businesses! This event will have multiple sessions covering different topics centering around the latest RFID and sensor technologies. We hope this event will act as a forum of communication between both suppliers and end users to propel conversation and innovation in the RFID space. In addition to the sessions, the workshop will also provide attendees with the opportunity to take a tour of the Auburn RFID Lab and learn more about the function of RFID across different use cases. The 2024 Source Tagging Workshop is a great opportunity to start your business’s RFID journey or deepen the knowledge that it already has. If you are interested in learning more or registering for this event, please visit aub.ie/2024workshop.
Meet Ann Lilly McDaniel, the team lead for our BUZZ team! Ann Lilly is a senior studying Apparel Merchandising and Supply Chain Management from Florence, Alabama. Ann Lilly has been working at the lab since August 2022. One of her favorite things about working in the lab is the opportunity to learn about retail technology daily! She also likes being able to work with people from different areas of Auburn’s Campus that she might not have met otherwise! After graduation, Ann Lilly hopes to work for a corporate retail company as either an inventory analyst or a buyer/planner. A fun fact about Ann Lilly is that she was actually raised an Alabama fan and chose to come to Auburn for school (she says it was the best decision ever, and we agree!) Her go to gas-station order is a pack of Sweet Tart Ropes and a Propel! We are so thankful for Ann Lilly and all the hard work that she does for the lab, and we hope you enjoyed getting to know her! Make sure to check back soon for more lab employee spotlights and other blog posts!!
RFID. You’ve probably heard the name tossed around, been told to buy a special wallet to stop it, or maybe even seen an RFID tag in a store. But what exactly is RFID?
RFID stands for Radio Frequency Identification. RFID systems are used to transmit data quickly and painlessly. RFID systems are made up of three parts: the tag, the antenna, and the reader. The reader sends out radio waves, which are amplified by the antenna. The radio waves activate the tag, which then broadcasts its data back to the reader.
RFID is being implemented in many different industries with the same goal in mind: efficiency. Unlike barcodes, an RFID tag does not have to be visible to be scanned. So, companies with lots of stock are using tags to do hours worth of inventory tracking in minutes!
But why does RFID matter to the average consumer? Well, in addition to its use in inventory tracking and supply chain management, RFID can simplify your daily life. If you’ve ever crossed the finish line of a race, tracked your pet, or used an E-Z Pass at a toll bridge- then you have been the beneficiary of RFID technology. The use of RFID systems removes the need to stop and scan a code or check a pass.
Have you visited or seen videos of Amazon’s new Amazon Go Stores? This is just the latest example of RFID being used on the consumer end! The process is easy! You simply sign into your Amazon account or enter your payment method, shop like normal, and then, “Just Walk Out!1” No need to wait in line at a check out kiosk, because the RFID tags on each product automatically add your products to your bill.
Although it has been around for years, the implementation of RFID is growing rapidly. The Auburn RFID Lab is at the forefront of innovation in sensor technology and RFID solutions. If you would like to learn more about RFID, implement RFID Solutions for your business, or take a tour of Auburn’s Lab, please contact us at rfidlab@auburn.edu.
As the dust settles from the craziness of the holiday season, it’s time to start reflecting on the past year and look forward to what the new year will bring for our lab and RFID technology.
Through the end of 2023, there were many exciting events in the lab. Between a visit from Walmart Executives to a lab-wide Christmas party, the hustle and bustle of year-end activities was no stranger to our building. The visit from Walmart allowed us to show the executives not only the progress that the lab has already made in RFID research but also gave them a glimpse into the future of the lab’s work in supply chain management and inventory tracking solutions.
2023 also brought on new partnerships for the Lab. The Los Alamos National Lab has signed a contract with Auburn University to expand collaboration and research efforts, as well as open opportunities for students to create connections with industry professionals.
Internally, the Lab has grown throughout the year. The Lab now employs over 100 student workers and is made up of 9 teams that carry out the daily functions of the Lab. The newest team is the BUZZ team and is focused on advancing the communications and marketing efforts of the lab.
All in all, the Lab experienced growth in 2023, and we are excited to see where 2024 will take us! Make sure that you are following us on all our social media platforms to get all the latest information about what is going on in Auburn!
The Auburn University RFID Lab has publicly announced the CHIP Project, a blockchain proof-of-concept for serialized data exchange in the Retail and Apparel supply chain. CHIP, an acronym for CHain Integration Pilot, will be the first of its kind in the industry, with the goal of integrating item-level data streams from various stakeholders into a blockchain solution, creating a common record of information jointly shared by trade partners that will enable end-to-end visibility and data-driven decision making throughout the value chain.
Since the inception of the project in June 2018, CHIP has onboarded 21 partners that will participate directly in the proof-of-concept and support the project as a collective working group. There are currently 5 brand owners including PVH Corp., Herman Kay, Under Armour, and Spanx as well as four national retailers and one global logistics provider contributing to project efforts. Over half a dozen technology solution providers are engaged on the project as well, including Avery Dennison, Checkpoint, IBM, Mojix, Smartrac, SML and Zebra Technologies. These solution providers will be supporting data capture systems and other IoT infrastructure as well as helping develop the blockchain solution. Strategic partnerships with GS1 US, Collaboration LLC, Elverston, LLC, Mindy Rector Consulting, and Tuskegee University will also propel the project forward and ensure compliance with global standards and experienced project leadership.
PROJECT PARTNERS that have elected to identify:
Another key step for the RFID Lab is joining Hyperledger, a global collaboration hosted by the Linux Foundation that aims to advance cross-industry blockchain technologies. Hyperledger is a multi-venture, multi-stakeholder effort that includes various enterprise blockchain and distributed ledger technologies. By becoming a new Hyperledger member, the Auburn University RFID Lab joins industry leaders in finance, banking, Internet of Things, supply chain, manufacturing and technology, and will be positioned to inform and influence the direction and application of blockchain technologies across the globe.
Due to the sophistication of current supply chains, data exchange between partners can be challenging and cumbersome, as proven by Project Zipper, a national data exchange study conducted by the RFID Lab since 2017. As a result, supply chain touch points and the data they generate are often isolated from one another – a problem that the CHIP project aims to address by connecting the digital dots on a global scale. By capturing and contributing item-level data streams such as EPC, QR Code, SSCC, and other SGTIN-based methods into a blockchain solution, an item-level record of product information will be created for goods flowing from one supply chain stakeholder to the next. RFID, serialized case code, and other capture systems will tie into the blockchain solution, which will serve as a medium for data exchange and a platform for leveraging the supply-chain-wide data. The blockchain solution will be powered by Hyperledger Fabric, one of the open source frameworks made available by Hyperledger.
Supply chain is widely touted as a premiere landscape for blockchain-based solutions, and while many theories and consortiums exist in the space, fewer real-world implementations have been deployed or tested. By conducting the CHIP project and incorporating industry stakeholders around the globe, the Auburn University RFID Lab aims to encourage adoption of serialized data and blockchain technologies and usher in the next generation of supply chain innovation. The completion date for the first phase of the project is set to be November 2019 and a white paper detailing its findings will be published immediately thereafter.
The Auburn University RFID Lab is excited to announce its new membership with Hyperledger, a global collaboration hosted by the Linux Foundation that focuses on the advancement of blockchain and DLT technologies. Hyperledger functions as a greenhouse for a series of open source blockchain frameworks with cross-industry applications, ranging from finance and banking to supply chain and logistics. As one of the largest working consortiums of its kind, Hyperledger is comprised of hundreds of contributing organizations such as Accenture, Deloitte, IBM, Intel, Oracle, JP Morgan, and many more.
As an Associate Academic Member, the RFID Lab will contribute to business case development and implementation efforts, specifically geared towards the supply chain space. Because of the RFID Lab’s ongoing work with supply chain serialization and digitization, it is well positioned to collaborate with Hyperledger in designing and deploying blockchain solutions for its corporate partners. Several active projects at the RFID Lab are currently implementing Hyperledger frameworks and generating industry learnings and data-driven insights, creating significant value for its stakeholders and the industry as a whole.
The RFID Lab joining Hyperledger is a major step for the university as a whole, as it positions Auburn to help lead the charge into an emerging technology field and usher in the next generation of application infrastructure. As one of the few universities and research institutions granted membership to Hyperledger, the Auburn University RFID Lab will be able to inform and influence the direction and application of blockchain technologies across the globe.
In this webinar, meet Yorke Rhodes, one of the co-founders of Microsoft’s Blockchain initiative, and hear him discuss the process behind the project. Follow along as members of the JBL (Journal of Business Logistics) ask Rhodes about blockchain technology and its implications in various sectors.
Pictured above: Doctoral Graduate, Jian Zhang testing his robot, Jianny 5 in the mock retail store in the RFID Lab.
Dr. Jian Zhang is now the first ever RFID Lab Post-Doctoral Researcher! Dr. Zhang was also the first student from the Auburn University RFID Lab to earn a doctoral degree. He received the honor in December with a focus on Electrical Engineering. At the RFID Lab, he leads a team that concentrates on robotics and the blending of different technologies to create new ways to improve daily living and retail manufacturing.
Dr. Zhang and his team are opening an entirely new avenue at the RFID Lab by focusing on public grant research. The RFID Lab has never before pursued federal grant funding, but this new team is specifically designed to partner with faculty to apply for and execute research grants focusing on automatic identification technologies with NSF, NIH, and various other agencies. The new program has been very successful; in a few short weeks the program has already generated one full grant application, with several more to come!
His first project, and one that he still works on daily, is the robot featured in the image above: Jianny 5. Jianny 5 has the brains of a Dell laptop and eyes of an Xbox camera. It also has RFID readers attached so it can auto-scan RFID tags in the mock retial store to gather data.
Dr. Zhang has also continued to update the robot’s infastructure to allow for more precise movement control around the retail store.
Additionally, Dr. Zhang is working on a research project which combines the technology used to build Jianny 5 and the technology from a drone scanner also used for inventory purposes. The drone would have an RFID reader attached allowing it to easily fly over a room and scan all the tags within, eliminating the need for a robot to roll around the room. To continue his research in this developing technology, Dr. Zhang is applying for another research grant.
During our previous interview, Dr. Zhang was asked a simple question: If he could speak directly to those looking at his proposal or to those interested in funding his research, what would he tell them?
“I have the knowledge, the network, and the access to the RFID innovation technology, so with the grants we receive, we can make many new technologies that help with daily life.”
Interested in learning more about Dr. Zhang and his research projects? Want to help fund his latest project? Click below to contact the RFID Lab and start a dialogue today.
Pictured above: Jian Zhang discussing his work with colleagues at a recent RFID Lab event
We’d like to introduce you to Jian Zhang. Jian is the Auburn RFID Laboratory’s first student researcher to complete his Ph.D. (Electrical Engineering) while working as a member of the lab.
But Jian wasn’t always an Auburn Tiger. Before becoming Auburn University RFID Lab’s first doctoral student, he attended Sichuan University in Chengdu, China. There, he received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Applied Physics with an electronic specialty.
We began our interview by asking about his choice to attend Auburn University. When I asked him “Why Auburn?” he responded with a smile and stated “Well, that’s actually an interesting story…”
“I searched for schools in America and found a list that was A-Z and Auburn was almost at the top. I found out it had a very good engineering school and it is in a small town so I submitted my application and now I’m here.” Though the simplicity of his choice may seem comical, he expanded on the story and emphasized that he wanted a different experience than what he had thusfar in his academic career, which is why he was looking at American universities in smaller towns.
As he went through the list, he did simple searches along with the names and Auburn featured that it was a small town, which he wanted, and had a ranked engineering school. He decided that those qualities together made Auburn the place for him and he submitted an application for the Ph.D. program.
As we continued the interview, he noted that the RFID Lab wasn’t even located at Auburn yet when he came to the states, but he was able to have the opportunity to join one of the initial lab teams once it was established. While discussing the RFID lab, we proceeded to ask him what about the lab he enjoyed the most. Was it the team? The research? After a moment of thought, he answered.
“My favorite thing is the freedom here. The innovation as well. Anything happening in the RFID community, we will know about it here first and from that you can use the technology involved to help influence daily life. Like the plane seats we recently received from Delta. We can see how RFID can be used when traveling and for airplane compliance.”
He continued to emphasize that the lab was always up to date with the latest technology for RFID and other tracking technologies, so the students are able to gain hands-on and real world experience, while having the freedom to test new ideas and innovate.
He then moved on to discuss how the lab affected his education and his passions by stating: “I have many resources here. Not only the RFID technology and RFID equipment, but I have access to talking with people who work in the RFID industry.”
The lab offers “Mentor for a Day” luncheons where the students have a chance to meet with leaders and innovators in the industry and ask them questions in order to learn about the latest RFID research. RFID Lab Director Justin Patton is also considered a thought leader in the RFID community and the students have an all-access pass to speak with him, ask questions, run ideas past him and more, and that experience is invaluable.
Because of all of these opportunities, Jian is thankful for the placement of Auburn University on the A-Z list. It may have been a simplistic way to choose his next academic career move, but he has no regrets and is thankful for the opportunity to attend this prestigious university.
Without a doubt, Jian would have completed his doctorate and found his passions without the assistance of the lab, but he recommends that students branch out and find opportunities because you never know where they will lead. Jian is now applying for grants to continue the research that he has been working on for the past two years at the lab. He recommends the lab to students of all higher education levels and majors, and offers some advice:
“Just be open, and try many new options because being here at Auburn, you have many opportunities. Also be open to any new techniques. It may be something you don’t know about or have never heard of before, but that doesn’t matter, you will gain skills and knowledge in many techniques by being involved here at the RFID lab.”
Be open. Learn from those around you. Take advantage of the opportunities surrounding you. Sounds practical enough, right?
Thank you for the advice and congratulations, Jian!
