In production, intralogistics and conveying, automated identification has become a standard. Such automated identification systems enable the requirements-driven distribution of goods or assembly components as well as their traceability in real time. As a result, manufacturing and supply processes can be fully automatically controlled and seamlessly documented.
In RF identification systems, workpiece or goods carriers are marked by RFID transponders, i.e., ID tags. Antennas enable non-contact reading from and/or writing to such ID tags. These data are immediately transferred to an RFID evaluation unit, where they are processed. The evaluation unit transmits the data to the PLC via field bus interfaces, such as PROFIBUS DP, PROFINET, Ethernet IP, Ethernet TCP/IP or EtherCAT. Applications are found in production lines, where the units are used for material flow control.
