radio frequency id- on running trains?

Question

can RFID technology can be used outside a compartment of a running train under scorching sun or torrential rains? can this RFID tag recognize its counterpart on any railway platform without fail? what is the cost of a RFID tag ? who are the industry leaders in this tech?

Answer 1

The current RFID system is not affected buy normal outdoor environmental conditions (i.e., rain, snow, heat, cold, wind, etc.)
The RFID chips are usually located on the sides of rolling stock, locomotives and other pieces of equipment and on the underside. Their placement on the side is usually on the edge of the walkway of a locomotive or at arm height of an average person. The system can read at very fast speeds with great accuracy. the tags are small and discrete and therefor can be serviced quickly and easily should it be required even though the tags are low maintenance.

The predecessor to the current Automatic Equipment Identification (AEI) system was the Automatic Car Identification (ACI). This system consisted of labels affixed to the sides of rolling stock and locomotives at specific heights. The labels had a simple bar code consisting of blue, red, black and black and white halftone. Line side scanners would read the code as a number. The code would include the equipment type, owner and number.

The problem with this system is that it required the labels to be clean and readable. Most problems with reading came from grime and other dirt associated with rail equipment. Another problem was heat. Some railcars that saw service in steel mills and other harsh environments would discolor the labels and in some cases burn them off. Cars such as coke cars would carry hot coke, fresh out of the retort and heat the outside to a scorching temperature. Coal cars are sometimes heated in large heating bays to loosen frozen coal and this heat wreaked havoc on ACI labels.

Some times a special panel wold have to be affixed on a car to position the label in the right place. A flat car for example might have to have a plat rising from the side of the deck to get the label in the proper position. If the panel got bent or broken then the label could not be read.

While not as prevalent then as it is now, graffiti over a label could render a label useless.

The AEI system has tags designed for harsh environments and other optical flaws of the defunct ACI are eliminated.

Answer 2

Yes ..it sure can be... Actually, RFID tag does not read but only respond .. The readers nearby read the Tags. As it does not requrie Line of Sight, it can be read by readers. Maxim is very good source of these.. tags.. and are cheaper now a days..

Answer 3

Sure can, been doing it for awhile.
http://www.trains.com/trn/default.aspx?c=a&id=221

Buy 'em here. $35 a tag, readers are $2500-15000.
http://aeitag.stores.yahoo.net/index.html