Problems with Radio Frequency Trolley Tracking
Radio Frequency (RF) trolley tracking is a good technology, but there are potential issues with its implementation. Here are 5.
- What stray frequencies do you have in your plant? A test will need to be done in the plant to find and record what stray frequencies you currently have. Chain drives, lights, any bearings and even hydraulic lines all emit a frequency. You will need to find a frequency level that will not interfere with your system.
- If you plan to write to a chip and one of your stations goes down for a short period of time, that information is lost and not able to be recaptured.
- RF transponder failures can be a problem. The failure rate on a passive chip is about 20% after an 18 month period.
- Even if you have a frequency that does not exist in your plant, outside interference can still be a problem. CB radio’s, trains and cell phone towers have all been found to be the cause of interference to RF systems.
- Transponders attached to the trolleys have a tendency to get knocked off. Think about the handling of your trolleys; they get quite a bit of abuse. Will the attachment stay on your strap?