- Image via Wikipedia
The “Smart Shelf” concept used by businesses is definitely impressive. With the right RFID systems, a company can keep a constant, automatic inventory, tracking exactly what is actually on their shelves at any given moment. RFID readers built into the shelves will even track it when something has been miss-shelved. Each item gets a unique signature, so businesses don’t even have to settle for just knowing how much is there; RFID readers will tell them exactly which kumquat was thrown away when it went bad. If the packing containers were “smart” as well, RFID can potentially reveal whether spoilage was worse in certain parts of the container.
If you’re a technology hobbyist, you’re probably itching to start bringing some of this awesomeness home. The possibilities for the RFID “smart shelf” concept in the home are endless, particularly for large families or people who like to collect things. Books, movies, music, and even important hard-copy files and documents can be easily tracked. You could know from a glance your laptop whether your third grader has clean clothes for the day. Your pantry could send you email alerts about foods as they approached their expiration dates.
To build a RFID smart-shelf system at home, there are several steps. First, build the shelves, drawers, or whatever it is you’re boosting the IQ of. Take into account the range of the antenna you intend to use. If you use more than one antenna on a single stretch of shelf, try hard to get full coverage without overlap; overlap can cause interference. Next, mount the antenna. Then, if you’re using an open-source RFID reader, you’ll need to wire it yourself; check the documentation or look at online support communities if you have any trouble. Finally, you’re ready to tag your inventory. Consider the application when choosing tags (do you need water resistance, the ability to transmit through metal?) and pick a consistent place to locate the tag on each inventory item. Once you’ve tagged the goods, it’s time to power up and use the smart-shelf software on your pc to inventory away.