RFID-based checked baggage process tracking technology and application

Wuhan Tianhe Airport has implemented RFID tracking technology for checked baggage since 2008 to achieve highly reliable sorting during the check-in process. In 2014, Wuhan Airport upgraded the original RFID tags and used disposable RFID baggage tags; in 2017, the T3 terminal baggage sorting system began to gradually build full-process baggage tracking, realizing full-path tracking from check-in to the aircraft warehouse.

1. Background

Wuhan Tianhe Airport was the first of its kind in China to use RFID tracking technology for checked baggage in 2008, achieving a 99% correct sorting rate for checked baggage. In the early days of RFID use, Wuhan Airport used IC-type RFID Cards that could be read and written repeatedly. This card can be written at least 100,000 times and read unlimited times in an environment of 22°C. Data is kept for 10 years.

Although IC RFID can be used repeatedly, reducing the cost of using RFID tags. However, the following problems were found in actual use:

1. During use, the RFID card will inevitably be squeezed by the luggage, causing the tag to be bent, deformed and damaged, resulting in the RFID reading Library-borrowing-machine-touch-query-intelligent-terminal-all-in-one-machine.html target='_blank'>workstation being unable to read the luggage information in the tag. According to incomplete statistics, the IC card RFID damage rate at Wuhan Tianhe Airport reached 15% from 2008 to 2013.

2. Due to the lack of RFID chip detection equipment and management measures in the early stage, it was impossible to screen RFID chips that did not meet Wuhan Airport standards. As a result, some RFID tags that did not meet the standards entered the use process, causing the RFID reading workstation to occasionally shut down abnormally, affecting Correct sorting of baggage.

3. The check-in staff made an operation error, resulting in failure to write baggage information, resulting in incorrect baggage sorting.

2. Improvement measures

With the popularization of RFID technology, the price of RFID chips has dropped significantly. Wuhan Airport began to use disposable RFID baggage tags (see Figure 1) and its matching baggage tag printer to implant the RFID chip directly into the baggage tag, optimizing the check-in staff's operation process and reducing the impact of human errors on information writing. .

Since June 2014, all domestic check-in counters at Wuhan Tianhe Airport have fully implemented disposable RFID luggage tags, and the correct luggage identification rate can reach 99.8%.

Since the initial design of the baggage check-in system at Wuhan Tianhe Airport T3 Terminal in 2015, the relevant construction and operation and maintenance departments of Wuhan Airport have begun to research the full-process baggage tracking system based on RFID technology. Currently, the full-process baggage tracking system is being gradually implemented. After the project is completed, it will be able to track the entire process from check-in at the passenger counter to the aircraft cargo gate. In the future, RFID full-process baggage tracking data can be relied upon to provide baggage inquiry services for airlines and passengers, improving the passenger baggage check-in service experience.

In 2017, Wuhan Tianhe Airport integrated the design requirements of the full-process baggage tracking system into the construction of the T3 terminal baggage system. In 2019, Wuhan Tianhe Airport began to build a full-process baggage system. Use RFID electronic tags, RFID card Readers, barcode reading and other technical means to deploy data collection points in the outbound baggage delivery process and inbound baggage uncabin process, collect relevant data in each link of baggage check-in, and complete the rapid scanning of baggage. Confirm to ensure the luggage is sorted correctly. Through information collection, a cloud data platform is built to provide baggage support personnel with real-time monitoring, message warnings and statistical analysis, and to preempt errors to reduce the probability of abnormal baggage. Passengers can check the location and status of their luggage in real time and experience a better luggage service experience.

3. Expected goals

The full baggage process system implemented by Wuhan Tianhe Airport (Figure 2) will track baggage information throughout the entire process from the departure passenger checking in at the check-in counter to the destination passenger picking up the baggage. Each key node is completed using RFID tracking technology. Real-time baggage data collection fully meets the requirements of baggage tracking data nodes required by IATA 753, while realizing data sharing among related parties.

After the full-process baggage tracking project is completed, the following goals can be achieved:

1. Realize the writing and reading of baggage tags at the counter, as well as real-time path recording in scenarios such as chute confirmation, baggage loading confirmation, and aircraft cargo warehouse confirmation.

2. Achieve 100% path tracking of outbound luggage. Each baggage can be tracked in real time, minimizing the occurrence of mispackage, missing baggage and mispackage.

3. Due to the use of RFID technology for tracking, the whole process of automated sorting can be realized, effectively reducing the labor intensity of baggage sorting personnel and improving personnel sorting efficiency.

4. Provide real-time reminders for special baggage to facilitate timely processing by sorting personnel.

5. After the flight is loaded, the system will automatically generate a baggage data report to avoid data statistics errors caused by human errors.

6. Based on the whole-process baggage tracking data, real-time baggage route information inquiry can be provided to airlines and passengers, improving the convenience of baggage inquiry service.

7. The system has a baggage detection function and can quickly find the target baggage among many bags.

8. Build an interconnected baggage tracking data platform, establish a unified RFID data tracking message standard, and provide baggage data services to airlines and airport ground handling companies.

4. Process design

In order to realize the above functions, the baggage full-process tracking system needs to deploy several data collection points during the outbound baggage delivery process and the inbound baggage departure process.

1. Baggage departure process (baggage delivery)

(1) Check-in and consignment link

This link mainly collects baggage pictures, bound baggage information, and supplements and improves information on special baggage such as VIP, over-sized and door checked baggage. Currently, all 120 baggage check-in counters in T3 terminal are equipped with RFID baggage tag printers and disposable flexible RFID electronic tags.

During the passenger check-in process, in addition to printing luggage tags, the printer can also write luggage information into the chip built into the RFID luggage tag.

(2)Safety inspection link

At present, the T3 baggage sorting system covers the collection of security information data from Level 1 to Level 4, and automatic collection points for Level 5 security inspection baggage information have been gradually installed. In addition, the baggage system has installed RFID code reading workstations (a total of 48 units) at other important baggage tracking information nodes (AT, CT and sorting machine introduction lines), as shown in Figure 3, to achieve full route tracking of baggage in the baggage sorting area.

(3) Luggage loading process

At the end of the chute, the information of the tractor and the flatbed truck is bound by hand, and the information of the loaded luggage is collected by reading the luggage RFID tag. In the baggage loading process, two information collection points are set up for baggage re-confirmation and trailer flatbed binding.

① Baggage reconfirmation information collection point

Baggage re-confirmation is a system that adds a confirmation link at the sorting exit of the automated baggage sorting system in order to prevent baggage from being misplaced or lost. Due to the use of RFID Antennas at this site, only a few additional operations are needed to basically realize automated baggage information comparison, reducing the possibility of occasional erroneous sorting of baggage being loaded onto the wrong aircraft, and increasing The probability of baggage arriving on the same plane as the passenger is determined.

When the baggage sorting personnel take the baggage from the sorting chute, the antenna at the bottom of the chute (as shown in Figure 4) will automatically read the baggage barcode information. The information system will compare the read baggage barcode with the flight currently assigned to the chute. , if the comparison is successful, the control antenna will light up green and buzz for 1 second, and at the same time record the location information of the loaded luggage, and the chute information screen will also display that the barcode has been loaded; if the comparison fails, the control antenna will light up red The light will light up and buzz for 3 seconds, and the location information of the baggage appearing in the wrong chute will be recorded at the same time. The chute information screen will also display the bar code error.

②Luggage trailer flatbed binding information collection

The sorting personnel use the wireless handheld terminal APP (as shown in Figure 5) to scan the flat-panel RFID metal tags and luggage RFID tags with the handheld terminal RFID to bind the luggage to the trailer.

(4) Baggage leaving the sorting area

An RFID antenna is installed at the exit of the sorting area. When the baggage protection vehicle leaves the sorting area, the RFID will automatically read the information of the tractor and the flatbed, and record the operation information of the trailer and flatbed leaving the warehouse.

(5) Baggage loading process

Collect cabin baggage information through wearable devices (RFID reading vests). Use the strength of radio frequency signals to quickly locate luggage in the cabin.

2. Baggage entry process (baggage departure)

(1) Baggage leaving the cabin

The sorting personnel bind the tractor's tablet information with their handheld handsets and collect out-of-cabin baggage information through wearable devices (code-scanning gloves).

(2)Enter the sorting area

An RFID antenna is installed at the entrance of the sorting area to read the information of the tractors and flatbeds entering the sorting area and record the operation information of the trailers and flatbeds leaving the warehouse.

(3) Baggage delivery

In the baggage arrival sorting area, the sorting personnel use wearable devices to collect information on baggage placement.

(4) Baggage visualization

There are cameras installed at the arrival baggage drop-off area. Passengers can monitor whether the drop-off operation is standardized while waiting for their luggage at the carousel.

(5) Baggage claim

When the baggage arrives at the carousel pick-up surface, staff can quickly verify the picked-up baggage through the handheld terminal.

5. Implementation effect

Currently, the baggage system full-process tracking project is being implemented gradually as planned. The baggage sorting system, baggage loading and arrival baggage visualization have been completed and put into use. Data collection projects such as baggage trailer entry and exit, cabin baggage loading and unloading, and arrival baggage placement are being steadily advanced.

As far as the use of some systems that have been completed in the current baggage full-process tracking project is concerned, the baggage tracking rate has reached the design expectations, and the baggage tracking information has covered everything from the check-in counter to the baggage trailer. Sorting personnel of each airline can query and understand the exact path of baggage, which facilitates baggage loading and baggage search, minimizes mispackage and missing baggage, and improves passengers' travel experience.

6. Future planning

In the later stage, Wuhan Tianhe Airport will break through the data blockages in each link, realize the interconnection and interoperability of baggage tracking data throughout the process, and establish a comprehensive service cloud platform for baggage information to meet the business needs of subsequent passenger inquiries, baggage information tracking, and cross-airline baggage transfer.

Based on the information system cloud platform, Wuhan Tianhe Airport will further optimize the existing baggage collaborative operation model, define the business logic of collaborative decision-making, and establish airport collaborative operation business (data) standards and technical specifications. In addition, relevant guarantee units can optimize the process through data mining and analysis on the cloud platform, thereby improving service quality and improving the entire airport baggage service level.

With the development of Internet of Things technology, RFID will have a wide range of application scenarios in civil aviation services, equipment maintenance, production operations, and safety precautions. Wuhan Tianhe Airport will provide passengers with better services, actively build a "smart airport", and use more RFID equipment to enrich its applications at the airport.