Research on the application of RFID Internet of Things technology in warehousing and logistics

1. Internet of Things Technology

The concept of the Internet of Things was proposed in 1999. Different institutions and experts at home and abroad have different definitions of the Internet of Things. It is generally believed that the Internet of Things is developed through radio frequency identification (RFID), infrared sensors, global positioning systems, laser scanners, etc. Information sensing equipment, according to the agreed protocol, connects any item to the Internet for information exchange and communication to achieve intelligent identification, positioning, tracking, monitoring and management.

At present, the prototype of the Internet of Things system has basically taken shape, with typical hierarchical characteristics. A complete Internet of Things system generally includes an information sensing layer, an information aggregation layer, an information processing layer, an operation layer and an application layer. There are six core key application technologies in the Internet of Things. At present, the sensing and aggregation technology, which is the lowest layer of the Internet of Things system, has developed and been applied the fastest, driving the continuous upgrading of the entire system structure.

2. Application of Internet of Things technology in warehousing and logistics

The Internet of Things is an intelligent network system that realizes intelligent identification, positioning, tracking, monitoring and management through various types of information sensing equipment and in accordance with agreed protocols and network connections to realize the interconnection of items as needed for information exchange and communication. .

The Internet of Things mainly has a three-layer architecture, namely the perception layer, the network layer and the application layer. According to this Internet of Things architecture, the Internet of Things mainly includes three major technical systems: one is the perception technology system, the other is the communication and network technology system, and the third is the intelligent technology system.

In smart warehousing, in order to realize sensing, positioning, identification, measurement, sorting, monitoring, etc. of warehousing goods, sensing technologies such as sensors, RFID, barcodes, lasers, infrared, Bluetooth, voice and video monitoring are mainly used.

In the logistics center information system with warehousing as the core, network technology that is directly connected to the enterprise's internal LAN is basically used, and there are interfaces for expansion with wireless networks and the Internet. In places where wiring is inconvenient, wireless LAN technology is generally used. In modern warehousing systems, not only are the items complex and have different performances, but the work processes are also complex, including sorting, combination, storage, and movement.

Therefore, intelligent logistics centers with warehousing as the core often use intelligent technologies such as automatic control technology, intelligent information management technology, intelligent robot stacking technology, data mining technology, and mobile computing technology.

In the current development of warehousing and logistics in my country, phenomena such as segmentation of regions and industries, duplication of construction, mutual isolation, manual operations, and complicated and loose management have seriously reduced the capacity of warehousing, affected the efficiency of warehousing, and also made the warehousing industry more complex. The lack of safety and reliability in Logistics Management not only causes great losses to the enterprise, but also invisibly increases the cost of warehousing management. Most of these phenomena are caused by untimely or incorrect information acquisition, low efficiency of warehousing operations, and backward decision-making and control. To change these situations, some advanced technical equipment must be used in warehousing and logistics management.

The biggest trend in modern logistics is networking and intelligence. Therefore, the application of smart warehousing network and transmission technology in warehousing management is very important. Among them, information transmission between logistics centers, Stores and distribution points often relies on Internet technology.

Since 2010, wireless LAN-based technology has also been applied in IoT systems in the warehousing industry. At the same time, perception technology and intelligent warehousing operation and control technology are also widely used in warehousing management, and have achieved good results in picking data, video surveillance, seamless integration of some logistics systems with enterprise production management systems, and intelligent operations.

Research on the application of Internet of Things technology in warehousing and logistics

3. Advantages and disadvantages of the application of Internet of Things technology in warehouse management

3.1 Advantages

(1) Timeliness control can be carried out

Because barcodes cannot contain aging information, electronic tags need to be attached to fresh food or aging-restricted commodities, which greatly increases the trouble for porters. Especially when a container contains commodities with different ages, it is a task to read the aging labels of commodities one by one. A huge waste of time and energy. Secondly, if the warehouse cannot reasonably arrange the storage order of time-sensitive goods, and the porters fail to see all the time-limited labels and transport the goods that entered the warehouse earlier and select the goods that arrive later, the timeliness of some goods in stock will expire. causing waste and losses.

This problem can be solved by using RFI D system. The timeliness information of the goods can be stored in the RFID electronic tags of the goods, so that when the goods enter the warehouse, the information can be automatically read and stored in the database. The porters can prompt the information through the readers installed on the shelves or hand-held readers. goods are processed. This not only saves time, but also avoids losses caused by expired food, etc.

(2) Improve work efficiency and reduce costs

In terms of warehousing, when goods using traditional barcodes enter and exit the warehouse, administrators need to repeatedly move and scan each item. In order to facilitate inventory, the density and height of goods stacking are also limited, which restricts the space of the warehouse. Utilization. If RFID electronic tags are used, when each piece of goods enters the warehouse, the reader installed on the door has read the information of each item from the RFID electronic tag placed on it and stored it in the database.

Administrators can easily understand the inventory with just a click of the mouse, and can query product information and notify suppliers of the arrival or lack of goods through the Internet of Things. In this way, it not only greatly saves manpower and improves work efficiency, but also improves the space utilization of the warehouse, improves inventory efficiency, and reduces warehousing costs; at the same time, the production department or purchasing department can also quickly and accurately analyze the inventory situation Timely adjustments to work plans can avoid stockouts or reduce unnecessary inventory backlogs.

(3) It can prevent theft and reduce losses.

With RFID electronic tag technology, when goods are shipped in and out of the warehouse, the information system can quickly detect the entry and exit of unauthorized products and alert the police.

(4) Effectively control inventory management

When the inventory matches the inventory list, we think that the list is accurate and the logistics management is carried out according to the list. However, in fact, data shows that nearly 30% of the lists have more or less errors. Most of the reasons are because of the Barcodes were mistakenly scanned when taking inventory of goods. These mistakes caused a disconnect between the flow of information and the flow of goods, making out-of-stock goods appear to be sufficient but not ordered in time, ultimately harming the interests of merchants and consumers.

Through the Internet of Things, manufacturers can clearly monitor the RFI D electronic tags installed on products from the off-line, entering and exiting the distributor's warehouse, until they reach the retail end and even the sales at the retail end; distributors can monitor inventory and maintain reasonable inventory levels.

The accuracy and high speed of information identification by the RFID system can reduce the incorrect distribution, storage and transportation of goods. The Internet of Things can also effectively establish an information sharing mechanism, allowing all parties in the logistics supply chain to carry out data read by the RFD system during the entire process. Check with multiple parties and correct incorrect information in a timely manner.

3.2 Disadvantages

(1) Domestic and international frequency standards are inconsistent

In the formulation of RFID standards in various countries, frequency has always been a delaying issue. Since some frequency bands that are convenient for radio frequency use are still controlled by some countries and have not been approved in international standard voting, it has brought considerable difficulties to the use and expansion of RFID system functions. Therefore, most current RFD systems still only work in one frequency band, but different frequency bands have different advantages.

(2) High cost

The high price of RFID electronic tags makes it difficult to popularize a single product. The price for a common RFI D electronic tag to be widely used should be less than 0.4 yuan. However, the current selling price is still around 1 yuan to 8 yuan. To achieve the goal, the entire RFID industry, including design, manufacturing, packaging, protocols, back-end networks, and reader costs, needs to work together to reduce costs. This is also inseparable from the joint efforts of international organizations, government departments, large consortiums, and commercial companies. effort.

4. Issues that need to be paid attention to during the application of Internet of Things technology

4.1 When using these new Internet of Things technologies, you must fully weigh the pros and cons, and be prepared to deal with the opposition that may come from some conservatives within the enterprise.

4.2 In order for warehouse management personnel to master the Internet of Things operation technology as well as possible, they need to be provided with various trainings to improve their labor quality, so that they can better serve warehouse management and improve work efficiency.

4.3 Because Internet of Things technology has not yet been popularized on a large scale, the immaturity of the technology and the high cost have always been problems, so enterprises should use it with caution based on their actual conditions.

5. Development trends of the application of Internet of Things technology in warehouse management

Although the application of Internet of Things technology in warehouse management has certain disadvantages and problems, its value still outweighs its disadvantages when comprehensively considered, so it should be able to develop better in the future. I believe that it will become more and more convenient through continuous improvement. Fast. I think with the development of integrated applications of sensing technology, this will become a trend. People's increasing attention to the physical properties of items will promote the integrated application of various sensing technologies in the warehousing industry.

For example, the integration of RFID technology and sensor technology can provide more in-depth perception of warehousing items with special requirements such as fruits, grains, vegetables, medicines, etc., and provide people with more convenient services. This trend has begun to appear in 2010 and is developing towards an intelligent warehousing environment. The application of wireless sensor networks in the logistics management of dangerous goods can monitor the status of dangerous goods and their containers in real time, thereby providing security guarantees for tracking, monitoring, and management of dangerous goods logistics processes and ensuring product quality.

Communication technology and wireless networks will also be widely used in the future. The development of third generation (3G) mobile communication technology has created conditions for the establishment of wireless network systems in warehousing and distribution centers. Nowadays, wireless technology has been widely used in warehousing systems. For example, the wireless electronic tag auxiliary picking system can save the wiring link, which greatly facilitates system construction. In 2013, it is expected that wireless network technology and mobile communication technology will be more widely used in the field of warehousing Internet of Things.

At the same time, with the development of sensing technology and information technology, intelligent robots and unmanned trucks will be integrated into the warehousing Internet of Things. In recent years, the Internet of Things and intelligent operations of unmanned trucks and logistics systems have realized smart logistics. I believe that with the development of Internet of Things technology and the application of intelligent technology, unmanned guided vehicles will surely achieve a broader development.

With the rapid development of the application of RFID technology in the warehousing industry, there will be a general trend of interconnection in the warehousing Internet of Things.

In the field of warehousing, the application of RFID will be from point to point and gradually expanded to a wider field, producing greater benefits.

Although the Internet of Things technology is currently limited to networking applications within independent warehousing and distribution centers, it is still an independent, local intelligent warehousing system. With the help of Internet of Things technology, these independent intelligent warehousing systems are networked to achieve interconnection and form a true warehousing Internet of Things, which is a new change based on intelligent warehousing, which will bring about a revolution in warehousing informatization.

This will completely break the structure of the original logistics information system, and will even have a huge impact on modern logistics technology and equipment in the logistics operation process, bringing revolutionary changes to the structure of modern warehousing and logistics centers. With continuous exploration, I believe that true smart logistics will be realized in the future. This will be a brand-new change and will open a new chapter in logistics development.

6. Conclusion

This article gives a detailed introduction to the development of Internet of Things technology, and then focuses on the application of Internet of Things technology in warehousing and logistics management in recent years, and conducts a detailed analysis of the pros and cons of the application of Internet of Things technology in warehousing and logistics. Analyze and fully understand the current problems and how to improve them.

Finally, the development direction and trend of IoT technology in warehousing and logistics were analyzed and studied. IoT technology not only has a profound impact on the warehousing industry, but it is believed that with the continuous development of technology, the Logistics industry will also be driven by IoT technology. produce new changes.