Radio frequency identification or RFID is a technique used to identify and track assets. The assets of interest depend on the industry in which it is used. It may be a rail car in the case of the railroad industry, a circuit board in a manufacturing plant or a passenger's baggage in the airline industry. In each case, knowing where the asset is of value due to its cost, customer service improvement possibilities, or impact on the process in which it is involved. RFID is a relatively new technology, but is finding many new applications in various industries. The technology has been recognized by a number of organizations through the establishment of standards. RFID technology holds promise for managing products through out their lifecycle. A typical RFID system comprises three elements: radio frequency transponders, a radio frequency reader unit, and a receiving and transmitting antenna. This project aims to create a RFID simulator. An easy to use graphical user interface is created using LabVIEW 7.0. Issues addressed include the simulation of virtual RFID tags, the RFID reader, protocols for communication between the tags and the reader. The process by which the tag modulates the carrier signal, and the algorithm for simultaneously receiving and decoding information from more than one tag are also studied and implemented. This LabVIEW-based simulator is ideal for studying and experimenting the passive RFID at 125kHz frequency.

Master of Science (Computer Control and Automation)