Researchers from Mitsubishi Electric Research Labs have brought
dynamic, computer-generated labels into the physical world with a
combination of radio frequency identification (RFID) tags and portable
projectors.
Their Radio Frequency Identity and Geometry (RFIG) system consists of a
hand-held projector that shines dynamic images onto physical objects of
the user's preference, and radio frequency identification tags augmented
with photosensors, which identify objects for the projector.
The system can be used to find and track inventory, guide robots or
precision handling systems on assembly lines, locate small instruments and
track movement of items in health care settings, track objects in homes,
offices and libraries, and to augment games, according to the
researchers.
To find an object, a user aims a radio frequency reader in the general
direction of tagged objects, and the projector projects a dark image were
there are no tags, and illuminates tags. The system allows the user to see
a subset of tags among many tags, and it allows the user to differentiate
among multiple tags responding to a radio-frequency inquiry.
The radio identification/photosensor tags can be as small as a grain of
rice, according to the researchers.
A warehouse worker, for instance, could use the system to view the tag
information on a set of objects and digitally mark the tags of selected
objects with instructions for coworkers.
The tags could be used practically in two to three years, according to
to the researchers. They are scheduled to present the work at the
Association of Computing Machinery (ACM) Siggraph 2004 conference in Los
Angeles on August 8 to 12.