What is the difference between RFID technology and sensors

Firstly, RF sensors can be considered as physical devices or biological organs capable of detecting and sensing external signals, physical conditions (such as light, heat, humidity), or chemical components (such as smoke). For example, our hands, eyes, nose, and ears can be considered as radio frequency sensors. Typical RF sensors include cameras, various probes, sound and light sensors, etc. Generally speaking, RFID is a special wireless sensor technology. Therefore, the IoT end is usually an RF sensor, but RFID technology may not be applicable. You can understand it by looking at the definition.

 

What is the difference between RFID and RF sensors?

RFID is radio frequency identification technology, not sensors. The tag is mainly identified by a unique ID number corresponding to the tag. RFID is a simple wireless system with only two basic devices for controlling, detecting, and tracking objects.

 

A sensor is a detection device that can detect measured information and convert it into electrical signals or other necessary forms of information output according to a certain pattern. Meet the requirements of information transmission, processing, storage, display, recording, and control. This is the first step in achieving automatic detection and control.

 

Both are IoT technologies. The difference is that sensor technology can process the identified things. RFID is only for recognition and has no processing power.

 

Why are RF sensors so important for the Internet of Things?

With the arrival of the new technological revolution, the world is transforming from the mobile internet to a new era of interconnected everything. At that time, not only humans, but also people, things, and objects could be interconnected. The result is that a large amount of data will completely change people's lives, and even transform the entire business society. Among them, the perception technology with RF sensors as the core is the entry point for data collection, the nerve endings of the Internet of Things, the only method and means for all systems to obtain data information, and the foundation and core for realizing big data analysis.

 

In the industrial field, industrial radio frequency sensor technology has become a high ground for various industrial enterprises to compete for high-tech development. According to relevant institutions, by 2020, the market size of industrial wireless sensors will reach 30.8 billion. In the automatic production process, radio frequency sensors are an indispensable basic component. Manufacturers need to use various wireless sensors to monitor and control various parameters in the production process, and ensure that the equipment works in normal or working conditions. The product ensures excellent quality.

 

RF sensors also play a significant role in commercial fields such as smart homes. In an ideal situation, an intelligent connected home should be able to think about people's thoughts, feel their feelings, and make wise decisions on its own without the need for manual operation. For example, thermal infrared radio frequency sensors can detect the presence of the human body. When we watch TV, if the RF sensor cannot detect the human body after leaving the TV for 3 minutes, the TV will automatically enter sleep mode. If there is no one after 2 minutes, it will automatically turn off.

 

In traditional agriculture, the use of radio frequency sensors can quickly and effectively obtain accurate crop environment and information. If the system can be better connected to skylights, fans, etc., it can greatly save manpower and improve efficiency. In addition, sensor technology is playing an increasingly important role in monitoring crop irrigation, soil air changes, environmental conditions of livestock and poultry houses, and large-scale indicator detection.