About RFID Technology

The radio frequency tags that are used for this system are approximately 3" x 2" x 0.9". They are passive low cost tags. Passive tags are powered by the field generated by the reading antenna so they have no batteries to wear out. Water and Mud will not effect the ability to read the tag. Steel will affect the readability of the tag, that is why the tags are mounted to the top of the front fender, slightly away from the number plate. The orientation of the tag to the reader makes a difference in the read range. The best read range is when the tag is perpendicular to the antenna, as shown in the picture.

The tags are basically a computer chip with an antenna on each side, placed in a plastic container and filled with epoxy. The tags are extremely durable. Even if the tags are slammed up against trees and the plastic around the tag is totally destroyed, they will still function. Each tag has it's own unique 12 digit identification number. Each digit has 6 significant bits. So the number of combinations for the tags is 2⁷² which approximately equals 4,722,366,482,870,000,000,000 different numbers.

The reading device for this tag is a decoder device connected to an antenna that is 15" x 22". The antenna is extremely durable so that the racers my brush against it and it will not be damaged. With a chute about 36" across for the racers to ride through, this will put the RFID tag within about half that distance to the antenna, about 18 inches. This distance allows the tag to be well within the 30" read range of the antenna / tag combination. The decoding device has a serial port that sends out the 12 digit ID for the tag that was read. This Tag ID can be sent to a palmtop PC and be matched to a corresponding racer number and processed.

For questions or comments about the electronic scoring system,
email efessler@npc.net

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