Active RFID Tag

A battery-powered tag that continuously broadcasts its signals to accurately track an asset's real-time location, including fast-moving items. This kind of tag provides a much longer range than their passive version (up to 150 meters), and it is larger and more expensive. It is composed of three essential parts; a reader or interrogator, antenna, and a tag, as well as batteries. The reader is responsible for transmitting and receiving the radio waves using the antennas, while the tag is responsible for pulsating and broadcasting its encrypted signal.

It can be divided into three types: transponders that only reply to the signal when a reader first sends the signal, beacons that keep sending their information every 3-5 seconds, and intelligent RFID tags, which scan the environment at a pre-programmed interval. It is similar to a smartphone's size and can be housed in a durable case to endure impact, moisture, and extreme weather conditions. Models are commonly partnered with other technologies such as GPS or small sensors to measure moisture, temperature, and other variables that record conditions throughout the assets' transit. Ultimately, RFID tags operate on the 433 MHz, which means it has a longer wavelength, thus enabling it to work better with materials that does not respond well to Radium Frequencies, such as metal and water.