Fujitsu announced the development of the world’s first 64KB ultra-high frequency (UHF)-band radio frequency identification (RFID) tag with high-capacity FRAM, featuring memory capacity sufficient to store large volumes of aircraft part and maintenance history data, while supporting a number of different radio frequencies to enable traceability worldwide.

In recent years, the aviation industry has striven to raise the quality and efficiency of aircraft maintenance by improving traceability of parts. In line with this trend, a need has arisen for high-capacity RFID tags which can store not only part identification codes but also product and part maintenance history data.

To satisfy these needs, Fujitsu developed a 64 KB high-capacity RFID tag memory for the aviation industry. Fujitsu’s new RFID tag will increase the quality and the efficiency of aircraft maintenance operations by enabling the traceability of various products and maintenance information for parts exchanged between companies and across nations around the world. Overall, customers will realize improved supply chain management through shorter cycle times and lower costs.

Equipped with 64KB FRAM memory, the world’s highest capacity to date, Fujitsu’s new RFID tag will enable highly efficient global aircraft maintenance operations by ensuring precise and rapid management of each aircraft part. The tag complies with the EPCglobal Class 1 Generation 2 standard supporting a variety of radio frequencies, which vary by region, and thus provides for global traceability. Furthermore, the tag can be mounted on metal surfaces and meets fire retardancy standards by satisfying the testing requirements for SAE AS5678 specifications, which are required to be met for high-quality aviation parts.
Fujitsu’s new UHF-RFID tags will deliver high-speed data writing capability and high durability, while also offering state-of-the-art security functions, such as password management for each part of the memory area.

The high memory and overall capability of Fujitsu’s 64KB RFID tag will enable numerous automated data exchange and data management processes by providing a robust, point-of-use information source, resulting in significant cycle-time and cost reduction opportunities for airline maintenance operations and supply chain management.

Tag dimensions are 2 x 1 inch (50.8 x 25.4 x 6.22 mm, W x D x H), and its weight is 13.6 g. Fujitsu plans to develop smaller and lighter RFID tags. The work frequency is 860-960 MHz.

Sales of the RFID tag are scheduled to begin in the first quarter of fiscal year 2008 (April – June 2008).