1999-01-18 , ESC-9885
Business News From Philips Semiconductors

The world's first large-scale trial to identify airline luggage, using disposable "smart labels" to speed up luggage handling, reduce missing baggage and increase security, began this month. For the two month trial, British Airways has asked Philips Semiconductors to test its I•CODE smart label radio frequency identification (RFID) technology to identify 75,000 suitcases travelling with passengers from Munich, Germany and Manchester, UK to London's Heathrow airport.

Each "smart bag tag" contains an integrated circuit (IC), that can be programmed with detailed information such as the date and time the luggage is checked in, the weight, as well as a unique identification number and the passenger's destination.

The I•CODE IC is so thin and small it can be placed between two layers of paper, inside the baggage tag currently used by airlines. The IC is attached to an antenna, which also lies inside the label, and communicates with the scanner by radio signals, from a distance of up to 1.2 metres away. No battery is required inside the label as the I•CODE chip is powered by the radio signal from the scanner.

With the present bar coded luggage tags, nearly half of baggage in transfer requires manual handling to route it to the correct aircraft. Smart labels have many advantages over bar coded alternatives as they use radio frequency to communicate and therefore do not require a direct "line of sight". They can also be scanned from over one metre away. The technology allows several smart labels to be scanned simultaneously, speeding up the baggage handling process. In addition, the information on smart labels can be re-programmed, or added to, without the need to print and attach a new label. This means, for example, that new travel details can be easily added.

British Airways is carrying out the field test on a non-competitive basis, inviting other major airlines to visit the installation. The results will be presented to IATA, the International Air Transport Association.

With the world's air traffic growing at a rate of more than six per cent each year, fast and accurate baggage identification and handling is vital. In addition, airline security standards mean that luggage must be positively identified and matched to a passenger on-board the aircraft before the flight can leave. A procedure that can lead to flight delays if baggage cannot be immediately linked with a passenger.

Philips Semiconductors is working with Philips Projects, who have overall responsibility for the trial including delivery of the technology and project management. Earlier last year, the same Philips Projects team successfully delivered a passenger tracking system at Gatwick Airport to reduce flight delays on behalf of British Airways, using Philips Semiconductors RFID technology. Other applications for the smart label technology include tagging high value merchandise in retail, parcel-tracking for express delivery services and tagging books in libraries.

Philips Semiconductors, a division of Royal Philips Electronics, headquartered in Eindhoven, The Netherlands, is the eighth largest semiconductor supplier in the world (according to Dataquest's preliminary 1998 ranking by sales). Philips Semiconductors is a leader with a proven reputation in the development and production of components for radio frequency identification, cryptocontroller and contactless smart card ICs. Philips Semiconductors' innovations in digital audio, video and mobile technology position the company as a leader in the consumer, multimedia and wireless communications markets. Sales offices are located in all major markets around the world and are supported by regional application labs.