How Physical Intelligence (PI) is a platform vision by Impinj that uses RAIN RFID technology to connect real-world, physical items/assets to enterprise Super AI and software systems.
How It Works:
• Identify: Reads unique tag data on physical items to know exactly what products exist.
• Track: Monitors when and where items move in real time across supply chains, warehouses, or stores.
• Analyse: Feeds trusted, hard data into enterprise AI systems so decisions are based on facts instead of guesswork.
• Automate: Triggers automated workflows and continuous business improvements.
Key Goals for Enterprises:
• Visualise everything: Gives companies complete, real-time visibility into inventory and assets.
• Waste nothing: Eliminates stockouts, reduces overstocking, and tracks perishable goods before they expire.
• Act instantly: Powers automated operations in retail, logistics, and manufacturing.
Details on how RAIN RFID technology works and how Gen2X improves data protection for enterprises.
How RAIN RFID Works: RAIN RFID is a passive, battery-free wireless technology that links physical objects to cloud-based computer systems. It relies on a three-part system to track items:
1. The RFIDTag: A tiny radio chip (often smaller than a grain of sand) attached to an antenna. This is placed directly on an item (like a clothing hangtag or shipping box) and stores a unique ID code.
2. The RFID Reader: A fixed-mount RFID Reader device or handheld mobile RFID scanner that transmits radio waves.
3. The Energy Exchange: When a tag passes near a reader, it absorbs the reader’s radio waves to power itself up just long enough to bounce its unique identity back to the device.
Because it uses radio frequencies, readers can scan up to 1,000 items per second from distances up to 10 meters away—all without needing a direct line-of-sight like traditional barcodes.
How Gen2X Boosts Enterprise Data Protection & Security: As enterprises scale up their tracking, security becomes critical. Impinj Gen2X is an enhanced protocol layer designed specifically to shield enterprise assets and consumer data:
• Anti-Counterfeiting (Endpoint Authentication): Gen2X uses cryptographic endpoint IC authentication to check tags instantly during normal inventory sweeps. This stops fraudulent returns and knock-offs before they enter the supply chain by ensuring the chip itself is genuine.
• Consumer Privacy (Protected Mode): When an item is purchased, enterprises can trigger an "invisible" state using a secure PIN. This prevents unauthorised readers from tracking the item out in the wild, but can be reversed if the customer returns the item later.
• Data Integrity (Impinj Integra): To avoid memory glitches, the system features self-checking memory. It monitors radio signal strength during encoding and verifies that the data written to the tag is 100% accurate.
Gen2X Hardware Solutions - For enterprises deploying this architecture, specific hardware bundles are available to leverage these capabilities: Impinj R700 RAIN UHF RFID 4-Port Fixed-mount Reader
An enterprise-grade fixed reader running a secure Linux OS. Features high-speed Gigabit Ethernet connectivity and a dual-core processor supporting edge computing directly on the device.
Available from distributors like Barcode Technologies / RFID Technologies www.barcode-uk.com / www.rfid-uk.com
