Using 3D Field Simulation for Evaluating UHF RFID Systems on Forklift Trucks

The knowledge of field strength and field distribution in a RFID system can be very useful to obtain a reliable data link between interrogator and transponder. In this article a comparison between measured and simulated field distribution for an UHF RFID system mounted on a forklift truck is made. A forklift truck is equipped with a RFID transceiver and a pallet cage and the electromagnetic field is measured. This scenario is then modeled and simulated with the help of a FEM-Software. A comparison of measured and simulated field is done to detect key influencing factors and verify if simulation is an adequate alternative for time consuming measurements.