| The objective of this study is to determine the feasibility of Class 1 Generation 2 UHF RFID as a potential sales floor level theft deterrent system. To fully comprehend feasibility, the technical performance capabilities of standard UHF RFID tags and readers are compared to two common existing electronic article surveillance (EAS) technologies--acousto-magnetic (AM-EAS) and radio frequency EAS (RF-EAS)--at an exit door portal to provide a benchmark. Baseline tests were performed on all the technologies and then a series of shoplifting scenarios was investigated. The baseline tests were designed to provide controlled feedback on the general functionality of the respective technologies; the shoplifting scenarios provided insight into the technologies' uses in a realistic, albeit simulated, environment (but were not designed to necessarily defeat the technologies). Overall, RFID performed satisfactorily in the baseline and shoplifting scenarios--enough to warrant further investigation of RFID as a theft deterrent system. |
