))) Smart Labels take off at Heathrow as BAA launches world's first RFID-based direct baggage delivery system called Baggage Direct

))) Heathrow Airport (July 27, 2000)

The world's first RFID smart label tracking and delivery service using truly disposable tags took off at Heathrow on 27th July 2000. Developed by systems integrator KTP Ltd using Texas Instruments' Tag-it™ 13.56MHz smart label technology, the innovative new Baggage Direct service uses the smart labels to track and route passenger's luggage from the airport to their hotel – freeing passengers from all the hassle of baggage transportation.

The RFID system is a vital part of the new high-tech baggage delivery service announced by Baggage Direct, a new subsidiary formed by BAA and launched with the backing of major launch partners United Airlines, Forte Hotels and Lynx Express delivery services.

Baggage Direct's service offers automatic routing and tracking of the baggage from a unit located at the arrivals concourse direct to the passenger's hotel, office or home. The service guarantees delivery to a major London hotel within 3 hours and passengers can use the Internet to check on the whereabouts of their luggage at every stage and verify its final delivery. It is even planned to equip top London hotels with RFID readers which will automatically trigger a text message to the passenger's mobile phone via the Internet telling them that their baggage has safely arrived at the hotel.

The RFID system was developed by KTP Ltd, a leading integrator of RFID and bar-code systems, and CMS, a specialist in software and internet facilities for the courier delivery business. KTP pioneered the concept using TI's Tag-it™ 13.56 MHz smart label tags for this baggage tracking application and has developed and proven the hardware including special luggage tunnel readers that automatically identify the luggage at each stage. CMS was responsible for the software system which also allows passengers to track the progress and verify delivery of their luggage to the hotel via the Internet.

The service will be a godsend to the ever increasing number of long-haul passengers using Heathrow, the world's busiest international airport, which is faced with the prospect of travelling into London with baggage, often to hotels where they cannot check in until after 12 noon. Every morning over 21,000 passengers go through Heathrow before 8am.

"This unique service puts London way ahead in the innovative use of RFID smart label technology to provide a totally hassle-free service for passengers" Derek Jewson, Managing Director of Baggage Direct. "Baggage Direct provides a simple yet secure way for travellers to know their baggage is being taken care of and delivered to their hotel safely with tracking all the way, he added.

Baggage Direct intends to extend the service to all terminals at Heathrow as well as to other UK airports, and then internationally to give passengers a complete high-tech solution to baggage transportation worthy of the 21st century.

Jon Lowe, MD of systems integrator KTP Ltd said "This new Baggage Direct contract was won following our successful experience in roll-cage tracking for Lynx Express and enhances our rapidly developing reputation for supplying and implementing complete RFID solutions for logistics tracking and control. Smart Labels are a relatively new technology and we chose to work with TI's Tag-it™ in-lays for the very simple reason that they are the world leader in RFID technology and their support is second to none" he added.

"Smart Labels were originally conceived for one-time disposable use and this is the first fully disposable RFID application of its kind anywhere in the world" said David Hyslop, UK Sales Manager for Texas Instruments. "We are delighted that TI's Tag-it™ Smart Label technology has been selected for Baggage Direct the world's first practical RFID baggage tracking application of single use smart label tags", he added.

How it works

At the Heathrow baggage booth, the operator programmes a self-adhesive smart label using a special read/write pad with a unique encrypted code which identifies the passengers details, origin, and hotel destination along with baggage weight etc on the main computer system. The flexible label incorporates a read/write
Tag-it™ RFID transponder and is also printed with bar-code and human readable text.

Each tagged piece of luggage is placed on a trolley and strategically located readers automatically track its progress through the airport and onto the fast Heathrow Express rail-link to central London where it is passed to Lynx's Red Star delivery service and couriered direct to the hotel, office or home

The various label readers automatically track progress at each stage and report this to the central computer which makes the information available to passengers via the Internet so they can check where their luggage is and if it has been delivered to their room. The smart labels are also bar-coded to be compatible with Lynx's current delivery systems.