Trimble has introduced a rugged, handheld computer with an integrated ultrahigh-frequency (UHF) RFID capability designed to read both rail-industry-specific Automatic Equipment Identification (AEI) passive RFID tags and EPC Gen 2 RFID tags. The Trimble Juno T41 R-AEI works for tracking railcars fitted with AEI tags, as well as for cargo such as exposed shipping pallets that have EPC Gen 2 tags, the company reports. Mobile workers can record, view and act on data in their hands in real time, instead of waiting for instructions from a back office that has received data remotely from a traditional fixed-location reader dependent on rail cars passing by it, according to Trimble.

The Juno T41 R-AEI is a lightweight, rugged device that can interrogate tags in any direction or orientation in which the reader is pointed. Mobile workers can stand as far away as 8 feet (2.4 meters) to read an AEI tag and more than 12 feet (3.5 meters) to read EPC tags. It includes GSM/CDMA, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth technology and offers a customized power transmission up to +30 dBm (1 watt) for RFID collection and reading applications. The Juno T41 R-AEI includes Enhanced GPS technology for accuracy of 3 to 6 feet (1 to 2 meters) for use with the UHF RFID solution.

Trimble's Juno T41 R-AEI handheld

According to Trimble, the Juno T41 R-AEI is not only a rail RFID reader, but also a handheld computer designed to provide the field-computing power necessary to manage a wide variety of work requirements. It is available with either a Microsoft Windows or Android operating system, has a large, 4.3-inch sunlight-readable, a Corning Gorilla Glass capacitive display screen and 32 GB of flash memory. Mobile workers can use the handheld to fill out forms, read and write documents and instructions, make notes, take pictures or videos, and upload them in real time, the company reports. What's more, users can share and retrieve data seamlessly from anywhere in the rail yard with wireless connectivity.

The handheld has an IP68 rating to meet the rail industry's stringent requirements for dust and water protection, and also meets military-grade standards of ruggedness for drops, temperature, altitude, humidity extremes, vibration, chemical exposure and shock. In addition, the Juno T41 R-AEI can operate in environments ranging from –30 degrees Celsius (-22 degrees Fahrenheit) to 60 degrees Celsius (140 degrees Fahrenheit), the company reports. Trimble provides a software development kit (SDK) and application programming interfaces (APIs) to assist with integration of the handheld computer into company software applications. Secure business applications can run on the Juno T41 R-AEI, the company explains, while the Android version can run third-party applications designed for Android 4+ level products.

The Juno T41 R-AEI is available now from Trimble's Mobile Computing Solutions division and selected rail-specialist dealers.