(This story was updated on April 19, 2010.)
Two RFID technology providers announced this week that they would combine their active and passive radio frequency identification software into a new platform that will track assets, such as kits on a factory floor or roving laptops, regardless of the type of identification tag they wear.
ODIN Technologies and Lockheed Martin subsidiary Savi Technology will market the integrated active/passive platform to customers in aerospace and defense, government, manufacturing, healthcare, and IT services. The software aims to help manufacturers and others automate under one IT umbrella processes such as tool tracking, work in process monitoring, and tracking of supply chain assets, including vehicles and shipping containers.
Under the hood will be Savi’s SmartChain software for active RFID and ODIN's EasyEdge for passive RFID devices, but the providers characterized it as a fully integrated suite. The offering will adopt the SmartChain name, and will be incorporated into Savi's Site Manager device management product. ODIN will offer the product to its customer base, but Savi will take the lead in selling to new customers, the companies told Managing Automation.