Radio-frequency identification (RFID) is a technology that uses radio-frequency electromagnetic fields to transfer information from a tag to an RFID reader for identification purposes. Passive tags do not require battery power. They derive power from the electromagnetic field generated by the reader. Some tags are also available that have their own power source.
When it comes to RFID projects, students always find them simple and interesting. There are many such RFID projects available on the internet. We have listed down the best 17 tested RFID projects for you to try.
List of Top RFID-based Projects
1. RFID-based Security System
In a security access system, RFID is inductively coupled with the reader. When a card is swiped against the reader, modulated data from the card is sent to the reader, which in turn is fed to the microcontroller.
The card used is the identity card for a particular person and carries his/her details. If this data matches with that stored in the database of the microcontroller, the person is given access to the secured area.
This is indicated by a lamp being switched on. The status of the authority of the person is also displayed on an LCD interfaced with the microcontroller.
More details about this are available at RFID based Security system
2. Attendance System
Here, an RFID tag is used, which is indirectly connected to the RFID reader using the inductive coupling method. As the tag or the card is swiped against the reader, the tag receives a carrier signal from the reader and, in turn, modulates the carrier signal and sends it back.
The reader receives this modulated signal and sends this data to the microcontroller. The microcontroller compares this data with the existing data, and on pressing the status push button, the status of the cardholder is shown on the display, indicating the attendance of the cardholder.
More details about this are available at RFID-based attendance system
3. Access Control System
An RFID reader emits a low-level radio frequency magnetic field that energies the tag. The tag responds to the reader’s query and announces its presence via radio waves, transmitting its unique identification data.
This data is decoded by the reader and passed to the local application system via middleware. The middleware acts as an interface between the reader and the RFID application system.
The system then searches and matches the identity code with information stored in the host database or back-end system. In this way, accessibility or authorization for further processing can be granted or refused, depending on results received by the reader and processed by the database.
More details about this are available at RFID based Access Control
4. Anti-theft Auto Security System with an Immobilizer
The immobilizer uses the active RFID technology where the tag is generated with comparatively large character sets. The receiving unit is intelligently integrated into three control circuits in the vehicle, namely, the ignition circuit, power control unit, and automatic gear changing system, enabling it to bring the vehicle speed down to zero in a safe step-by-step manner.
The anti-theft auto security system proposed here was tested under different weather conditions and possible signal distortion situations to verify its reliability.
More details are available at RFID based anti-theft auto security system
5. Automatic Door Lock System
The automatic door lock system consists of a reader, a controller, and a door lock. Here a reader reads the RFID tags, a controller is used to accept the data from the reader and control the o/p of the door lock.
The RFID reader is placed on the outside of the door and it is detached from the controller confidentially so no one can avoid the security by breaking open the RFID reader and trying to short circuit the reader.
The controller of this project receives serial information from the RFID reader and controls the door lock and the LED.
More details about this project are available at Automatic door lock system
6. Automatic Car Parking
RFID-based car parking uses a microcontroller along with sensing circuits, monitoring the entry and exit of cars. The car owners are allowed entry only when their RFID card is swiped. The amount in the card automatically gets reduced with a display indication besides indicating the available number of parking.
An H-bridge arrangement operates the entry and exit boom motors operating clockwise and anticlockwise for opening and closing. A buzzer sound comes while the card is swiped.
Upon every entry of a car, the parking availability gets reduced by one number while every exit increases the number.
More details about this are available at RFID-based automatic vehicle parking
7. Bus Ticketing and Accident Information Provider System
The passengers are counted using an IR sensor and the distance traveled by the passenger is calculated automatically using a motor and u-slot sensor, and the corresponding amount is debited from an RFID card.
In addition to that, the occurrence of accident information is automatically transmitted to the nearest hospital using GSM and GPS. IR transmitter and receiver are placed straight to each other, so the transmitted IR ray is received by the IR receiver. When the passenger crosses the IR transmitter and receiver, the rays received will be interrupted.
Here the microcontroller, Atmel 89C52, has flash-type reprogrammable memory. The RFID tag is rechargeable and can be recharged at the bus depot or the nearest retail shop.
More information is available at Bus ticketing and accident information provider system
8. Petrol Bunk Automation
Each vehicle is fitted with a prepaid card. When a car arrives at the gate, the RFID reader reads the card. The gate is opened only when the card is valid. Once entered the user will be shown the balance amount available on the card and he must select an option to dispense the fuel.
The system checks whether the user has entered valid data that is the amount should not exceed the balance available on the card. After dispensing petrol, information about the available balance is sent to the user’s mobile phone using GSM.
More about this project is available at Petrol Bunk automation
9. RFID-based Passport
The project designed is an authentication system where the passport holder is authorized through RFID technology. The passport holder would have an RFID tag that contains all the passport details like name, number, nationality, etc.
This tag has to be swiped over the reader and the information thus read is provided to a microcontroller.
This information is matched with the one stored in the microcontroller, if the data matches microcontroller displays a confirmation message otherwise displays a denial message on an LCD screen.
The status of a particular person can also be obtained through a status button in the system.
More details are available at RFID-based Passport
10. Airport Luggage Security Scanning System
Read-only tags are typically passive and are programmed with a unique set of data that cannot be modified.
The reader has three main functions: energizing, demodulating, and decoding.
The antenna emits radio signals to activate the tag and to read and write data to it. Here we are using RFID based security scanning system to check the luggage in highly secured areas like airports, railway stations, in various places where security is the primary concern.
Here we are placing the luggage bags that are to be scanned.
More details are available at RFID-based airport luggage handling system
11. Banking System
When the card is brought near to the RFID module it reads the ID code card and then compares it with the ID code present in the system. If it matches then the door gets opened in the clockwise direction and the person gets in.
The door is automatically closed at a defined time. Every time we make a transaction, we need to enter the user ID and password using a keypad. For a successful match, the ID transaction is enabled, else denied.
If the password does not match after three successive failures, the system gets locked and further transactions are denied. The transaction denial is indicated by a buzzer.
More details are available at RFID-based banking system
12. Patient Monitoring System
Every patient is provided with a unique RFID number and all the details regarding the patient and treatments are stored in a centralized database which is retrieved by the server. The second section is patient tracking where in case of any emergency in a closed environment the patient is provided with assistance in a short span of time.
The patient is regularly monitored by the temperature and heartbeat sensor. The moment values cross a normal range, the message is sent through GSM/GPS to the nearest hospital with its location and also to a relative. Assistance is provided accordingly to the patient.
More details are available at RFID patient monitoring system
13. Touch Screen Museum Guide
RFID comprises a reader and a tag. The reader receives the identity of an object from the embedded tag wirelessly using radio waves and then compares it with the corresponding identification stored in the database.
When a match is found, detailed information is retrieved and the user can able to listen to the audio clip of the painting; with this, our project is providing images related to that painting.
This project focuses on making a user-friendly device for making easy guidelines for tourists with a combination of audio and image facilities.
More details about this project are available at RFID based Touch Screen Museum Guide System
14. Voting Machine
RFID card has been used for the identification of a person before giving his vote by placing his card before the reader module. When the card is placed before the reader, the details stored with a unique number in the microcontroller will be checked and displayed.
If he/she is eligible for voting, they’ll be sent to the voting unit where they will be casting their vote. If they violate any of the rules like giving their vote more than once or if he/she is not eligible person, then an alarming buzzer is activated.
More details are available at RFID based Electronic voting machine
15. Object Locators
This system is proposed for the assistance of blind people. The system incorporates a mobile RFID reader with an object management system with three main functionalities: to access and manage an integrated ZigBee transceiver for transmitting the tag’s information.
Utensils and other objects in a building carry the tags and transmit data wirelessly to the server embedded. An audio file, recorded for each unique object resides on the server.
The reader reads the PC which in turn scans for the particular id in the database and plays the corresponding audio file.
More information about this is available at RFID based Object locators
16. Implantable RFID Chip for Animal Identification
Meet our implantable tracking system, a tiny chip that can be placed inside animals or even humans. This chip works like magic to track, identify, and collect crucial data. We’re talking about information like their age, health, species, and where they’re from.
This intelligent system is like an animal’s digital ID card, making it perfect for significant areas like national parks and zoos.
Complete project details are available here: Implantable RFID Chip.
17. RFID Card Cloning
In this project, we’ll guide you through the process of cloning an RFID card and creating an exact copy. This project is strictly for educational purposes.
Check RFID Card Cloning: Step-by-Step Guide
Enthusiasts always come up with new RFID projects from time to time. If you have any such idea, let us know at: [email protected], We also welcome RFID projects from contributors.
This article was first published on 27 April 2017 and was updated in June 2025.
