Radio frequency identification (RFID) tags, developed by a team at PNNL, are small, inexpensive tags that can identify, locate, and even determine the condition of any item to which they are attached. The tag is programmed with information that can be read by a hand-held reader, or interrogator, and sent to a computer. This technology can locate, secure and deactivate equipment; locate injured soldiers and send information to medical units; inventory and track weapons, tools and clothing; monitor nuclear reactors and material; and monitor emissions from vehicles. The tags developed by PNNL work well in highly metallic environments such as ships and airplanes.

The technology was brought to the marketplace by a PNNL spinoff company, Wave ID, to manufacture, market and distribute the tags. Because of the extensive marketing research done by the team, Wave ID successfully raised venture capital and formed business relationships. Within a year, Wave ID merged with Alien Technology, a company with a patented technology that dramatically reduces the cost of manufacturing electronic products.

Current global security concerns will likely increase the demand for products such as the RFID system. The ability to tract and deactivate items such as military equipment and weapons may become extremely important in the war against terrorism. This technology, with its ability to be easily attached to anything that needs to be monitored or located - such as airplanes or ships - could prove to be a vital element in providing protection against terrorist acts.