TÖNNJES, KATHREIN Develop IDeREADER InRoad with Integrated RFID

If TÖNNJES International Group GmbH and KATHREIN Solutions GmbH have their way, reading stations installed on gantries will soon be a thing of the past.

The market leader for modern vehicle identification from Delmenhorst and the manufacturer of AutoID solutions from Stephanskirchen in Bavaria have developed the IDeREADER InRoad in cooperation: A manhole cover with integrated RFID technology for electric vehicle identification.

The new solution is installed in the manhole instead of gantries and thus provides the technical basis for toll stations, transit controls or other applications – with potential savings for federal states, municipalities and authorities.

TÖNNJES and co-operation partner KATHREIN are launching a product on the market that meets the constantly changing requirements for electronic vehicle identification. Where previously meter-high gantries were used to read license plates, the modern manhole cover will be used in future.

“The IDeREADER InRoad is powerful and significantly reduces the installation and maintenance costs for permanently installed reading points,” said TÖNNJES managing director Jochen Betz. “The authorities are not only reducing costs, they are also supporting the nationwide expansion of applications in the field of electronic vehicle identification.”

The companies are relying on a clever principle: an object that is already part of every road is turned into a technology solution. The IDeREADER InRoad can be installed in an existing or new manhole. The complete system consists of a robust internal unit that houses the adaptive antenna system and the electronics.

A vibration damper specially designed to withstand the heavy loads of heavy goods traffic protects the system from damage. The entire unit is embedded in a standardized manhole shaft made of recycled plastic granulate.

The intelligent antenna system allows the reading field to be swivelled in all four directions, which ensures both reliable identification and direction recognition of vehicles. The license plates are equipped with transponders for this purpose.

“By integrating the reading infrastructure into the road surface, the installation costs are reduced many times over compared to traditional installation on gantries,” added Thomas Brunner from KATHREIN.

To ensure safe and reliable evaluation, TÖNNJES uses its own IDePLATE license plate and IDeSTIX Headlamp Tag headlamp sticker in combination with the IDeREADER InRoad, both of which are equipped with a RAIN RFID chip. This contains a unique identification number that is recognised by the ground antenna in the cover and then compared with a database. The necessary data can then be viewed by the relevant authorities almost in real time. The entire system is forgery-proof and tamper-proof.

Betz sees this as an opportunity for city and country roads in particular: “IDeREADER InRoad in conjunction with IDePLATE and IDeSTIX Headlamp Tag is an economical solution to ensure comprehensive electronic vehicle identification for lorries, cars and motorbikes.”