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In this post I will show how to read RFID TAG in Node.js using an Acme Systems board and an RFID reader.
To accomplish this task you need:

• One Acme Systems Terra board or
• One Acme Systems Fox board with one Daisy-1 Daisy adapter for Fox board G20
• One Daisy-12 protoboard
• One 20cm flat cable with sockets for Acme Daisy Cabling System (FLAT-20CM)
• One Innovations ID-12 RFID reader
• One RFID TAG
• One Panasonic Schottky diode (or other similar diode)
• One 10K resistor

NOTE: if you use the new Innovations ID-12LA RFID reader you don’t need the schottky diode and the 10K resistor and you must connect your reader to a 3V3 pin.

Create your Daisy module

To read your tags in Node you must create a new simple Daisy module. To easy connect your Innovations RFID reader you can use a breadboard like this:

See below the simple schema:

Now you can connect your custom Daisy module to your Terra board (of Fox G20 board) using a flat cable. You can use D10 or D13 connector on Terra board (or D17 in Terra board base) or also D1, D6 or D8 on Fox G20 board.

Install software on Terra board

Your Terra board must have Node.js installed: use this instructions for this task. Now install rfid Node module opening your terminal and typing:

mac: ~$ ssh root@debarm-ip

Linux debarm 2.6.39 #9 Sat May 7 10:19:20 UTC 2013 armv5tejl

The programs included with the Debian GNU/Linux system are free software;
the exact distribution terms for each program are described in the
individual files in /usr/share/doc/*/copyright.

Debian GNU/Linux comes with ABSOLUTELY NO WARRANTY, to the extent
permitted by applicable law.

debarm:~# mkdir rfid
debarm:~# cd rfid
debarm:~/rfid# npm install rfid

Run your test program:

debarm:~rfid# node node_modules/example/example.js

After a few seconds you see in your terminal:

RFID info: using /dev/ttyS2 port on D13 connector
RFID debug: serial /dev/ttyS2 opened
init

and when you place your TAG near the ID-12, you can see:

RFID debug: read TAG 47007650A8C9
TAG 47007650A8C9
err: undefined

Well: now you can manage your TAGs as you want.

About Marcello Gesmundo

I'm the founder of Yoovant company. I'm an engineer and an artist: what could be better than combine the technologies with the arts?