Researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have developed an antitampering ID tag that uses terahertz waves to make products almost impossible to counterfeit. The tag uses microscopic metal particles mixed with the glue that attaches the tag to a product. The terahertz waves can detect the unique pattern created by the metal particles, which is akin to a fingerprint and can be used to verify the authenticity of the product.
According to Eunseok Lee, an electrical engineering and computer science (EECS) graduate student at MIT and the lead author of a paper on the antitampering tag, the metal particles behave like mirrors for terahertz waves. The reflected pattern depends on the orientation, size, and location of the metal particles making it almost impossible for someone to replicate the “glue pattern” on a counterfeited item.
The research, which also involved Ruonan Han, an associate professor in EECS, resulted in an antitampering tag that is approximately 4 square millimeters in size. The team also developed a machine-learning model that can identify similar glue pattern fingerprints with an accuracy rate greater than 99 percent.
This antitampering tag has several advantages over traditional radio frequency ID (RFID) tags, which are commonly used for verifying a product’s authenticity. Firstly, it is significantly smaller and cheaper than an RFID. Secondly, it is secure, as the unique glue pattern created by the microscopic metal particles cannot be replicated. Thirdly, it can be used with smaller items that are too small for an RFID, such as certain medical devices.
To prevent tampering, the researchers authenticate the product itself, as opposed to the tag. When an antitampering tag is attached to an item, an initial reading is taken and stored in the cloud, to be used later for verification. They’ve also incorporated artificial intelligence (AI) to compare glue patterns and calculate their similarity with over 99 percent accuracy. While this system suffers some limitations, such as degradation of the terahertz signal when the sensor is more than 4 centimeters from the tag, the researchers plan to address these in future work.
The research, supported in part by the U.S. National Science Foundation and the Korea Foundation for Advanced Studies, is a step forward in enhancing product authenticity and it is hoped that it will generate other applications for terahertz waves.
