MIT researchers have developed a new tiny cryptographic ID tag with revolutionary terahertz technology, making it smaller, cheaper, and more secure than traditional radio frequency tags (RFIDs). The latter are often attached to products to verify authenticity but can easily be compromised by counterfeiters who remove and reattach them to fake products. To combat this, the research team incorporate microscopic metal particles in the adhesive that attaches the tag to an item. They then detect the unique pattern these particles form using terahertz waves.
These waves acted similarly to a fingerprint for individual items. If the tag is removed and reattached, the unique pattern of the metal particles, which perform as mirrors for terahertz waves, is destroyed. The research resulted in a light-powered antitampering tag only 4 square millimeters in size, offering a critical advancement in product authentication and security.
Moreover, these terahertz tags are highly cost-effective, making them practical for large-scale deployment throughout vast supply chains. Their small size permits their attachment to items too minute for traditional RFID tags, including specific medical devices.
An AI model was incorporated to boost the detection of potential tampering by identifying analogous glue pattern fingerprints, increasing accuracy to over 99 percent. However, as the tag is reliant on terahertz technology, it does suffer from high levels of loss during transmission. As a result, for accuracy, the sensor must be approximately 4 centimeters away from the tag. Despite this, Lee and the team are optimistic about future advancements using terahertz spectrum in security and authentication. The research was partly funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation and the Korea Foundation for Advanced Studies.
