The QR Code - What is a QR code and how are they used?
03-11-2020 | By Robin Mitchell
Recently, the inventor of the QR code received an award for the significant contribution made by the use of the QR code in many applications. What are QR codes, what makes them significantly better than barcodes, and how can they be used in applications?
The inventor of QR Code Receives IEEE Milestone Award
Recently, the inventor of the QR code Masahiro Mara announced that his development with the QR code has won the IEEE Milestone award due to the massive impact the QR code has had worldwide. The code system, which was developed for Denso Wave, a global automotive component producer, was released to the public for free with no royalties which allowed for any company or individual to adopt the system. The result is that the QR code is now found in many applications worldwide ranging from stock keeping to location identifiers for automated robotic systems.
What is a QR code?
The Quick Response Code, or QR Code, is a matrix barcode that can be used to store large amounts of data (when compared to barcodes) and is often read with a camera. The matrix layout of the code, inspired by the board game Go, typically has three distinctive markers followed by many black marks which appear to be randomly placed. However, these black marks in the matrix are what conveys information, and the large three markers are used by the camera to position the code image, determine where key information is, and to reorient itself to read the code correctly. QR codes integrate error correction, metadata, and timing lines that help to preserve information stored on a QR code.
What features make QR codes better than barcodes?
QR codes are 2D in shape, whereas barcodes are only 1D (i.e. one axis of information storage). This allows QR codes to significantly more information with some QR codes being able to store as much as 7,089 characters (0 to 9), and 4,296 characters (alphanumeric). This enables QR codes to store meta-information, website links, and even basic instructions which can easily be read by most systems with a camera. The use of the positioning markers allows for cameras to read QR codes at any orientation, thus reducing reading times. QR codes also make heavy use of error-correcting bits meaning that QR codes can have large portions missing or covered, and yet still be readable.
What applications can QR codes find themselves in?
The ability to store practical amounts of meta-information while also being readable from most angles makes the QR incredibly flexible and useful in a wide range of different applications.
QR codes are particularly useful in inventory tracking methods whereby components and supplies stored in boxes can have attached QR codes. However, unlike a barcode (which may only hold a single ID identifier), a QR code can store unique information such as date of production, date of expiration, and version control. Th use of unique IDs also allows for inventory tracking, whereby a specific item can be tracked in transit from the point of origin to the end customer.
While many applications involve storage of metadata, QR codes can also be used as target identifiers, and have been deployed in factories and plants for use with automated systems. For example, an automated palate truck can be fitted with cameras that look for QR codes, and use those codes to understand where it is without the need for location tracking. Another example of how QR codes allow automated systems to identify objects and obstacles is Boston Dynamics; many of their videos show QR codes attached to doors and boxes which allows the robotic system to identify its location and what it is.
One trend which QR codes are seeing is with public interaction systems. For example, the COVID-19 pandemic has seen large scale social distancing and reduction of the potential virus spreading mediums such as food menus at a restaurant. Instead, food menus online allow for customers to view items on the menu safely, but providing customers with a web address can be somewhat complex. Instead, QR codes allow customers to quickly scan and open a link to the correct food menu. QR codes also allow for cashiers to quickly accept payments via phones without the need for entering special codes, visiting sites, or using contact payment methods.
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