What would be a good way to identify items spending as little as possible?

Question

I'm a software developer for quite some time and now I'm going to start developing for Arduino. My question is related to technology I can use. It's also my first time posting here, so if this site is not the proper place for this questions would you tell me which one I could use to get this answer?

My problem:

I need to identify items within a certain range (~3ft). So I thought about a RFID tag on each item and a reader. The problem with that approach is currently the price. The lowest price I found for RFID tags are about US$0.09 per unit. Which is way too much for this project. up to US$0.01 per unit would be acceptable.

Is there any other way I could identify these items, based on range, not being directed to the reader's laser, that would be cheaper?

I though also about something like stores do with their products to prevent theft. Adding a plastic thingy on their clothes and those totems alert if an item with that plastic thingy passed through.

I appreciate any help :)

Thanks

EDIT

Imagine a bag and products being thrown inside this bag. In my mind I'd have a mechanism in which there would be like a rim around this bag that reads the products information. That rim would be a RFID (just for illustration's sake) reader.

Items would be thrown inside this bag, sometimes plenty of items at once. And they all need to be identified.

Something like this:

I'm not actually going to implement this solution on a bag, but I think it perfecly illustrates my point.

I hope I was able to clarify the problem now :)

Answer 1

Seems like you're stuck in "requirements hell". In my theorie this means that your requirements are too strict, and you or your client won't let go of these requirements.

It can help to do a research, set up some "research questions". And if possible with some sub questions, like:

"How can we measure multiple objects at a price of only 0.01$ per object. Withouth having direct line of sight to all sides of the packaging."

With sub questions:

1. What techniques are available to identify objects.

2. In what environment will this system work?

3. How do other companies detect Products?

4. What techniques fit these requirements and environment.

And if none fit at question 4

5. How can we change the requirements or environment to have one technique fit.

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The idea is, that after the research, you probably have a valid answer. But also that you can convince your Boss/client (or yourself), bases on your research, what solution is acceptable, even if it means altering the requirements.

You may also want to check how other companies do this, since it's a pretty common thing to identify objects etc.

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For us, it is extremely difficult to say whatever will fit your needs. And you'll most likely have to adapt something.

To start off, you will either need some kind of vision or RF. But any RF tag is most likely to be too costly.

So you're either stuck with vision or increasing the price limit.

With vision, usually you either require some kind of barcode or qr code. Or you'll have to detect the object itself.

Another wat could be to differentiate on the objects' variables. Like check the weight, color, conductivity or even shape. This could be tricky, but not unlikely.

Mind that it also depends on what items you want to detect.