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WISER'sresearch builds upon Phase Itheorized hypotheses, model development and testing ofWISER Redundant Radio Location Technology (RRLT)in an attempt toaddress the chief shortcoming of cheap, passive RFID tags (unreliable readings/noise/collisions/ multiple tags in close proximity), while reliably providing real-time locating. Themajor achievement of the Phase II effort will be the translation of Phase I results intoa demonstration system prototype with performance datasuggesting potentialto redress some of the most intractable problems that currently plague conventional RFID asset-tracking operations, including the inability to track multiple items, immobility, inaccuracy, and high cost. Our Phase II effort will apply WISER's technical approach to the difficult problem of affordable, item-level tracking of critical foodstuffs that require specialized packing and handling techniques and environments (controlled temperature, humidity, and air circulation, for example). Specific expected outcomes will include successful development and integration of the WISER's Redundant Radio Location Technology into a hardened prototype application able to withstand rigorous testing underreal food supply chain conditions. Supporting milestone goals willinclude planning, design, component assembly, development, integration, prototype testing, and then field application and live testing of the integrated system. Systemcomponent (bar-code/RF integrated reader and two integrated localization technologies) testing will also be conducted and componentsoptimized for performance under livelocal conditions. Sub-goalswill include securing the cooperation of farmer producers, industry informants, and ultimatelyindustry partnerswilling to implement a pilot test/feasibility study of the RRLT technology in a working facillity.
<p>NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY:<br/> Innovation in perishable foodstuff track-and-trace is of critical importance to cost and time-sensitive customers such as the food industry where contamination and spoilage are of concern, safety and security are paramount, and counterfeit and bio-terrorism prevention are urgent priorities. The proposed research would evaluate the feasibility of a low cost, highly accurate track and trace supply chain technology that would minimize the recall costs of contamination events in the food supply chain, and ensure source authentication. Research will develop and test a novel autonomous track-and-trace system customized for perishable foodstuffs that would be feasible for widespread industry adoption in that it is cost-effective (no portal infrastructure), accurate, and easy to use. Research deliverables will include identifying optimal RF labeling and
packing manufacturing solutions to support integrated item/pallet-level field-to-fork tracking of North Carolina agricultural products, and optimizing the technology for the controlled temperature/humidity/air circulation environments required for shipment and in-transit storage of food perishables. The mobile device prototype design will undergo rigorous tests of its ability to track, accurately compute, map, and log the location of tagged perishables in real time. Bar code integration into the technology will allow for the ability to track both at the pallet level and item level in order to accommodate, and not disrupt, current industry practice. The R&D effort will be documented and validated by test data (both electronic and video-taped results), and the application of WISER's Redundant Radio Location Technology (RRLT) will be evaluated under live conditions, along with
system costs. Cost-benefit analysis will be conducted to determine whether the RRLT impementation cost is in fact substantially below conventional practice--which requires exensive physical infrastructure, high TCO, and is difficult to customize to user coverage density preferences. In addition, the technology will be evaluated as a potential application for governments and regulators interested in mitigating the impact of contamination events and even allowing for the "lock-down" of a problematic supply chain, for example, in the event of a bio-terrorism threat to a specific food product. An inexpensive, easy-to-use, and accurate tracking solution will produce benefits including facilitating the ability of regulators to establish manifest tracking mandates acceptable to industry. To the degree that the nation's agriculture and food supply can be electronically certified and closely
monitored electronically, protection and safety of the food supply will be enhanced, and contamination event victims and dollar losses minimized.
<p>APPROACH:<br/> The project will employ scientific methods to assess the commercialization feasibility of the theorized WISER approach for affordably, accurately, and autonomically tracking food cargo along the supply chain in a more granular and cost-effective way than ever before. This will involve experiments in four research phases: 1) the design and development of a wireless tracking device prototype. 2) Lab-testing of the two theorized approaches and a combined approach for accuracy, reliability, cost, and distance. 3) Bar codes and user interface software integration. 4) Deployment and field testing of the mobile tracking system. And, 5) Development and implementation of a "hardened" prototype system robust enough for pilot/demonstration project application. Validation of outcomes will be achieved by evaluation of test data beyond the laboratory into
production/warehouse/retailer settings.The teamwill employ primary on-the-ground data collection from expert informants, will record all test data, and in addition, all tests will be video-taped. Anticipated project deliverable results will include technology performance metrics (locational accuracy, reading accuracy, coverage density, error rates, distances achieved, etc.) for each technical approach. Tests will be done on a broad sample of foodstuffs and agricultural products in the supply chain to inform the development of device tolerances, for example perishable foods like produce with high dielectric constants vs other foodstuff products. Pilot site data will be collected in order to document technology impacts on-site and measure overall operational impact in terms of efficiencies/capabilities on a cost-benefit analysis basis.In addition primary data will be collected on customers
and industry-specific market conditions and needs (environmental conditions, configuration requirements, cost tolerances (including TCO), ease of use, disruption impacts, and other obstacles to commercialization).