SBIR Phase I: Development of 802.11 Asset Tag

项目概述：这项小型企业创新研究第一阶段项目将开发和测试802.11资产标签，这是资产管理和跟踪的新概念。创新之处在于创造一种无线资产跟踪标签，它可以在任何无线网络中通信，特别是可以在802.11无线局域网中工作。跟踪资产，如pc和其他办公设备、仓库库存托盘和容器、战略资产和制造材料，可以通过将标签粘贴到任何具有WLAN的设施中的托盘/容器/对象上来完成。这个概念克服了设计与传统WLAN接入点兼容的小型电池供电的远程无线标签所固有的功率和成本障碍。该研究将展示克服电源管理挑战以及定位技术。它将使用MEMS加速度计来管理功率，并提供一种基于运动和信号强度检测的新颖定位方法。面包板资产标签系统将使用传统的802.11芯片组、运动传感器和电源管理模块构建。跟踪功能的软件将在典型的办公室、制造和仓库环境中构建和测试。定位精度与标签特性、校准努力和站点地图细节将被确定。将对安装成本与定位精度进行估算。研究结果有望定义一种新的资产跟踪技术。更广泛的影响：该项目的结果将是重要的，因为它们将产生一种方法，与目前用于跟踪仓库托盘、医院/办公室/学校设备和制造过程中的材料的现有射频跟踪系统相比，该方法将在成本和复杂性方面降低一个数量级。通过消除当前射频资产跟踪系统的复杂性和成本，并创建一种标签和服务器软件技术，该技术将在几分钟内粘贴到任何WLAN中的对象上，提议的技术将资产跟踪/安全从少数高度专业化的应用转移到办公室，医院，仓库等负担得起的WLAN设备。更广泛地说，它将证明体感技术可以提高资产管理、跟踪和定位的有效性，为监控物体和人员的位置开辟了新的方法。

Project Summary:This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project will result in the development and testing of an 802.11 asset tag, which is a new concept in asset management and tracking. The innovation is to create a wireless asset tracking tag that will communicate in any wireless network and in particular will work in 802.11 wireless LANs. Tracking assets such as PCs and other office equipment, warehoused inventory pallets and containers, strategic assets, and manufacturing materials can be accomplished by affixing the tag to the pallet/container/object in any facility that has a WLAN. This concept overcomes the power and cost barriers inherent in designing a small battery-powered long-range wireless tag compatible with conventional WLAN access points. The research will demonstrate overcoming the power management challenge as well as the positioning technique. It will use a MEMS accelerometer to both manage the power as well as provide a novel positioning approach based upon motion and signal strength detection. A breadboard asset tag system will be built using a conventional 802.11 chip set, a motion sensor, and a power management module. Software for the tracking function will be built and tested in a typical office, manufacturing and warehouse setting. Positional accuracy versus tag characteristics, calibration effort, and site map detail will be determined. An estimate of the installed cost versus positional accuracy will be made. The results are expected to define a new asset tracking technology.Broader Impact:The results of this project will be important, as they should yield an approach that will produce an order of magnitude reduction in cost and complexity over existing RF tracking systems currently used in tracking pallets in warehouses, equipment in hospitals/offices/schools and material in manufacturing processes. By eliminating the complexity and cost of current RF asset tracking systems and creating a tag and server software technology that will work within minutes of being affixed to an object in any WLAN, the proposed technology will move asset tracking/security from a few highly specialized applications to an affordable WLAN appliance in offices, hospitals, warehouses, etc. More broadly, it will demonstrate that motion-sensing technology can enhance the effectiveness of asset management, tracking and positioning opening new approaches for monitoring the location of objects and people.