SBIR Phase II: Location Aware Computing Using Near Field Electromagnetic Ranging

这项小型企业创新研究（SBIR）第二阶段研究项目旨在通过实现一种简单、廉价、高精度的位置感知方法——近场电磁测距（NFER）技术，来改变实时定位系统（RTLS）行业。RTLS是射频识别（RFID）行业中一个重要且快速增长的部分。在当今的即时商务世界中，供应链管理（SCM）需要廉价的实时位置数据来提高效率并保持竞争力。全球定位系统（GPS）、超宽带（UWB）和传统的飞行时间测距等现有技术已被证明无法在复杂的、真实的室内传播环境中发挥令人满意的作用。这项研究工作的预期结果将是在一个仓库试验安装一个NFER跟踪系统。据预测：“RTLS和无线局域网技术与创新应用相结合，将从根本上改变企业管理和跟踪高价值资产的方式。”能够满足这一市场需求的技术的加速发展将支持美国经济，提高美国的竞争力。

This Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) Phase II research project seeks to transform the Real-Time Location Systems (RTLS) industry by bringing to fruition a simple, inexpensive, yet highly accurate approach to location awareness: Near-Field Electromagnetic Ranging (NFER) technology. RTLS is an important and rapidly growing segment within the Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) industry. In today's world of just-in-time commerce, Supply Chain Management (SCM) requires inexpensive real-time location data to improve efficiency and maintain competitiveness. Established technologies like the Global Positioning System (GPS), UltraWideBand (UWB), and traditional time-of-flight ranging have proven unable to perform satisfactorily within complicated, real-world, indoor propagation environments. The anticipated result of this research effort will be a pilot installation of a NFER tracking system in a warehouse. It is predicted that: "RTLS and wireless LAN technologies, combined with innovative applications, will fundamentally change the way businesses manage and track high-value assets." Accelerated development of a technology that can meet this market need will bolster the American economy and increase American competitiveness.