I-Corps: Bridging the Supply Chain Information Gap Using Micro-Logistics Internet of Things (IoT)

这个I-Corps项目的更广泛的影响/商业潜力是开发一个微型物流解决方案，以解决供应链因粗项目级可见性和跟踪而面临的数十亿美元的挑战。当今供应链的复杂性使得优化微观物流流程变得困难，例如质量控制、库存跟踪、重新进货、可追溯性、最后期限预测和室内运输。微物流物联网（IoT）的商业化可以将物理世界与数字世界连接起来，提供显著的可见性和增强的分析能力，可能节省数十亿美元。I-Corps项目基于高精度、稳健和实时定位技术的开发。这项技术可能会将数十亿个已经部署的无电池射频识别（RFID）标签转变为强大的微位置传感器。所提出的技术依赖于无线激励协议，结合信号处理，超分辨率算法和传感器网络架构的创新。它已经在实际的真实世界环境中进行了测试，证明了在具有挑战性的室内环境中实现厘米级定位的能力。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The broader impact/commercial potential of this I-Corps project is the development of a micro-logistics solution to address multi-billion-dollar challenges facing supply chains due to coarse item-level visibility and tracking. The complexity of today’s supply chain makes it difficult to optimize micro-logistics processes, such as quality control, inventory tracking, re-stocking, traceability, deadline projections, and indoor transport. The commercialization of a micro-logistics Internet of Things (IoT) may bridge the physical with the digital world, providing significant visibility and enhanced analytics, potentially saving billions of dollars.This I-Corps project is based on the development of technology for high-precision, robust, and real-time positioning. The proposed technology may transform billions of already-deployed, batteryless Radio-Frequency IDentification (RFIDs) tags into powerful micro-location sensors. The proposed technology relies on a wireless excitation protocol combined with innovations in signal processing, super-resolution algorithms, and sensor network architecture. It has been tested in practical real-world environments, demonstrating the ability to achieve centimeter-scale positioning in challenging indoor environments.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.