ARINC and Impeva team up to release a new solution for real-time supply chain tracking
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ARINC, a communications and engineering solution provider, also provides integrated services to government, defense and commercial organizations; Impeva, a global asset management and optimization system and service provider, the two companies released a new solution for real-time supply chain tracking, Provide transportation visibility of assets and cargo.
This solution is called Asset Assure and uses a variety of RFID technologies, including mesh networks and wireless sensors that can measure temperature, humidity, movement, collision and interference (such as opening container doors). ARINC claims that Asset Assure can be applied to multiple industries to monitor mobile assets, such as autonomous locomotives, rail cars, trucks, and ocean ships; integrated transportation containers; fixed assets, such as oil pipes and oil platforms, and high-priced components, such as jet engines.
Asset Assure is currently on the market and can be customized according to user needs. This plan is derived from a plan designed by ARINC and Impeva for the U.S. Army Logistics Innovation Agency (LIA) and is part of a five-year, $20 million contract. This contract will provide the next generation of wireless communication solutions for the tracking, escort and monitoring of weapons, ammunition and explosive containers.
Asset Assure can not only track assets, according to Jim Potter, senior manager of ARINC, its functions include tracking, monitoring and safety traceability.
The solution includes two main components: Global Sentinel Units (GSU) as RFID readers and communication gateways, and Remote Sensor Units (RSUs) as active RFID tags. Each RSU sends its ID code and collected data from the wired and wireless sensors that communicate with the RSU. The GSU forwards the data to the server that constitutes the Global Sentinel Device Management Center.
The Global Sentinel Unit (GSU) as an RFID reader and communication gateway can be directly installed on a vehicle or container
The server is located in the Impeva Labs data center in the United States, and the running WEB software can process and store all the data collected by GSU and RSU. Before sending data via satellite and cellular communication connections, all cargo-related data and GPS continuous position reports are encrypted. Customers can view the data securely through a WEB browser, or download the data through secure XML to their respective transportation management systems. Asset Assure can be set to send alerts via email, text message and voice mail.
The GSU is battery-powered and can be directly installed on the entrances and exits of vehicles, containers or trucks and rail cars. The device contains a GPS receiver that can determine location data and communication mode, depending on the customer’s needs. For example, the device can contain an Iridium satellite mode and a multi-band cellular mode. GSU can also include its wireless and integrated sensors, and wireless LAN capabilities. In some cases, integrating sensors in GSU can eliminate the need for RSU.
“Because GSU is a platform that can interface with any sensor, some sensors may not be easily adapted to RSU based on the power supply volume. This is an important design criterion for GSU as a platform, that is, it can be compatible with any commercial sensor. Interface” Potter said. Moreover, if requested by the customer, GSU can embed an RFID reader to read other types of tags except RSU. “In addition to satellites and cellular, if necessary, we can also integrate wireless LAN,” he said.
There are many direct communication methods between the sensor and GSU, depending on its connection method. The integrated sensor (part of the GSU) and the tethered sensor (wired connection) communicate directly with other GSU components through the sensor data communication bus. The wireless sensor communicates with the GSU through the 2.4 GHz mesh protocol, a derivative branch of the 802.15.4 standard.
The RSU installed on the asset also uses the same protocol to communicate with the GSU, sensors, and other RSUs. RSU can work with a variety of integrated sensors of RSU to measure the temperature of attached objects, or the movement of brakes and containers; it can also work with wireless sensors to support mesh networks. The RSU can work with other RSUs in the mesh network, with built-in security and encryption mechanisms. All data sent by GSU, RSU and wireless sensors are encrypted.
GSU can be set to send reports to the Global Sentinel Equipment Management Center at a certain time interval, or it can be programmed to report immediately when preset business rules are violated (such as when the temperature of the freight container exceeds the set threshold). When entering a specific area, GSU can also change the time to report data to the management center.
Army LIA completed a 60-day Asset Assure test this month. LIA uses this system to track outbound materials.
During the test, GSU sends a report every few hours, and the report time is shorter when the cargo passes through the military area. In addition, during the test, when the container door is opened without authorization, GSU sends an alarm.
Now, the military is beginning to certify that this package complies with the U.S. Department of Defense information, Potter said. Once the certification is completed, the military will begin to use the program in 2010.
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