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ABSTRACT Radio frequency identification (RFID) tagging and tracking efforts at ORNL can be used to provide the Army with continuous knowledge of the location and status of every asset. This will provide commanders the assurance they need to verify logistics and to plan and sustain missions. Several RFID-related technologies must experience technological advances in order to meet the requirements of a seamless total asset visibility (TAV) architecture. This TAV architecture must dovetail with the command, control, communications, computer, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C4ISR) architecture that will provide continuous situational awareness of the Army's Future Combat Systems (FCS) battlefield. Therefore, these architectures must utilize compatible technologies, system-of-systems engineering and common information standards including many that are currently emerging. 1. INTRODUCTION The long-term vision of program managers for the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), other military entities such as the Army’s FCS and commercial ventures is to have total asset visibility (TAV) for all of their resources as shown below in Figure 1. That is, they need to have actionable information available to them at all times about the location, quantity and state of their material assets and personnel. Researchers at ORNL have recently been performing testing and evaluation support for DLA; R&D support for DLA, Department of Energy (DOE) and other customers; and system integration analysis for FCS in the area of RFID tagging and tracking. In order to realize the ultimate goals of TAV, several key technology areas must mature and must be integrated:
In each of these areas, technologies are emerging and standard practices are evolving that make TAV a possibility in the near future. Various programs at ORNL are focused on advancing these efforts and integrating them into a seamless TAV infrastructure which will be discussed in Sections 2 and 3. 2. TAV ARCHITECTURES TAV Scenario The long-term vision for TAV may best be described by discussing a hypothetical scenario using the systems shown in Figure 1. On one of the vehicles supporting an overseas battle, a weapon system is starting to demonstrate degraded performance. The vehicle’s manifest is programmed with information that the weapon system needs to be repaired and this information is up-linked to the commander via the C4ISR infrastructure.
The message goes out to logistics support entities which are able to send queries back through the C4ISR networks requesting specific model numbers and histories of components on the degraded weapon system. Once the need has been established, the logistics entities then send out requests for the necessary replacement parts. By having real-time location data on all of these assets, the logistics entities can demand emergency shipping and maintenance scheduling such that all the parts and technicians arrive at the maintenance area near the battlefield. Thus, the vehicle can be removed from the battle for a minimum amount of time, repaired and returned to the battle. Architecture Development The above scenario becomes a reality
if all assets are “tagged” with a unique identifier when
they are manufactured, a database of features of the asset (which
can be updated) is associated with this identifier, and the asset
enters a communication grid that can communicate periodically with
the tag. 3. DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS AT ORNL Geo-spatial locating functionality
focuses on determining and communicating the exact location of an
asset to the appropriate decision maker. Efforts at ORNL involve
advancing GPS complement technologies as well as helping to evolve
the real-time locating systems (RTLS) standards. These efforts involve
advancing passive, semi-passive and active RFID tag technologies. There are several ongoing hardware programs at ORNL that involve combining sensors and communication electronics in miniaturized low-power packages. These efforts include measuring and transmitting temperature using a single ASIC, measuring blood perfusion in an implant and transmitting the data to a receiver outside the body, combining chemical “sniffer” sensors with RF communication electronics and combining 6-D position sensing with hybrid spread spectrum communications. The combination of these programs can lead to an infrastructure that provides the health, status and location of soldiers and platforms.
CONCLUSIONS The vision of global TAV will
be achievable in the near future. Some of the programs and findings
presented here are important in accomplishing that vision. Specifically,
standards involvement and forward-looking architecture development
will ensure that future technology improvements move us toward that
vision. |
