[11/09/09]
The DASH7 Alliance recently announced the formation of the Container Security and Sensing Initiative (CSSI) aiming to define the next generation of cargo container tracking and monitoring devices. Specifically, DASH7 members will address the long-awaited need for interoperability among container intrusion detection devices.
The DASH7 Alliance is a coalition of organizations promoting a standard for wireless sensor technologies based on the ISO18000-7 standard for active RFID. Many active RFID vendors are participating the alliance, including Analog Devices, Austria Microsystems, Dow, Evigia Systems, Hi-G-Tek, IDENTEC SOLUTIONS, KPC, Lockheed Martin, Michelin, Northrop Grumman, RFind, Savi Technology, ST Microelectronics, and Texas Instruments.
"We are taking a fresh look at the issue of container security while simultaneously addressing the need for a common way of processing sensor data," said Patrick Burns, president of the DASH7 Alliance. "This initiative goes beyond just electronic seals and provides carriers, shippers, customs authorities, and others with a set of low-cost, low power, and reliable options for tracking, securing, and monitoring many different types of container and packaging devices."
Container intrusion detection devices (CIDD's) are placed inside a container and use one or more sensors to detect whether a container has been opened or experienced a tamper attempt. Mounted on the interior of a container wall, CIDD's can be very low cost and highly reliable due to DASH7's ability to "bend" around heavy metal objects like shipping containers or even stainless steel drums of hazardous materials like plutonium. Competing solutions at higher frequencies like 2.45GHz suffer from multi-path fading and poor performance, in these conditions, hence the selection of DASH7 by customers like the U.S. Department of Defense and other NATO militaries for its container tracking needs. In January 2009, DoD awarded over $429 million in DASH7 infrastructure to four vendors - Evigia Systems, Hi-G-Tek, IDENTEC Solutions, and Savi Technology.
"Container security is essential to many industries, but a problem that to date has not been solved from a technical standpoint," said Drew Nathanson, director of AIDC Technologies, Venture Development Corp. "The DASH7 standard provides the first strong standards-based approach to container security."
"Addressing interoperability around sensors and security for Container Intrusion Detection Devices is a critical step for the DASH7 Alliance," said Navid Yazdi, president and chief executive officer of Evigia Systems. "CSSI will bring tremendous value to existing and new end users who are looking for a higher level visibility from their complex and dynamic supply chains."
CSSI will establish how to harmonize data formats and processing rules acquired by DASH7-enabled sensor devices. The intent is to adopt valid sensor proposals and to harmonize a new set of features that will provide additional value to interested end users. This initiative must also meet the key objective of interoperability for global deployments. The CSSI devices can vary from basic electronic seals to container intrusion detection devices. DASH7 briefing attendees from around the world have widely indicated that they would support CSSI and join in its development.
DASH7 is particularly well suited for both structured and unpredictable, chaotic environments given its range of at least one kilometer, its ten-year battery life and its ability to penetrate water, concrete and other materials that can block other Radio Frequency (RF) signals.
For more information, please visit www.dash7.org
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