The Cargo Container Tracking System

A New Approach Towards Accountability

Group 6

March 10, 2002

Text Box: CCTS
A New Approach

Faculty Advisor Group Members

Professor Yu-Dong Yao Andrew D. Nikow

Project Leader

Michal Kosinski

Parminder Singh

Michael Stabile

I pledge my honor that

I have abided by the

Stevens Honor System

Table of Contents

I. Abstract 3

I-1. Acknowledgement 4

II-1. Project Progress 5

II-2. Project Schedule 7

II-3 Project Financial Budget Information 8

III. Conclusions 8

III. Appendices 10

III-1. Mobile Terminal 10

III-2. Base Station 11

Note: Table of Contents is organized via document links. Within MS-Word to access a heading simply move the mouse over it, press “ctrl”, and click. Within a web browser or Adobe Acrobat simply click and the desired headings

I. Abstract

Reliable and accurate global and domestic transportation of goods is a vital aspect in maintaining a sound and robust economic state. Everything from wheat to luxury automobiles is transported through cargo containers. A 1997 Commodity Flow Survey estimated that over $7 Trillion dollars worth of goods traveled via intermodal cargo containers [Interpol 01]. In this dependence by industry and government on this method of transportation, there is often little ability to accurately track location and status of various containers. Companies in the transport sector try to find ways of increasing their efficiency and reducing costs. Customers often demand a tracking service, because they want to know where their shipments are and when to expect them. Current systems that are in use are limited by the high cost of equipping mobile units or containers, or the limited functionality to meet the needs of the shipping/transport organizations.

What has been proposed, and is the goal of this project, is to develop a system in which the problems of current systems can be addressed. We have investigated intermodal container chassis that are going to be outfitted with a wireless device that would be read by a receiver node installed in weight stations and tollbooths. As a group we researched commercially available wireless systems and are currently underway in the development of a prototype by the end of the spring semester 2002. After the completion of the prototype we are going to test the system against the requirements of our project.

I-1. Acknowledgement

Group Six would like to acknowledge the assistance and guidance Interpool Inc., our sponsor and Professor John Keating, our liaison to Interpool. We would like to thank Interpool for providing the initial funding which has allowed us to begin systematic work on the project. Additionally, both Interpool and Professor John Keating have provided great assistance in acknowledging and defining the project parameters and goals. We would also like to acknowledge Professor Y. Yao who has committed significant time towards guiding on us on the right approach towards selecting and implementing the correct type of wireless system that will be necessary for the success of the project.

II-1. Project Progress

The goal of the Group 6 project from a design approach is to develop a system in which the problems of current supply chain management can be addressed. Geared primarily towards container leasing companies and multi-scaled shipping companies, the group is planning to develop a system for intermodal container chassis in which the chassis will be outfitted with a wireless device, which will be read by a receiver node installed in locations such as weight stations, tollbooths, and loading docks. Essentially, these locations would be those with an established network infrastructure and a position that is strategically useful for tracking purposes. Additionally vital tracking, customs, inventory, and contents information will be transmitted via the wireless link into online databases for purposes of security verification and tracking status. As stated in previous reports the group will be developing one or more prototype systems based on a low-speed system approach. The prototype(s) are on schedule to be completed by Spring 2002.

In order to render the desired functionality and performance expected in the prototype the group is currently performing various research and development test procedures utilizing the Bluetooth development kit to evaluate system performance. It was purchased from Widcomm in January at a cost of approximately $1100. The development software is running on a Windows XP platform and has successfully been used to share IP addresses and to develop systems for file sharing and ad-hoc chat rooms. The latest achievement has been to design a graphical user interface using Visual Basic in order to provide the user with an easy way to enter and access status information granted the person has security clearance. The group has also been busy programming software to provide the functionality that the future system will require. This includes database access and storage, Internet functionality, etc.

Rounding off the list of critical components acquired is a smart card reader/writer, purchased for $34, and a number of smart cards from Buy.com. The group has been experimenting with ways of maximizing the allocated storage space provided by the smart cards. It is not critical to compress the data because the files containing vital statistics of the cargo will be relatively small.

As stated previously the group is striving to provide a system that will function in a low-speed situation. The low-speed system is geared primarily to applications in which the container is “backed up to the gate”. This operating environment allows for the maximum level of secure and reliable exchange of data between remote and base stations. The base station essentially acts as the control center for the operation of the system. It is equipped with a Bluetooth based access point, a WAN connection, and a user interface. Via this base station, information and control functions can be exchanged with the remote unit. The base station additionally provides a means to remove manual access to information in order to provide security. The remote station is essentially a Bluetooth transponder interfaced with a means of data storage. It also functions as a means of manually entering and accessing stored information.

II-2. Project Schedule

II-3 Project Financial Budget Information

Part/Service Name			Manufacturer	Unit Cost	Quantity	Total Cost
1	Smart Media Card		VIKING	$17.49	1	$17.49
2	USB Smart Media Reader/Writer		BELKIN	$31.95	1	$31.95
3	USB point-to-multipoint Bluetooth module for Windows PC		WIDCOMM	$195	1	$195
4	BTW-CE Development Kit		WIDCOMM	$995	1	$995
	-	Includes (2) point-to-multipoint Compact Flash Bluetooth
	-	APIs for BTW Development Kit for Windows
	-	Complete and comprehensive documentation
	-	Six months of email support and maintenance.
	TOTAL					$1239.44

III. Conclusions

Our goal in developing this project is to implement a tracing and tracking system that emphasizes accountability and efficiency. The objective of this project is to develop a prototype system, utilizing Bluetooth technology. Bluetooth has the capacity to accurately and reliably track and control various aspects of intermodal containers. Factors such as range, bandwidth and reliability all favor the use of Bluetooth. Our aspiration is to engineer hybrid speed system that has the ability to transmit and receive status and control information to and from the container; status information being location, container contents, and customs information. Control information being security seals and sensor information. We have implemented careful research, a scheduling plan, and a financially sensitive parts and materials selection process. Putting that all to work and having weighed the major design alternatives, we are confident that we are going to develop a complete design solution. Overall our group’s aim is to produce a prototype which integrates these technological alternatives in creating a tracing and tracking system which correlates with the new redefined notion of supply chain management. At this point in time, the development of the prototype is coming to a close. Even with the technical hurdles and difficulties our group kept on functioning because the group had a goal and a job to complete. The key to our finished design will be able to integrate accountability and efficiency into a package that benefits both industry and consumers.