Table of Contents
II-4. Financial Budget
Information
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 are planning to investigate 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 are going to research commercially available wireless systems and develop a prototype by Spring 2002. After making a selection we are going to implement and test the system against the requirements of our project.
II. Project Proposal Plan
II-1. Introduction
Presently within industry and commerce, there is a great demand for a refined system of supply chain management. Supply chain management, in terms of intermodal cargo containers tracking systems, is part of the broader underlying problem that our group hopes to address in developing a solution.[SITS 00] There are two major driving forces within the supply chain management community which are demanding a new approach in the way in which goods are moved domestically and internationally.
The first, has to deal with marketplace barriers, and the erosion of physical borders in the formation of a global marketplace. Industry and commerce have been demanding solutions that emphasize accountability and efficiency when transporting good, and thus far there has been little progress
The second driving force has to deal within companies involved with transportation of materials. With the omni-presence of information technology (IT), there is currently little to no integration of IT within supply chain management circles. Primary components of the problem such as tracing and tracking of goods are left to unorganized and proprietary systems which provide little accountability and overall efficiency.
Our primary goal is to resolve present problems surrounding shipping issues within supply chain management. Our desire is to implement a system that emphasizes accountability and efficiency with regards to shipping. Our primary method for doing so is to concentrate on developing tracing and tracking technologies that allows industry as well as consumers to accurately follow their goods as they are transported.
By utilizing low-cost off the shelf components and integrating them within current communications systems, such as the Internet, a new global tracking system can be developed. Ideally, a successful implementation of this system opens the door to many new users, smaller shipping companies previously unable to implement broad ranging tracking systems. Additionally with this implementation, physical infrastructure requirements for proposed gate-readers and transponders will need to be addressed within the scope of intermodal cargo container transport and design systems.
Overall though it is important to emphasize that supply chain management on a larger scale not only deals with transportation issues, but also demand forecasting and planning, stock monitoring and control, as well as warehousing concerns. While this group will be working on improving shipping and transportation issues, there still are several problem areas, mentioned above, that need to be addressed in order to fully implement a complete and total refinement of supply chain management.
II-2. Design Requirements
Our specified goal in developing this project is to have a fully functional working prototype model by spring of 2002. Our intent is to develop a low-speed or high-speed gate and transponder system that has the ability to securely and reliably relay various information from passing intermodal containers. Depending on the path the group chooses to pursue, each type of prototype model has their own inherent difficulties and trade-offs.
The goals in developing a low-speed system involve creating a passive and active gate and transponder system which is able to securely transmit and receive data as well as provide command control instructions to the container(for electronic seal security protection). The design function of the high-speed system incorporates some aspects of the tracing and tracking design goal, however this systems intent is geared more towards the inventory control portion of supply chain management. The primary design challenges in establishing this prototype involve selecting and implementing a wireless positioning system that has the ability to accurately and securely transmit and receive information based on certain operational guidelines. In developing a low-speed system, parameters such as container speed, broadcast power, data throughput, environmental weather conditions, and operational tolerances play a primary role in developing a system that operates properly. However it is important to realize that given the various technologies available (Blue Tooth, IEEE 802.11B, IRDA) that can be implemented to solve this problem, each of them having their own benefits and tradeoffs all of which must be considered in selecting a final design approach.
Block
Diagram of expected prototype functions for low and high-speed design
applications
In developing a high-speed system, we are faced with the tradeoff of speed versus data throughput. Because the intermodal containers are expected to pass through the gate systems at higher speeds, operational functions need to be redefined from low-speed systems. It is important to understand that the high-speed variant of the intermodal container tracking system design function is more focused towards the tracking and tracing aspect of supply chain management. This system would primarily be used to track the progress of various intermodal containers as they have arrived and departed from various ports. Our goal in developing this aspect of the project is to implement a prototype system that has the ability to reliably and securely transmit and receive data between a stationary gate reader and the rapidly moving transponder. Again as in the
case of the low-speed system, the same design parameters apply towards implementing a successful prototype.
Overall our design objective, for either system, is to develop a working prototype that uses a particular wireless technology that adequately handles the various operational parameters necessary in order to develop a working system.
II-3. Design Approaches
As discussed in previous section, in developing the fully functional low or high-speed prototype there are several design parameters and tradeoffs that need to be addressed These items are addressed based on the particular technological approach the group decides to peruse. In looking at the various technological options it is important to weigh their positive and negative aspects in determining which technology or design alternative fulfills the project goals. In order to weigh these positive and negative aspects, a complete list of factors must be generated in order to make a final determination.
These factors include:
- Technology availability: This is perhaps the most important of
the design factor that needs to be addressed. In many situations although the
technology that will yield a complete solution is existent, the
availability of that technology is non-existent. This is important to realize because of
the relative ease in arriving at an impasse in development due to the
unavailability of a particular technology.
- How well the technology meets the design criteria: This is an important factor because it
deals with the direct capability various technological options. Ideally in selecting a design
alternative or technology it is important to understand the particular
limits and strengths of certain systems before implementing them in
designs.
- Development Costs: This is another important factor because it primarily deals with the group’s ability to effectively create and manage final design. In practice this factor is vital for the successful development of the project. By evaluating the overall trade-off between development cost and design capability, a happy medium can be established in which there is the maximum leveraging of technology and development costs.
- Ease of implementation: This factor is important in limiting possible technological options which the group may peruse. Ideally our goal in implementing this prototype is to use standard “off-the-shelf” components. Our desire is not to design specific proprietary equipment which would require significant effort, and take away from the overall objectives of the project.
Having established the guidelines for determining how to properly choose a design alternative, the group is no free to investigate various approaches that may be a viable solution to the overall design problem. Bellow are possible technologies the group has researched and determined could prove useful in implementing a solution. Included with the description of each system are their respective relative strengths and weaknesses.
·
Sample Transponder Unit manufactured by Qualcomm
Passive Transponder and Powered Gate System: This system upon first impression seems
like the ideal solution to the low-speed system. The system operates on the principle that
each tag contains a digital ID as well as coded information that is read by a
powered reader. When the tag approaches
the gate, the reader apply power to
the
transponder tag (hence the term passive) and transmits/receives data and
information based on the transponder tag.
The advantage of this system is that it provides a great deal of
accuracy with out relying on an external power source for the transponder tags.
[SITS 99] However, it is important to stress that the reading distance with
this system is limited due to fact the transponder relies on power from the
gate. It is for this reason that the
system is much more suited for a low-speed system.
Examples of this system currently in use include the EZ-Pass
Electronic Toll Collection system as well as common electronic security access
control products.
·
Active
USB Component involved with possible transponder tag systems
amount
of interference and errors increase dramatically. [SITS 99] Additionally, a
battery powered transponder tag removes a certain level of reliability from the
system. Over time the battery will wear
down introducing maintenance and other user service issues. Ideally though, this system seems to be a
practical solution for the high-speed system.
The increased range of this system will provide wide operating latitude
for transponders to pass through the reader gates. Additionally due to the low amount of
information that needs to be exchanged between the transponder and gate for the
high-speed system, the inherent margin of transmission error can be tolerated
·
Overview of GPS integration systems
Global
Positioning Systems (GPS): This
type of tracing and tracking system is perhaps one of the most common systems
currently existing. It relies on
multiple satellites to triangulate positions and movements. This main advantage of this approach is
constant real-time tracking capacity.
Theoretically the intermodal container should be in constant
communication with orbiting satellites through the GPS. During which time it is able to communicate
status and location. In reality GPS is
very unreliable in urban environments.
Tunnels, buildings, and other obstructions effectively block
communications between receivers and satellites making the system very
unreliable.[NASA98] Additionally, there
is a certain level of inaccuracy native to the system. There is often an operational margin of error
in deriving exact locations of specific object.
This is significant because a large margin of error could result in a misallocation of
resources.
· Video Capture with Digital Conversion: By utilizing digital video recording, along with specific recognition algorithms, Video capturing can be a very effective way in identifying and tracking intermodal containers. However in most cases, it is simply too expensive and technologically complex to implement. First, the appropriate video capture and conversion equipment relatively expensive compared the hardware used in the other options.[SITS 99] Additionally, significant funding in developing a working information infrastructure to distribute this information would be required. High-capacity communications and data channels would be needed, and for various economical, as well physical reasons (inability to build a communications infrastructure) this option is not feasible. [Perceptics 00] Overall this approach can be implemented effectively; however this is only where the cost can be justified.
Video Recognition reads ISO Codes
II-4. Financial Budget Information
II-5. Project Schedule
Gantt Chart Fall 2001 Providing Scheduling Info for
Project Development Gantt Chart Spring 2002 Providing Scheduling Info for
Project Development
Scheduling is a very important aspect of managing the project properly. Because of the complexity of the project it is important to follow the schedule and maintain a collective group knowledge of which members are responsible for what. The scheduling of this project can best be broken up into two separate phases, design and implementation. The design phase represented by Gantt Chart Fall 2001 integrates the progression of steps that need to be followed in order to develop a final design. Gantt Chart Spring 2002 develops this further by breaking down development stages in to manageable sub-sections.
The design phase of the project involves breaking down the overall task of choosing and developing a specific project into multiple sub-tasks. As shown on Gantt Chart Fall 2001 where each of these items are listed under the task assignment. Additionally the time period for each task is estimated based the complexity of each specific task. With regard to specific assignment of tasks, at this point in the project each group member is required to participate equally in developing design concepts. The group leader manages and compiles these collected results and encourages further investigation if warranted. The fundamental belief is that the design phase of the project involves a great deal of idea development which should not be hindered by limiting member’s task responsibilities. Additionally when certain deliverables are required, various team members are assigned certain aspects of the work which they submit into the group leader for compilation.
The design phase of the project can be broken up into four sub-sections, Group/Project Formation, Preliminary Project Research, Project Research, and Final Report Generation. The Group/Project formation section has the primary goal of formulating a cohesive group and project idea. This is the first required step defining a design. The next section’s goal (Preliminary Project Research) is to gather enough basic information on the selected project to develop a project proposal. Each of the individual step involved within this section logically yield information valuable in creating a proposal. The next two sections Project Research and Final Report Development are tied directly together. In each of these sections important steps required to implement a final design are undertaken. The ideal result is the ability to formulate a coherent final design and parts list that will yield a successful finished project.
The development stage at this point in time has been intentionally left broad and open ended. This is primarily due to the lack of concrete knowledge as to how we will specifically develop the project. What is listed is more of a general approach towards implementing a final design prototype. There are four basic sub-sections in this phase of the project, General System Design, Midterm Progress Reports, Design Finalization, and Final Design Reporting. The first section deals with general system design concepts, gathering material and assembly issues. In the next section Midterm Progress Reports are made reporting the overall progress that the development phase of the design has made. While this happens, the next section, Design Finalization begins to be implemented. This section is vital insuring the reliability and validity of our design idea. Any final corrections need to be addressed at this point. Additionally this is the point at which we begin testing procedures as well as cataloguing results. The final section involves a final report based on our test and development results. If prior steps are not completed at this point the overall validity of the final report may come into question.
III. Conclusions
The establishment of a true global marketplace, the elimination of border and bounders towards trade, has ushered in a new age in supply chain management. The desire to remain competitive and efficient has forced industry and commerce into reevaluating traditional solutions. This is especially true with regard to intermodal container shipping, the primary transportation medium for the bulk of the world’s goods. In this respect, current tracing and tracking systems are inadequate in fulfilling the desire for accountability and efficiency industry demands. Overall though, this project ultimately benefits the end-users and medium to small sized organizations, who can become instantly aware of their transport’s status and position, in a manner that is cost effective and efficient.
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 wireless technology that has the capacity to accurately and reliably track and control various aspects of intermodal containers. Our aspiration is to engineer either a low or high-speed receiver system that has the ability to transmit and receive status and control information to and from the container. In doing so it is required that the group investigates various technological alternatives. By implementing a careful research and scheduling plan the proper alternatives can be selected and developed as part of the final project 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. The key to our finished design integrates accountability and efficiency into a package that benefits both industry and consumers.
IV. References
[Interpool 01]
Interpool Inc.
[SITS 00]
SITS: Simple Intermodal Transport and Tracking http://www.phys.uu.nl/~durr/sits/SITSFinalReportp2.pdf
[SITS 99]
SITS: Simple Intermodal Transport and Tracking
http://www.phys.uu.nl/~durr/sits/SITSDeliv5part2.pdf
[NASA98] NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
http://www.nasatech.com/Briefs/Sept98/NPO19769.html
[Perceptics00] Perceptics Corporation
http://www.perceptics.com/ccr.htm
V. Appendices
Useful external resources helpful in getting further
background on the overall tracking and tracing movement with in the supply
chain management community.
Symbol Technologies is the world leader in bar code-driven transaction systems with more than 4 million scanners and hand-held computers installed. The company designs, manufactures and markets bar code scanning equipment, application-specific hand-held computers and radio frequency data communications products and systems that are used as strategic building blocks in solutions in retail, package and parcel delivery, manufacturing, warehousing and distribution, health care and other industries
2.) http://www.corp.unisys.com/trans
Unisys -- a major supplier of technology, applications and services to the worldwide airlines market for nearly 40 years -- is helping transportation organizations transform their operations to identify profitable customers, increase marketing effectiveness, cultivate customer satisfaction, enhance revenues, make timely, effective decisions and better leverage resources. Unisys serves 200 airlines -- including 17 of the world's top 25 -- 31 major railroads, as well as ferry lines, freight forwarders and other major transportation-related businesses.
3.) http://www.cargosystems.net/reports/con99contents.html
Cargo Systems is the foremost publication concerned with global container handling, port development, intermodalism and container technology. With 27 years of experience, Cargo Systems keeps decision makers abreast of global trends affecting their businesses and influences choices and company policy relating to port investment, terminal planning, equipment acquisitions and intermodal shipping.
4.) http://www.tss-tag.com/index887902699.htm#WBCL
Traffic Supervisions Systems A/S (TSS) is a Danish R&D company developing and manufacturing new IT products for the Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) and logistics markets. Since the establishment in 1995, TSS have dedicated all their efforts in the development of the very cost-effective low frequency RFID batteryless transponder technology for exploitation in ITS systems – both for road and rail applications.
5.) http://www.tss-tag.com/TRACAR.htm
As the flow of goods across borders increases, better control with cargo during intermodal transportation is an important competitive measure for all enterprises. As a leading partner in TRACAR I and II - supported by the European Commission DGXIII - TSS is responsible for the technical development of a supervision system for intermodal transport of cargo covering road, rail and sea transport.
6.) http://www.perceptics.com/ccr.htm
The intermodal container transfer facility at the
7.) http://www.mtls.com/security.html
http://www.mtls.com/automated.html
MTLS has set the standard in computerized terminal
operations systems for over 25 years. During that time, MTLS has implemented
new technology such as remote data terminals, bar code scanning, radio
frequency communications, electronic
data interchange (EDI), voice synthesis output, automatic equipment
identification (AEI), control systems for straddle carriers, computer character
recognition (CCR) imaging and
graphical user
interface systems.
Ztango, Inc. is a leading provider of wireless application
solutions and services. Among the first members of the WAP Forum, we have more
than five years of operating experience delivering wireless solutions that increase
operator revenue and allow critical business information to be communicated
among customers, employees, partners, and remote assets. Ztango manages the
complexities associated with multiple networks, multiple devices, remote asset
connectivity, solution security, dispersed user bases, carrier management,
24-hour operation, and enterprise application integration