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.  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.