TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Information Systems, Sensors

ACQUISITION PROGRAM: Navy Automatic Identification Technology (AIT) Program Office - not ACAT

OBJECTIVE: Navy desires an innovative Passive Radio Frequency Identification (pRFID) tag (transponder) design that will operate with a reader that requires a power level of .25mW or less to meet HERO and safe separation distance capable of a close to touching standoff criteria for operation in the near proximity of ordnance assets and readable within a 3-4 meter range performance. Although there are ongoing studies within DoD to obtain HERO, HERF, HERP & E3 safety parameters, there has never been actual development, testing, and prototyping of a pRFID tag for this purpose.

DESCRIPTION: The safe movement, handling, storage, and positioning of ordnance is a key area of technology investment for the DoD. Passive RFID technology is being integrated across the DoD, and the Navy lacks a solution that can safely operate in ordnance environments especially afloat while providing the improved visibility needed to support its mission. This effort will require a thorough understanding of the principals and physics behind electromagnetic energy and the performance and properties of radio frequency waves. The Contractor will have to employ innovative and creative engineering solutions to overcome currently designed passive RFID readers and tags with specific physical limitations.

An initial study of the science behind RFID makes a successful tag design operating under .25mW a technological challenge. Current COTS pRFID technology requires higher output powers for tags to respond than that considered safe for operating in ordnance environments. Passive RFID Readers (interrogators) can attenuate Radio Frequency power to meet shipboard and HERO constraints. However, pRFID tag performance is reduced to unusable in short read range distances. The greatest current limitation to pRFID performance is tag design requiring RF transmitted energy in excess of .25mW. Optimized tag performance should be 3-5 feet with combined estimated radiated power levels (of all tags and readers in a location) not to exceed .25mW. The four issues concerned with pRFID under decks onboard Navy ships (HERO, HERF, HERP, and E3); ordnance (i.e. HERO) safety has the most stringent limitations. Naval engineering test facilities have indicated that pRFID readers that are operating at or below .25mW could be safely operated in interior decks and compartments of Navy ships.

Previous testing of pRFID readers and tags onboard USS NASSAU (LHA-4) and at engineering test facilities determined that a separation distance of 11� is required for the safe use of pRFID in the receipt, stow processing of Ordnance which is subject to HERO constraints in and around other material that may be present. This restriction limits the automated receipt and issue processing of material as loaded and unloaded from the fleet. In fact, lessons learned concluded that currently available pRFID readers would have to be turned off to maintain a safe separation distance from ordnance being received aboard ship, since they do not operate at an acceptable level of power and frequency.

PHASE I: Compile a report with recommendations and performance capabilities to achieve a zero or close to touching safe separation distance or standoff pRFID tag. The report would include the feasibility of tag and antenna designs that could operate in a .25mW or less power levels, while meeting the range requirements. The final report should articulate a design for developing a tag that has the highest probability to demonstrate a HERO Safe with Zero or close to touching safe distance for Standoff of the pRFID tag system. This could lead to a commercially developed design solution for use with ordnance safe pRFID technology. If phase I successfully demonstrates potential, it is expected that commercial industry may have similar interests for an explosive asset tracking capability.

PHASE II: Design, develop and demonstrate a HERO Safe with Zero or close to touching Safe Separation distance pRFID tag system. The technology would undergo HERO testing to validate ordnance safety standards. This should lead to a possible dual use (government and commercial) design for HERO safe pRFID with safe standoff.

PHASE III: If successful, HERO Safe with Zero or close to touching Standoff tags will be required in bulk for all materials within the Navy supply chain located Afloat or in areas requiring ordnance safety. This would enable the DoD and Navy to safely use pRFID technology across the Ordnance supply chain. Since Navy has the most stringent safety testing and certification for HERO, the Navy AIT office has been tasked by USTRANSCOM for DoD, DLA and military services AIT offices to provide passive RFID HERO testing and certification for use in ordnance environments.

PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL/DUAL-USE APPLICATIONS: Benefits gained through low RF reflective applications have potential application in commercial environments where RF sensitivity is common. Sensitive environments may be government contractor facilities that manufacturer ordnance for the military services, electronics, flammable and Petrol-Chemical, Medical, Pharmaceutical, and other Hazardous Material Industries. Other areas within commercial sector are improved toll collection systems, and enhanced asset management solutions. Superior pRFID tag designs increase systems performance and remain applicable across multiple industries applying pRFID technology for asset receipt, issue, status and inventory tracking applications.

REFERENCES:
1. Department of Defense Instruction (DoDI) 6055.11, (Subj: Protection of DoD Personnel from Exposure to Radio frequency Radiation and Military Exempt Lasers).

2. Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA), Publication OP 3565, Vol. 1 - Technical Manual, Electromagnetic Radiation Hazards (Hazards to Personnel, Fuel and other Flammable Material) and Vol. 2 � Technical Manual, Electromagnetic Radiation Hazards (Hazards to Ordnance).

3. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) C95.1 Subj: IEEE Standard for Safety Levels with Respect to Human Exposure to Radio Frequency Electromagnetic Fields, 3kHz to 300GHz.

4. DoD Handbook (MIL-HDBK-464) Electromagnetic Environmental Effects, Requirements for Systems.

5. DoD Handbook (MIL-HDBK-240) HERO Test Guide.

6. NAVSEA Publication OD 30393, Design Principles and Practices for Controlling Hazards of Electromagnetic Radiation to Ordnance (HERO Design Guide).

7. Navy AIT Value Chain Demonstration, (report) dtd 27 January 2006.

8. U.S. Navy RFID Implementation Plan, (report) dtd 26 January 2005.

9. Defense Acquisition Regulations System (DFARS) 48 CFR Parts 211 and 252.

10. EPCglobal Class-1 Generation-2 UHF RFID Protocol V1.0.9.

KEYWORDS: HERO Safe, zero standoff, passive RFID Tag, pRFID, sensitive pRFID design, shipboard pRFID, .25mW pRFID tag performance

** TOPIC AUTHOR (TPOC) **

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