Below are the first 10 and last 10 pages of uncorrected machine-read text (when available) of this chapter, followed by the top 30 algorithmically extracted key phrases from the chapter as a whole.
Intended to provide our own search engines and external engines with highly rich, chapter-representative searchable text on the opening pages of each chapter.
Because it is UNCORRECTED material, please consider the following text as a useful but insufficient proxy for the authoritative book pages.
Do not use for reproduction, copying, pasting, or reading; exclusively for search engines.
OCR for page 37
37
· Repeated good faith attempts were made to contact every · Level 3--prototype demonstrated in laboratory environ-
technology developer identified, but attempts did not always ment
result in an interview. · Level 4--technology product operational in limited real-
· Among the interviews conducted, not all were ultimately world environment
considered valid for the project's objectives. · Level 5--technology product fully operational in real-world
· The sample size is not large. environment
· Among the technology developers whose interviews were
considered valid, not all results provided the same level The following subsections consist of a narrative for each of
of detail. the 23 interviews conducted with technology developers.
· Information in interview responses was not independently
verified.
· Within a technology area with multiple interviews, the level 3.3.1 Technology Developer
of readiness can and does vary. Narrative 1--Company
· Technologies mature at different rates. Technology Area. Networked RFID, ubiquitous sensors
· There is some overlap between capabilities of certain tech- and cargo monitoring
nology areas (such as photonic sensors and organic thin-
film solar cells). Product Description and Use. The technology is two-way
· A technology need can sometimes be satisfied in more than wireless monitoring capabilities between battery-operated sen-
one way. sors and readers for outdoor applications. It uses active RFID
· While the project's research design sought to minimize sub- for real-time monitoring of cargo and vehicle and allows two-
jective interpretation through the functional requirement/ way command and control and data collection of sensor status
gap analysis approach, the research team does not represent and location. Information is transmitted to remote monitor-
that the findings, conclusions, and recommendations are ing centers. The system provides an immediate alert for any
totally objective. Indeed, some subjectivity is inevitable in a change in cargo status, including movement off-route (using
project of this type. geofencing). In real-time, it helps identify a person in connec-
tion with a specific operation in the field, and it sends an alert
in the event of tampering. This permits fast response, visibility
3.3 Individual Technology
of operations in the field, and information flow to allow orga-
Characterization
nizational optimization. It claims easy connectivity to public
Sections 3.3.1 through 3.3.23 contain narratives for each of networks and security systems. It is said to be Federal Commu-
the interviewees with respect to their developing technologies. nications Commission (FCC) and Underwriters Laboratories
Each narrative includes the following information: (UL) compliant. Its primary market is carriers working with
customs authorities and revenue-collecting government agen-
· Product description and use (i.e., eventual product) cies as well as commercial fuel distribution companies.
· Technology readiness level
· Development path Technology Readiness Level: 45. Product is fully oper-
· Challenges to successful implementation ational in a real-world environment while spiral development
· Overall assessment continues.
Development Path. Part of the development challenge
These narratives are meant to provide key points of each
involved advancing unique sensing capabilities in real-time
technology's status, from which the results are compiled and
and in severe outdoor conditions. The product development
summarized in terms of future development expectations.
requires final evaluation with users and setup of final standards
NOTE: for simplification, the team used a modification of
and procedures.
the widely used nine-level National Aeronautics and Space
Administration's (NASA's) TRL grading scheme in assessing Challenges to Successful Implementation. No partic-
the level of maturity of the technologies discussed with their ular impediments to implementation were noted. The cost to
developers. The team's modification, more fully defined in the acquire and operate the product depends on implementation,
Appendix F technology developer interview template, recog- and the developer feels the payback time to customers would
nizes the following five technology development levels: be approximately 3 to 6 months.
· Level 1--basic technology principles have been observed Overall Assessment. It appears that this product has
· Level 2--equipment and process concept formulated entered the marketplace and offers the potential for enhancing
OCR for page 38
38
Hazmat transportation safety and security. However, insuffi- less sensor and actuator networks that report location via GPS
cient information was provided on user cost and other char- and sensor data such as temperature, humidity, and radiation
acteristics associated with product implementation to judge detection. Products are compatible with a wireless network
market adoptability. protocol. The technology enables both security and remote
monitoring of many types of customers. Access control is via
3.3.2 Technology Developer Narrative both RFID and biometrics. Security is enabled via intrusion
2--National Laboratory detectors, biometrics, and active RFID sensors monitoring
a location. Remote monitoring of a distribution network
Technology Area. Networked RFID, ubiquitous sensors is enabled via field-deployed RFID units with sensor and
and cargo monitoring GPS technology. Detectors report emergencies to a dispatch
location. The primary target market is clients that require
Product Description and Use. The technology is involved
security and asset management.
with a wide range of security systems for Hazmat, using loca-
tors and tracking devices. The devices are for shipments carry- Technology Readiness Level: 45. The developer has an
ing high-security level shipments (i.e., radioactive materials). existing product base but is always in the process of bringing
The technology provides increased security through location new products to Level 5 maturity.
detectors at the vehicle or package level.
Development Path. Continued packaging of capabilities
Technology Readiness Level: 35. Different products and reduction of costs is key. User costs vary by product, rang-
are at various development stages (on average, 25 years). ing from under $100 to thousands of dollars per unit.
Development Path. Those technologies not already in the Challenges to Successful Implementation. There are
marketplace will be subjected to demonstrations in a limited always technological, manufacturing, and regulatory risks
real-world environment, followed by making the product fully that need to be monitored and addressed in future product
operational. In general, each product is anticipated to cost the development, and the developer tracks those.
user "a few thousand dollars" to obtain and operate.
Overall Assessment. Many of these technology products
Challenges to Successful Implementation. These systems have been developed initially for other target markets, yet
are generally not user-friendly. Hence, if something goes wrong they appear to be readily transferable to meet the needs of the
or breaks, a special technician is needed. Also, there are con- Hazmat transportation industry.
cerns as to whether the products are sturdy enough to withstand
the harsh conditions of daily use. Interactions could be positive
or negative on the systems, so the developer is prepared to work 3.3.4 Technology Developer Narrative
with customers to customize their systems to work together. 4--National Laboratory
Technology Area. Networked RFID, ubiquitous sensors
Overall Assessment. Products in this technology area are
and cargo monitoring
evolving to the point where they are continuing to add capa-
bility while making user benefit/cost more attractive. Improv- Product Description and Use. The technology is passive,
ing product durability and maintenance appears to be the next unpowered sensing and monitoring technology that can take
hurdle to overcome.
many different forms. These applications could include cargo
tampering and leak detection (currently used) and analysis of
3.3.3 Technology Developer Hazmat or biochemical threats (potential uses). Passive tags
Narrative 3--Company that can detect unauthorized access to cargo can be very useful.
The technology uses also include infrastructure monitoring
Technology Area. Networked RFID, ubiquitous sen-
sors and cargo monitoring such as pipeline leaks (e.g., an oil drilling company could
attach tags to drill pipes). Another form of infrastructure mon-
Product Description and Use. The technology involves itoring in which there has been interest is bridge monitoring
several systems including (1) RFID units for physical access (i.e., embedded strain gauges in bridges and passive chips that
control and customized RFID (passive, semi-active, and active) could provide information to inspectors who would only need
enabled sensors for distribution; (2) passive infrared (IR) and to drive by the area). Current customers include NASA, the
microwave intrusion detection systems for home and military aerospace industry, and government agencies including DOE
security detection; (3) biometrics using advanced fingerprint and DOD. A sophisticated device that this organization has
scanners for vehicle ignition and access control; and (4) wire- developed is a micro-chemical lab that can detect Hazmat or
OCR for page 39
39
bio-agents, and in principle it could be configured to work with the three finalists of the RFID Journal's "Most Innovative Use
passive, unpowered sensing and reporting technology. For of RFID award."
example, such integration could help emergency responders
remotely identify leaked Hazmat at the scene of an incident. Technology Readiness Level: 4. The product has been
operational in several on-the-road field demonstrations with
Technology Readiness Level: 4. The technologies are staged incidents.
essentially at the pilot demonstration level.
Development Path. More extensive field trials are under-
Development Path. This path requires third parties that way. Large-scale industrial production of tags, readers, and
are interested in using this technology in their product appli- other system components are needed for product to become
cations and can deliver it to the marketplace at a reasonable fully operational, in addition to training of personnel and
cost. This process could take several years before coming establishment of infrastructure. These developments are
to fruition. Whereas probably millions of dollars have been expected to occur within the coming year. Anticipated user
spent on battery-powered tags, much less has been spent for costs are several thousand dollars for the fixed system, which
passive tags, and much more would need to be spent to bring includes one RFID reader and one communication transpon-
them to market. For analog cell networks, probably only a der. Each transportation package would be fitted with a tag
tiny percent of what would be needed for development has costing between $100 and $200 each.
been spent to date.
Challenges to Successful Implementation. Between
Challenges to Successful Implementation. Development $500,000 and $1 million is needed to bring the technology into
costs are substantial, and therefore may require a forcing the marketplace. There is continued interaction with industry
function (e.g., regulation) to make available the appropriate on development of sensors to expand the RFID functionality.
resources. Use of battery power, rather than wireless, is the cur-
rent technology for reading information from 100 meters away. Overall Assessment. This technology product offers an
This requires user monitoring and replacement of batteries. intriguing hybrid solution to the immediate problem associ-
ated with making reliable wireless power available in track-
Overall Assessment. Eventually both the development ing shipments in transit. The wireless problem is overcome
funds and technology advancement will provide a solution for because of the short transmission distance from the package
using this type of product, operating within a wireless network. to the reader (located in the truck cab), allowing the sensors
It is only a matter of time before this occurs, likely within the to be powered by long-life batteries that can run for several
next couple of years. years before needing replacement.
3.3.5 Technology Developer Narrative 3.3.6 Technology Developer
5--National Laboratory Narrative 6--Company
Technology Area. Networked RFID, ubiquitous sensors Technology Area. Pressure gauges and chemical detec-
and cargo monitoring tion sensors
Product Description and Use. The technology is for mon- Product Description and Use. The technology involves
itoring and tracking high-value items in transportation and the embedding of sensors in products to detect chemical
storage using RFID tags equipped with sensors. The trans- releases. Of the more than 140 products the technology
porting vehicle is tracked and the state of its cargo's health is developer has produced, three in particular are applicable
monitored and reported. Package manifest and event history to Hazmat transportation: (1) chemical sensors that can detect
is stored in tag memories and relayed by satellite and secure the presence of chlorine, ammonia, hydrogen cyanide, sulfur
Internet to a command center. In case of an incident, a GIS- compounds, nitrogen, and several other materials; (2) photo
based report is immediately issued to assist with emergency ionization detectors useful for identifying hydrocarbons,
response. The focus to date has been on truck transportation styrene, gas, or diesel in units of parts per billion; and (3) scin-
and storage of sensitive nuclear materials for the DOE. The tillation sensors that can detect gamma or neutron rays. These
technology has interacted with vehicle tracking technologies products are compatible with an open platform that allows
and satellite and cellular communication technologies. It has integration with third party providers.
successfully completed initial integration of its RFID technol-
ogy and a well-known tracking and communication system. Technology Readiness Level: 45. Some of these prod-
In 2010, this system was selected by industry judges as one of ucts are fully operational in a real-world environment, while
OCR for page 40
40
others are at the stage of being operational in a limited real- uct development and testing is needed before it can compete
world environment. Those products currently at Level 4 are in the marketplace. However, this technology offers the poten-
anticipated to be at Level 5 within the coming year. tial to achieve improved performance over what is being used
in conventional sensors.
Development Path. Acquisition costs are product-
dependent. However, the average payback time to the cus-
tomer is estimated to be 3 months. 3.3.8 Technology Developer Narrative
8--Company: Technology No. 2
Challenges to Successful Implementation. There were
Technology Area. Pressure gauges and chemical detec-
none specified, other than acknowledging that sensors have a
tion sensors
finite life and will need to replaced over time.
Product Description and Use. The technology is color
Overall Assessment. This technology developer's prod-
metric barcodes used to detect homemade explosives and
ucts are in the marketplace already, with additional products
precursors for various forms of explosives. The product is
nearly ready for commercial use. If these products can accu-
targeted for security use in conflict areas.
rately detect chemical releases with very low false alarm rates,
it represents a promising Hazmat transportation safety and Technology Readiness Level: 2. The equipment and pro-
security enhancement. Given the large number of Hazmat cess concept has been formulated.
shipments warranting active monitoring, the capability of
embedded sensors to detect anomalous conditions at low Development Path. Proceeding with a prototype demon-
thresholds and high reliability will benefit shippers, carriers, strated in a laboratory environment, testing the technology
emergency responders, and government officials. product in a limited real-world environment, and having
the product fully operational in a real-world environment is
3.3.7 Technology Developer Narrative expected to be a 69 year development process. It is anticipated
7--Company: Technology No. 1 that once available, the unit cost to the user will be roughly
$100 to obtain the product and less than $100 to operate it.
Technology Area. Pressure gauges and chemical detection
sensors Challenges to Successful Implementation. Funding in
the amount of approximately $3 million will be necessary to
Product Description and Use. The technology is nanowire
bring this product to the marketplace.
technology used to detect chemical, biological, and radiolog-
ical threats while cargo is in transport. The company's primary Overall Assessment. Color metric barcoding is in an early
target markets are shipping container manufacturers, carriers, development stage, requiring several years of effort before
and seaports. products relying on this technology will become commercially
available. When it reaches that point, the benefits derived
Technology Readiness Level: 2. The equipment and pro-
from product use will be primarily enhanced security from
cess concept has been formulated.
terrorist attacks, although applications to support Hazmat
Development Path. Proceeding with a prototype demon- transport safety could possibly evolve.
strated in a laboratory environment, testing the technology
product in a limited real-world environment, and having 3.3.9 Technology Developer Narrative
the product fully operational in a real-world environment is 9--Company: Technology No. 3
expected to be a 69 year development process. It is anticipated
that once available, the unit cost to the user will be roughly Technology Area. Pressure gauges and chemical detec-
$300 to obtain the product and $100 to operate it. tion sensors
Challenges to Successful Implementation. Funding in Product Description and Use. The technology is gas chro-
the amount of approximately $10 million will be necessary to matography integrated into systems that detect agents, pri-
bring this product to the marketplace. The technology will marily chemicals and explosives. The primary target market
also have to be designed to be interactive with communication is buildings with heating, ventilating, and air conditioning
devices. (HVAC) systems.
Overall Assessment. The development and use of nano- Technology Readiness Level: 2. The equipment and pro-
wire technology is in its early stages, and therefore more prod- cess concept has been formulated.
OCR for page 41
41
Development Path. Proceeding with a prototype demon- 3.3.11 Technology Developer
strated in a laboratory environment, testing the technology Narrative 11--Company
product in a limited real-world environment, and having
Technology Area. Fiber-optic/photonic sensors and
the product fully operational in a real-world environment is
optical scanners
expected to be a 69 year development process. It is antici-
pated that once available, the unit cost to the user will be Product Description and Use. The technology is fiber-
roughly $100 to obtain the product and less than $100 to optic sensors as well as optical scanning systems. Fiber-optic
operate it. sensors can be used for many Hazmat needs; their use depends
on the amount of Hazmat and the sensor sensitivity, dynamic
Challenges to Successful Implementation. Funding in
range, and resolution. Also, avoiding false signals is one of the
the amount of approximately $3 million will be necessary to
critical parameters, whatever the application medium. Fiber-
bring this product to the marketplace.
optic sensors and optical scanners can be placed in space or on
Overall Assessment. As the use of gas chromatography ground; they can be hand-held, surface-mounted, or embedded
for this purpose is just being conceptualized, the emergence of into structures.
a commercially available product is not likely to occur for
Technology Readiness Level: 12. This technology devel-
many years. Once in the marketplace, the product's use will be
oper studies the problem and designs the proper sensors for
limited to building infrastructure, unless the technology can
appropriate applications. As soon as the proof of concept is
be integrated with other products to serve transport vehicles
completed and a prototype is developed and tested, it is deliv-
and sensitive cargo.
ered to the customer.
3.3.10 Technology Developer Narrative Development Path. There will be development of a series
10--Company: Technology No. 4 of fiber-optic sensors depending on the sensitivity required for
each application, and costs are based on sensitivity. The range
Technology Area. Pressure gauges and chemical detec-
can vary considerably. Optical scanner costs also vary based on
tion sensors
the size and whether they are hand-held or large lab testers. The
Product Description and Use. This technology is a scanners' range can also vary considerably for mass produc-
24/7 indoor air monitoring system that is capable of detect- tion, and the cost depends on the mass production numbers.
ing aldehydes, oxidizers, acids, and bases. Information can
Challenges to Successful Implementation. There are no
be transmitted via wireless communication. The primary
special needs identified in the development. In general, as
target market is buildings and other facilities that are impor-
with any early stage developments, financial support is the
tant to homeland security.
critical issue.
Technology Readiness Level: 4. The technology product
Overall Assessment. This appears to be a very flexible and
is operational in a limited real-world environment.
versatile technology. Fiber-optics is recognized for the quan-
Development Path. It is expected that the technology tity and quality of data it is capable of transmitting. It has
product will be fully operational and commercially available promise for not only vehicle and cargo monitoring but also
within the coming year. The anticipated user cost is approx- infrastructure, such as identifying the type and concentration
imately $80,000. of toxic gas in a tunnel or the degree of movement of bridge
support structures.
Challenges to Successful Implementation. No challenge
or impediment was identified.
3.3.12 Technology Developer Narrative
Overall Assessment. At such a high user cost, it would 12--National Laboratory
appear that the demand for this product will be limited to Technology Area. Advanced locks and seals
large organizations with sizeable fixed infrastructure. Some
shippers (chemical manufacturers) may fall into this category. Product Description and Use. The technology is a Secure
However, unless the technology is customized for smaller, Sensor Platform (SSP) provides a framework of functionality
mobile operations, and made available at an affordable cost, to support the development of low-power autonomous sensors
its adaptation by the Hazmat transport industry is likely to be primarily for nuclear safeguards. This framework provides four
extremely limited. primary functional blocks of capabilities required to implement
OCR for page 42
42
autonomous sensors. These capabilities are security-based tion (NNSA) Office of Nuclear Verification. The first use of
communication protocol for radio frequency and hardwire this framework has been the development of the RMSA,
mediums; active, passive, and indicative security features for which is a monitoring system for a large number of active
secure housings; power management for extended battery- fiber-optic seals providing worldwide, secure and remote
powered autonomous operation; and cryptographic pro- access to the array of seals. Its originating national labora-
cesses providing Advanced Encryption Standard (AES)-based tory is going through the production process with a commer-
authentication and encryption as well as a public key cryptog- cial partner and is on the verge of providing a prototype
raphy option. Using this framework establishes a common set system to the International Atomic Energy Association (IAEA).
of functional capabilities for seamless interoperability of any Two other sensor developments based on the SSP are the tiny
sensor based on the SSP concept. The SSP communication gamma-ray spectrometer and the authenticated switch. Both
protocol stack can readily support wired or wireless commu- are autonomous and battery powered.
nication by simply replacing the physical layer. The entire
protocol stack has been optimized to minimize the energy Development Path. SSP future trends include stronger
required for effective communication. Its original basis is as cryptology; greater resistance to tampering; and higher con-
a high-end security and safeguard system providing sensors fidence of detection while still maintaining low cost for wide
to remotely monitor nuclear processes and nuclear material deployment, longer autonomous operation, more supported
storage. Many of the sensors used for that purpose cannot sensor technologies, and more user interfaces to provide choices
rely on existing infrastructure for power or communications for monitoring and review platforms. Initially, costs for the
and therefore must be self-contained. RMSA system components are anticipated to be approximately
The sensor monitoring system configuration consists of a $500 or less in volumes above 500 for the fiber-optic seal, and
host computer, a translator, many sensor platforms, and data the translator would cost approximately $6,000 if tamper-
management tools for data collection and verification. The indicating and $1,500-$2,000 for a non tamper-indicating
sensors and the translator store and forward all collected data. commercial version.
This capability creates redundant data stores, allowing recov-
ery of sensor data to support the requirement for complete data Challenges to Successful Implementation. The SSP tech-
sets. Examples of possible sensors are magnetic, glass break, nology is specifically designed to have low life cycle cost, but
passive IR, IR break beam, authenticated switch, fiber-optic it is initially a more expensive solution than the commer-
receiver, fiber-optic loop seal, vibration, and microwave. All cial marketplace can deploy for Hazmat shipments. The SSP
of the SSP-based sensors are active devices. They detect and has been designed for large, dry, outdoor storage of large num-
report out-of-normal conditions in near real time. The SSP bers of adjacent spent fuel containers. It provides deterrence
framework provides three categories of security features. These by detection. It is currently designed to give alerts to a control
are active tamper monitoring to protect secret cryptographic center in near real time. Achieving mobility will require some
keys, intrinsic features for forensic examination, and a passive additional R&D (for example, connecting to a GPS/GLS device
feature which causes the initiation of an active tamper. Data with terrestrial or satellite communications, possibly with a
are encrypted and authenticated at the sensor. Authentication camera triggered by an authenticated switch). This would not
and encryption are based on National Institute of Standards have a big hardware impact but could involve software licenses
and Technology (NIST) standards. Power management uses and royalties. Finally, there may be RF emission restrictions in
techniques such as multiplexed sensors, high-energy density some nuclear facilities.
battery technologies, and wake-on-radio features.
A current example of an SSP sensor application is the RMSA Overall Assessment. The SSP and its RMSA application
which inherits all of the SSP core capabilities as described. have resulted from a lot of thought and research. Security of
The RMSA uses a low life cycle cost fiber-optic seal sensor. containers has remained a vexing problem. Many different
The fiber optic material is inexpensive 1-mm plastic fiber that seals (including tamper-indicating seals) have been defeated
can be cut in the field in loop lengths up to 50 meters. The fiber by vulnerability assessment researchers, often with surprising
loop is actively monitored with light pulses. The seal uses the speed. Security of some particularly dangerous or high-value
unlicensed RF bands to periodically communicate its status Hazmat shipments could be improved by defeating sophisti-
and immediately communicate alerts. Each seal can store sev- cated intrusion attempts and reporting their occurrence. As
eral years' worth of transmitted messages. the cost of this technology comes down, carriers of cargo such
as explosives and bulk TIH may find that the SSP's ability
Technology Readiness Level: 4. The SSP framework to protect sealed Hazmat cargo with low maintenance, high
has been in development for several years with the primary confidence in collected information, and lower staff-hours
sponsor being the National Nuclear Security Administra- for inspection make it affordable.
OCR for page 43
43
3.3.13 Technology Developer Narrative Technology Readiness Level: 45. Acquisition and oper-
13--Company ation cost and ROI are currently difficult to determine because
this technology developer works through a dealer and quanti-
Technology Area. Advanced locks and seals ties can range from a few hundred to a few thousand.
Product Description and Use. The technology is locks
Development Path. Incremental improvements to a
and seals that can be remotely monitored for intrusion and
proven technology are being made by this company. Every
system functioning.
transportation mode can conceivably benefit by advanced
Technology Readiness Level: 45. The technology prod- video surveillance and monitoring features that are primarily
uct is fully operational in a real-world environment, although security-related but could also include safety monitoring.
user evaluations and development of standards and proce-
Challenges to Successful Implementation. There are no
dures are ongoing.
discernable impediments to developmental versions reach-
Development Path. Although user cost will depend on ing the marketplace. Privacy issues could be one potential
the type of system implementation, average customer payback impediment, but proliferation of video surveillance in mod-
time is estimated to be between 3 and 6 months. ern society has been rapid, particularly after 9/11, and privacy
issues have not come into play when this technology is used
Challenges to Successful Implementation. No challenges for security surveillance. When video surveillance is coupled
or impediments were identified. with knowledge of aspects of human behavior, it can be done
in a way that focuses on what a person does, not who they are.
Overall Assessment. In its current form, this product If typical activity patterns for a given area are known, intelli-
appears to be limited in function to being a device for detect- gent video analytics can help detect and alert when something
ing product tampering and providing alerts, while lacking breaks the pattern, such as an object left in a field of view. The
advanced encryption and other features that make seals and tracking feature can be employed to virtually follow someone
locks difficult to defeat. with suspected malicious intent without their realizing they
are being followed.
3.3.14 Technology Developer
Overall Assessment. Intelligent video surveillance has
Narrative 14--Company
great promise to increase its role as the "eyes and ears" of
Technology Area. Intelligent video tracking and sur- remote and unmanned site surveillance. It has a decision sup-
veillance port role in that it not only sees what is occurring but can help
decide whether the occurrence is cause for alarm. It also pro-
Product Description and Use. The technology is secu- vides a type of forensics in that it records and time- and date-
rity and safety cameras that capture images, replicate them to stamps events.
a hard drive and compresses them, then give them to the user
interface to view online recorded images. Intelligent video
analytics provides a length of a queue line by counting people, 3.3.15 Technology Developer
recording features by frames based on tripwire, detecting cam- Narrative 15--Company
era blinding attempts, and conducting image stabilization. Technology Area. Intelligent video tracking and sur-
This can also be in High Definition 1080p. (NOTE: 1080p is veillance
a very high resolution video format and screen specification
intended to deliver a smoother image that stays sharper dur- Product Description and Use. The technology is video
ing motion.) This technology can be used to detect a person content analysis software that processes and fuses live surveil-
presenting an illicit card at a secured door that could either lance camera images for automatic recognition of suspicious
trigger an alarm, or alternatively, let that person have access events or malicious activities at a site based on a multi-layer
and trip video cameras to automatically record images of intelligence. The main specialty of this system is site-wide
his/her movement. The technology can be used to protect identity tracking, accomplished by processing and fusing
container ports and other sites with imports and exports. Cam- the information from all connected cameras, and tracking
eras can capture tag numbers on trucks and tail numbers on people, vehicles, and other objects from camera to camera.
airplanes with a time and date stamp on the image. The tech- Identity tracking in this context means that by receiving infor-
nology can conduct entry/exit monitoring of restricted areas mation from a (third party) access control system or other
and any other areas without restriction, such as for a remote, primary source of identities, users can attach names or other
usually unoccupied pipeline facility. information to the tracked people, so the system at the end
OCR for page 44
44
not only knows that there is somebody there, but also knows tery powered to be wirelessly charged, or power sensors for
who it is. The system can also be used not only to analyze but monitoring structural health in all infrastructure. Industries
to predict behaviors. will save money by eliminating frequent battery changes.
Technology Readiness Level: 3. The development of this Technology Readiness Level: 4. In 2007, the developer
technology originally targeted the physical security market, released the first version of this technology. In 2009, it released
above all the video surveillance/CCTV segment. Besides a num- a second generation, and now has released volume production
ber of security-related potential use cases of identity tracking and new components of the technology.
technology, the developer is currently focusing on customer
behavior analysis in retail. An example is not only analyzing Development Path. The developer is currently using a dis-
purchases, but also predicting the behavior of customers in tributor to evolve the technology into different applications. It
shops, providing invaluable data for optimizing product also has training and supportability plans implemented and an
placement. active mechanism in place to make product improvements in
response to customer suggestions.
Development Path. Besides further research and devel-
Challenges to Successful Implementation. The FCC reg-
opment, appropriate test sites should be chosen to accomplish
ulates and limits a certain amount of power broadcast, so the
piloting. As this is a new technology providing services not
technology has to be FCC-compliant. As power levels and dis-
previously in the market, its capabilities should be first dis-
tances of transmission increase, FCC regulation could take on
seminated to raise attention and generate demand.
more importance.
Challenges to Successful Implementation. Privacy issues
Overall Assessment. Wireless power has the potential to
can apply to any video surveillance system. As the main ben-
supply electricity to sensors and communications devices
efit of the system is the increased level of security on a site by
from a distance and without the need for power cords. It can
mitigating certain risks, it is challenging to estimate payback
be used to recharge batteries, and the number and size of bat-
time because it highly depends on the prevalence and sever-
teries needed by a device using wireless power can be reduced.
ity of malicious events and the damage they may cause.
Overall Assessment. This is a technology that can work 3.3.17 Technology Developer
in conjunction with access control, can incorporate iden- Narrative 17--Company
tity management, and provide decision support. It would be
feasible to track a Hazmat vehicle from camera to camera as Technology Area. Wireless Power
the vehicle passes along a highway through a HTUA, as well
Product Description and Use. The technology uses
as tracking a person such as an intruder in a seaport or rail advanced material science and proprietary software algo-
switching yard. The software appears to works with current, rithms to identify, profile, and adapt wireless power delivery
standard cameras. to various loads in varying configurations. This is an enabling
technology in that it helps to provide electrical power for sen-
3.3.16 Technology Developer sors and other technologies that would be more expensive
Narrative 16--Company due to battery maintenance and replacement costs. Simple
examples include wirelessly charging and powering hand-held
Technology Area. Wireless Power scanners and other devices and wirelessly charging and power-
ing flashlights and other security devices to enable them to
Product Description and Use. The technology is wireless be "always ready" portable lighting for emergency responders,
power and radio frequency energy harvesting, converting radio police, firefighters, soldiers, and so forth. Another use is
waves into direct current (DC) power. This is an enabling tech- in-vehicle charging and power delivery for charging and pow-
nology in that it helps to provide electrical power for sensors ering sensors and other devices in adverse climates and condi-
and other technologies that would be more expensive due to tions. There is the potential for specialized software applications
battery maintenance and replacement costs. The application to enable devices using intelligent communications. Wireless
is for commercial industrial and defense industries. It sup- power technologies can power a room--a "wireless coffee
plies power that various sensing and communicating devices shop" has been demonstrated in which a laptop and cell phone
might not otherwise have. It eliminates cords and reduces were kept charged through this technology.
battery needs. Wireless transmission could be used to power
safety warning sensors to detect unsafe or toxic substances, Technology Readiness Level: 45. Several new patents
allow GPS/GLS devices attached to a vehicle that may be bat- have been granted to the technology developer, who is help-
OCR for page 45
45
ing to drive development of interoperability standards as a by the environment. It can also be used to power sensors, locks,
founding member of the Wireless Power Consortium. and other technologies associated with pipelines using the gas
flow (turbulence) to trigger the device to produce electricity. A
Development Path. The initial market is low power con- flag with these materials could produce electricity as it flutters
sumer electronics with additional medium and high power in the wind.
applications that benefit industries forthcoming. Application-
specific uses may require additional research and development. Technology Readiness Level: 12. The technology has
already been used to store a charge in a capacitor and power
Challenges to Successful Implementation. Shielding may an LED. The developer believes 25 years is a plausible time-
be required to prevent interference in certain radio bands. Sup- frame for product maturity.
ply chain development may be needed for certain form factors
and applications. It remains to be determined how the technol- Development Path. About 2 to 3 years is needed to com-
ogy is impacted by magnetic energy. From a safety and regu- mercialize the technology, and millions of dollars will be needed
latory standpoint, short distance and even some long distance to reach Level 5. Although not cited as an impediment, it is
wireless power meet requirements. IEEE runs the standards acknowledged that 2 to 3 million dollars in additional invest-
program that covers wireless technology. ment is needed in commercialize the technology.
Overall Assessment. This is a promising technology. "Uni- Challenges to Successful Implementation. A previous
versal power" at its best can eliminate cords and connections obstacle was that only a low voltage could be produced, but
and give load power. Applications can range from milliwatts to following a technical breakthrough, 3 to 4 volts can now be
kilowatts. It is conceptually possible to have a sensor embedded produced. Another impediment includes making the system
in packaging that remotely relays information that the level of a more robust and optimizing the design.
liquid or solid is getting low, by receiving a signal and then
responding. The sensor would be in the packaging itself and Overall Assessment: This is an environmentally friendly
could be detected by being in proximity to a device. If a railcar technology that capitalizes on motion or strain to provide
holds materials, the device could power a receiving coil on the power to certain devices where there otherwise would be none.
railcar, then the railcar could ping materials carried internally. It can produce power inside a vehicle where solar power is not
Distance depends on power levels--several railcars back from available. This represents an extremely promising technology
a device on a locomotive might be attainable, and it is even development in that it will enable tracking and monitoring of
possible to "daisy-chain" a signal down a line of railcars. hazardous materials shipments to occur without the cost of
battery maintenance and replacement. Moreover, this may
create an opportunity to improve the precision of real-time
3.3.18 Technology Developer
status if GPS/GLS transmissions can be sent with greater fre-
Narrative 18--University
quency due to less concern for the amount of battery power
Technology Area. Nanopiezoelectronics being consumed.
Product Description and Use. The technology uses
devices made of a common, inexpensive, very thin plastic 3.3.19 Technology Developer
and zinc oxide to produce power for sensors, actuators, and Narrative 19--Company
other uses from externally applied strain (force, pressure, or Technology Area. Plastic Thin-Film Organic Solar Cells
small physical motion). The devices convert motion to elec-
tricity, which can be used or stored in a battery or capacitor. Product Description and Use. The technology is a third
This is an enabling technology in that it helps to provide elec- generation, thin-film, flexible, organic photovoltaic material
trical power for sensors and other technologies that would that is printable on plastic. This is an enabling technology in
otherwise be more expensive due to battery maintenance and that it helps to provide electrical power for sensors and other
replacement costs. Safe (non-toxic), low-cost, biodegradable technologies that would be more expensive due to battery
materials are used. Primary markets include the electronic maintenance and replacement costs. It allows the conversion
industry especially emphasizing microelectromechanical/ of light (outdoor and indoor) to DC power and is very good
nanoelectromechanical systems (MEMS/NEMS), multifunc- at converting low light so collection time is expanded over the
tional devices, and sensors in mobile electronics that can be entire day. Also, there is a positive thermal coefficient so as the
powered without batteries. Nanogenerator technology could material warms up, it works better. The four primary markets
be used to allow small tracking devices that normally need a are microelectronics, portable power, remote power and build-
power source to send a signal to the user from energy created ing integrated photovoltaics (i.e., photovoltaic materials that
OCR for page 46
46
are used to replace conventional building materials in parts of devices. The next stages are capital intensive with demon-
a building). strations. Most work is done in a research environment so
it takes longer to bring technologies into production. There
Technology Readiness Level: 45. The next generation is a move toward the commercial environment.
product is under development, with planned sampling release
in late 2010 and production in early 2011. The technology is a Challenges to Successful Implementation. There are no
component for integration into other technologies, so close known technical impediments outside of the challenges of
collaboration with other technologies is vital for the success of development.
this developing technology.
Overall Assessment. This represents an extremely prom-
Development Path. The product has had a substantial ising technology development in that it will enable tracking
investment and appears ready for commercialization in tar- and monitoring of Hazmat shipments to occur with reduced
geted application areas. cost of battery maintenance and replacement. Moreover, this
may create an opportunity to improve the precision of real-
Challenges to Successful Implementation. The product time status if transmissions can be sent with greater fre-
must be adhered or laminated to other technologies, so devel- quency due to less concern for the amount of battery power
opment efforts are required in most cases to incorporate the being consumed.
product into other technologies. Also, the product must have
an electrical connection which may require development efforts
depending on the application. 3.3.21 Technology Developer
Narrative 21--Company
Overall Assessment. This represents a very promising
technology development that will enable tracking and moni- Technology Area. Plastic Thin-Film Organic Solar Cells
toring of Hazmat shipments to occur with reduced cost of bat- Product Description and Use. The technology involves
tery maintenance and replacement. Moreover, this may create
putting semi-conductors (solar cells) on non-traditional sur-
an opportunity to improve the precision of real-time status if
faces depending on the substrate, which can be fairly transpar-
transmissions can be sent with greater frequency due to less
ent. It is a flexible printed circuit sheet that has a film battery
concern for the amount of battery power being consumed.
on one side and generates electricity when exposed to light.
This is an enabling technology that helps to provide electrical
3.3.20 Technology Developer power for sensors and other technologies that otherwise would
Narrative 20--Company be more expensive due to battery maintenance and replace-
ment costs. The solar cells can go on corners or curved surfaces.
Technology Area. Plastic Thin-Film Organic Solar Cells
Power generated can be stored in a battery or capacitor. Colors
Product Description and Use. Organic solar cell tech- of light absorbed and the transparency can be tuned to be nar-
nology generates power at a low cost, cheaper than fossil fuels. row in its detection. "Organic" means that carbon is a major
This is an enabling technology that helps to provide electrical component and most of the chemicals needed are generally
power for sensors and other technologies that otherwise would standard and non-toxic. Flexible organic solar cells can be
be more expensive due to battery maintenance and replace- very thin, relatively transparent, and thus more aesthetic in
ment costs. It has applications for eliminating battery usage to their applications than traditional solar cells, which tend to
supplying power to other technologies. It can provide power to be crystalline and opaque and relatively difficult to put into a
remote and wireless sensor networks, and perhaps a device on product. They could be used on the outside surfaces of a vehi-
a chemical tank that requires wireless power. It can help sup- cle such as the roof, or applied as a film on a window to gen-
plement power supply if the grid is down. The technology can erate electricity. "Power paint" (i.e., the thin-film, relatively
easily be integrated with other products. transparent, flexible organic solar cell coating) on outside
surfaces, including windows that would otherwise be wasted
Technology Readiness Level: 4. Tens of millions of dol- surface area, could be a significant part of an electric vehicle's
lars have already been spent in development and tens of mil- (EV's) budget, extending the range and reducing battery size
lions remain to be invested. The products are developed, then and expense.
licensed to a company, and the return is usually a small per-
centage of the license module. Technology Readiness Level: 34. The developer builds
proof-of-concept devices and licenses to volume manufac-
Development Path. The targeted market includes any turers. Development depends on partnerships and capital
company with a need to generate power and operate mobile investment as well as engineering optimization and scaling.
OCR for page 47
47
Development Path. Economics should be favorable if the Challenges to Successful Implementation. Loss of a fuel
technology can reduce the amount of electrical capacity needed tanker to fire or explosion or the cost to clean up a spill that
by a device or vehicle. In the near term, sensors, devices, and results in fire are known expenses, but it is more difficult to
electric vehicles are the target to augment and offset the energy quantify the money saved from protection. The process does
load from the battery. Higher frequency transmission times add weight, which reduces fuel efficiency.
and data rates can be possible, which can benefit sensors and
communications systems. In the longer term, power gener- Overall Assessment. This specialty technology devel-
ation, especially peak power, is a target. opment evolved based on a need. Once the technology was
developed, it solved a problem quickly. The technology could
Challenges to Successful Implementation. Learning how benefit multiple modes, helping to protect not just vehicles
to make the cells larger and at volume is key. It is currently pos- but also pipelines from certain kinds of damage.
sible to make them up to 6 in. square. The technology needs to
migrate towards larger proof-of-concept devices.
3.3.23 Technology Developer Narrative 23--
Overall Assessment. This represents a very promising U.S. DOT Research Organization
technology development that will enable tracking and moni-
toring of Hazmat shipments to occur with reduced cost of bat- Technology Area. Container Integrity
tery maintenance and replacement. Moreover, this may create
Product Description and Use. The technology is a sand-
an opportunity to improve the precision of real-time status if
wich structure to protect railroad tank cars against punc-
transmissions can be sent with greater frequency because of
ture from impacting objects in the event of derailment or
less concern for the amount of battery power being consumed.
collision. A sandwich structure acts like a shield to protect
the commodity-carrying tank. The structure generally con-
3.3.22 Technology Developer sists of two face sheets that are separated by a core. Protection
Narrative 22--Company is offered through two mechanisms: load blunting (or load
distribution) and energy absorption. Both mechanisms would
Technology Area. Container Integrity
prevent or mitigate tank car punctures and may raise the stan-
Product Description and Use. The technology is a self- dard for impact for tank cars above the current 18 mph. The
healing, self-sealing substance that is resistant to bullets. The primary target is tank car manufacturers or anyone who is
technology is currently used for fuel transport in the military interested in designing improvements to the crashworthiness
in the form of a urethane compound sprayed on the outside of tank cars.
of a fuel tanker. The compound reacts chemically with fuel to
seal off a bullet hole puncture to the metal jacket of a tank, Technology Readiness Level: 1. This technology is in the
helping prevent what otherwise may result in a conflagration. basic research stage. It is too early to determine acquisition
The concept can be tailored to different chemistries of liquids and operation cost and potential ROI because the technology
and natural gas; its feasibility with chlorine and ammonia tech- is still in testing.
nologies has reportedly been demonstrated. It provides cor-
Development Path. There are a lot of collaborative efforts
rosion resistance which can lengthen life expectancy of tanks.
within the tank car community, including representation from
It may be possible to embed tracking and monitoring devices
railroads, manufacturers, and chemical companies that have
into the coating to remotely report damage and help to deter-
a vested interest in safe Hazmat transport. Currently for this
mine what sort of emergency response is needed. Beyond its
technology, there is ongoing research to develop sandwich
current military vehicle application, the technology could be
panels to be applied to ships' hulls, including Office of Naval
used for infrastructure and by DHS and the trucking, rail, and
pipeline industries. It is complementary with blast and fire Research work to protect ships from explosive impacts. This
mitigation technologies. can be modified for tank cars on a more mechanical level,
such as wheel and car impacts rather than blasts.
Technology Readiness Level: 3. Full-scale testing with
different specialized chemistries is needed, which will be Challenges to Successful Implementation. The protective
expensive. structure needs to be within weight and space requirements.
Some trade-offs may be necessary between sufficient protection
Development Path. There is a need to find partners and and the weight and space budgets. The extra protection could
to tie into government regulation guidelines and protocols significantly raise the cost of a rail tank car, which may hamper
for testing. There is a possible worldwide military market for voluntary adoption. There was some rule-making activity
the technology. 2 years ago when the Federal Railroad Administration tried
