Year
1994
Abstract
Aquila Technologies Group, Inc., Massachusetts General Hospital, and other partners have recently teamed to develop an intelligent real-time asset tracking system 1. The system's principal use is to track immediate-need portable hospital equipment that is often difficult to locate. Primary components of the system include a low-cost wired network and electronically-addressable labels based on memory chips. Enhancements to the system include the ability to control digital cameras over the asset-tracking network, extension of the network to the AC powerline infrastructure, and further development of low-cost electronic labels which function as seals. This technology may have application in the tracking of stored materials resulting from the dismantling of weapon systems. Aquila's asset tracking technology now under development may provide the following specific functions and features related to international safeguards: 1) Devices are polled continuously anything changes, it is known at once. If 2) \"Cause and effect\" control capability - if a seal is opened, the system can trigger a digital camera to snap a picture. 3) Communications may be implemented through building electrical power wiring when it it is not leasable to run additional wiring between rooms. 4) No need for an inspector to make physical contact with devices like seals in order to read them. 5) Communication power for the devices is provided externally - no drain on a seal's power from reading its status. This paper describes the technology developed for hospital asset tracking applications and discusses how that technology may transfer to the International Safeguards/Physical Protection and materials tracking domain.