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SBIR Phase I: Location Aware Computing Using Near Field Electromagnetic Ranging

Award Information

Agency:
National Science Foundation 		Branch:
N/A 		Award ID:
79509 		Program Year/Program:
2006 / SBIR
Agency Tracking Number:
0539073 		Solicitation Year:
N/A 		Solicitation Topic Code:
N/A 		Solicitation Number:
N/A
Small Business Information
Q-Track Corporation
515 Sparkman Drive Huntsville, AL 35816-3417
View profile »
Woman-Owned: No
Minority-Owned: No
HUBZone-Owned: No
 
Phase 1
Fiscal Year: 2006
Title: SBIR Phase I: Location Aware Computing Using Near Field Electromagnetic Ranging
Agency: NSF
Contract: 0539073
Award Amount: $97,718.00
 

Abstract:

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project seeks to transform the real time location system (RTLS) industry by bringing to fruition a simple, inexpensive, yet highly accurate location awareness technology called Near Field Electromagnetic Ranging (NFER). The proposed research will assess a radically new tracking technology by focusing on the technology's two primary technical uncertainties. First, the research will determine limits to antenna miniaturization without compromising a reliable link (i.e., how small a tag is possible). Second, the research will determine limits to system capacity (i.e., how many items can be tracked at a particular update rate). Phase I will ascertain these uncertainties through a combination of theoretical analysis and real-world testing of prototype systems. Real time locating systems (RTLS) is an important and rapidly growing segment within the radio frequency identification (RFID) industry. In today's world of just-in-time commerce, supply chain management (SCM) requires inexpensive RTLS to improve efficiency and maintain competitiveness. Established technologies such as global positioning system (GPS), ultra-wideband (UWB), and traditional time-of-flight ranging are unable to perform satisfactorily within complicated real-world, indoor propagation environments.

Principal Investigator:

Hans G. Schantz
Dr
2564890075
h.schantz@q-track.com

Business Contact:

Hans G. Schantz
Dr
2567046002
h.schantz@q-track.com
Small Business Information at Submission:

Q-Track
515 Sparkman Drive Huntsville, AL 35816

EIN/Tax ID:
DUNS: N/A
Number of Employees:
Woman-Owned: No
Minority-Owned: No
HUBZone-Owned: No