aidc100 evolution of an rfid revolution session 7 university/industry collaboration panel discussion...

AIDC100Evolution of an RFID Revolution

Session 7University/Industry Collaboration

Panel DiscussionRFID at Merrimack College

byCharles R Kochakian

Adjunct Professor Dept of EE

http://www.merrimack.edu/

15 October 200815 October 2008

RFID at Merrimack CollegeRFID at Merrimack College

Outline

• Our History

• Mission Statement

• Curriculum

• RFID capabilities

• Student Projects

• Academic/Industry partnership

• Research activities



Our HistoryOur History

• RFID RFID SeminarSeminar 2005 2005

• RFID RFID Short CourseShort Course, Feb/Mar 2006, Feb/Mar 2006

• First courseFirst course given in Div of Cont given in Div of Cont Ed (DCE) Mar/May 2007 and Ed (DCE) Mar/May 2007 and again in 2008again in 2008

• Required course Required course in EE curriculum in EE curriculum this coming Spring semesterthis coming Spring semester



Mission StatementMission Statement• Provide Electrical Engineering, Provide Electrical Engineering,

Business School and Computer Science Business School and Computer Science graduates a foundation in RFID graduates a foundation in RFID Technology and Business Solutions Technology and Business Solutions

• Create a state-of the–art RFID Lab Create a state-of the–art RFID Lab facility that will be used to support facility that will be used to support classroom lectures as well as provide a classroom lectures as well as provide a resource for conducting project resource for conducting project development, pilot demos and development, pilot demos and specialized trainingspecialized training



RFID as part of the CurriculumRFID as part of the Curriculum

• The RFID offering is designed to provide a The RFID offering is designed to provide a multi-disciplinary learning experience with multi-disciplinary learning experience with Business and CS studentsBusiness and CS students

• The course focuses on a number of key The course focuses on a number of key goals goals – Provide a solid introduction to RFID Provide a solid introduction to RFID

technology, utilizing lectures, demos, and technology, utilizing lectures, demos, and lab worklab work

– Provide exposure to industry expertsProvide exposure to industry experts– The need for standards, security and The need for standards, security and

privacyprivacy– To teach how to use the technology to To teach how to use the technology to

design RFID solutions design RFID solutions


Format of course

• 2-credit course taken in 2nd semester of junior year by EEs

• Required prerequisites: EE with E&M+Electronics, or CS major with junior standing, or business major with junior standing - enables multidisciplinary teams

• Three sets of learning outcomes, one for each major are being prepared

• Having EE, business and CS students included a multi-disciplinary team approach is realizable for senior projects



Points of LearningPoints of Learning

Evolution and basic overview of RFID Evolution and basic overview of RFID technologytechnology

Fundamentals of RFID engineering and Fundamentals of RFID engineering and characteristics of various tags and readerscharacteristics of various tags and readers

An understanding of EPC and RFID An understanding of EPC and RFID standardsstandards

Understanding RFID system integration; Understanding RFID system integration; hardware, middleware, networks, IT and hardware, middleware, networks, IT and enterprise systemsenterprise systems

Understanding the planning process and Understanding the planning process and physicsphysics

RFID system technology at present and its RFID system technology at present and its potential going forwardpotential going forward

Global and societal impacts; security and Global and societal impacts; security and ethical considerationsethical considerations



The Benefit of RFID The Benefit of RFID

• An educational opportunity that An educational opportunity that challenges our students with real-challenges our students with real-world problemsworld problems

• Learn how to synthesize solutionsLearn how to synthesize solutions

• Advantages of RFID as a required Advantages of RFID as a required course include using it to introduce course include using it to introduce systems engineering concepts and systems engineering concepts and introducing economic considerations introducing economic considerations and business benefits and business benefits



Our RFID CapabilitiesOur RFID Capabilities

• Several Companies (Several Companies (Symbol, Intermec, Symbol, Intermec, Tagsys, Zebra, Psion Teklogix, Fluke, Tagsys, Zebra, Psion Teklogix, Fluke, Metrologic, Identec, Lairdtech and Metrologic, Identec, Lairdtech and RadianceRadiance) have donated equipment ) have donated equipment – Readers, Tags, Antennas , SWReaders, Tags, Antennas , SW

• Active and Passive RFID SystemsActive and Passive RFID Systems

• RFID lab that enables hands-on training RFID lab that enables hands-on training

• Facilities that can be used for Facilities that can be used for customized training and pilot testing customized training and pilot testing and analysisand analysis



Student ProjectsStudent Projects

TypesTypes• Senior Project, Course Project, Work Senior Project, Course Project, Work

StudyStudy

Planning RequirementsPlanning Requirements• What are the technical and business benefits? What are the technical and business benefits? • What is the basis for the RFID solution and the What is the basis for the RFID solution and the

ROI?ROI?• Which RFID technology is most appropriate?Which RFID technology is most appropriate?• Define the project schedule including major Define the project schedule including major

milestonesmilestones• Identify required resources, materials and costIdentify required resources, materials and cost• Metrics for measuring system performanceMetrics for measuring system performance



Projects: Projects: Past/PresentPast/Present

CompletedCompleted

• Several Course ProjectsSeveral Course Projects

• HF/UHF ACS Feasibility Study and P-o-C HF/UHF ACS Feasibility Study and P-o-C Demo for MassportDemo for Massport

In-Process In-Process - RFID pilots on campus- RFID pilots on campus

• College libraryCollege library

• ACS and RTLS for Mendel S&E Bldg ACS and RTLS for Mendel S&E Bldg

• Cafeteria: Ease of entry and automated Cafeteria: Ease of entry and automated POSPOS



RFID-Educated GraduatesRFID-Educated Graduates

• Our juniors get trained in spring Our juniors get trained in spring semester and prepared to do their semester and prepared to do their senior project on a faculty-approved senior project on a faculty-approved RFID topicRFID topic

• We are producing well trained We are producing well trained graduate engineers with RFID graduate engineers with RFID experience to take a leading role in experience to take a leading role in designing/developing RFID solutions designing/developing RFID solutions



Academic/PartnershipAcademic/Partnership

• Establish collaborative with MIT Establish collaborative with MIT Auto-ID Lab, UML and MCCAuto-ID Lab, UML and MCC

• Develop working relationships with Develop working relationships with other universities other universities

• Seek opportunities to work on Seek opportunities to work on university/industry initiativesuniversity/industry initiatives



Industry PartnershipIndustry Partnership

• Massport – ACS and Baggage Massport – ACS and Baggage Recovery System Recovery System

• Tagsys – UHF/HF Tunnel and UHF Tagsys – UHF/HF Tunnel and UHF EASEAS

• Lairdtech – Test/evaluate antennasLairdtech – Test/evaluate antennas

• Utilize Lab facility to support Utilize Lab facility to support project development and testingproject development and testing

• Can lead to job opportunities for Can lead to job opportunities for students students



Going ForwardGoing Forward• Next generation technological Next generation technological

developments we are interested in developments we are interested in pursuing through pursuing through university/industry partnershipuniversity/industry partnership

– Printable chip-less RFID tagsPrintable chip-less RFID tags

– High performance printable antennasHigh performance printable antennas

– Low-priced RFID reader chipsLow-priced RFID reader chips

– RFID tags with sensorsRFID tags with sensors

– Item-level tags and smart shelvesItem-level tags and smart shelves

– Library and Security systemsLibrary and Security systems


Continuing SupportContinuing Support

• The AIDC 100 membership has The AIDC 100 membership has provided a great deal of help, provided a great deal of help, many having donated to our many having donated to our RFID Lab RFID Lab

• We look forward to their We look forward to their continued support continued support

Thank YouThank You15 October 200815 October 2008


aidc100 evolution of an rfid revolution session 7 university/industry collaboration panel discussion...

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