Boeing Tracks Assets at Kennedy Space Center

Both Global View and Visi-Trac enable Boeing to search for a specific item or perform an inventory of all tagged items at the facility. The system can send an alert to notify users when an item leaves a specific area, such as the building in which it is stored. The Visi-Trac system also offers new capabilities for setting up alerts and reporting, Rose says, and supports the Microsoft BizTalk platform.

Vans that deliver tools to spacecraft launch pads are also equipped with MSSI fixed readers, as well as laptop computers enabling the van driver to see an inventory of all tagged items located in the truck. As an item is removed from the vehicle, the reader no longer receives transmission from that tag, and RFIDGP's software suite, along with software from Franwell, displays that item on the truck's computer with a red highlight, indicating it is no longer aboard the vehicle. All items on the truck are highlighted in green. When the tools are returned to the vehicle, their status changes back to green on the display. If a driver sees any red highlights on the screen when he is ready to leave, he knows an item is missing. At this point, he can use an MSSI handheld reader to search for the tool around the launch pad.

Data is stored in the van's computer until it comes within range of Boeing's wireless system at KSC. At that point, the status of the van's equipment is transmitted to Boeing's inventory management database.

Lintereur declines to indicate the system's cost, but says he has already seen a return on investment in terms of reduced man-hours spent looking for products, as well as the more intangible benefit of the security it offers NASA by ensuring all tools have been removed from the launch pad site once work is complete. "Now NASA is really excited about it," he says.

The deployment has been fairly smooth, Rose adds, without any major challenges. "The system doesn't interfere with what they do at NASA," he explains, "and is below the signal level threshold, so it's basically nondetectable."