ARINC, Impeva Unveil Real-Time Supply Chain Tracking Solution

The RSU, which is mounted onto assets, also uses that same protocol to communicate with the GSU and with sensors and other RSUs. The RSU can work with a variety of sensors integrated into the RSU itself to measure, for example, the temperatures of bearings or brakes or a container's motion, but can also work with wireless sensors that support the mesh networking capabilities. The RSUs can communicate with each other in a mesh network and with GSUs and has built-in security and encryption. All data transmitted by the GSUs, RSUs and wireless sensors is encrypted.

The GSUs can be configured to report to the Global Sentinel Device Management Center at specific intervals (such as every two hours) and also can be programmed to report immediately if a pre-set business rule has been violated (such as if an RSU has reported to the GSU that temperatures have risen beyond acceptable levels in a shipping container). GSUs can also vary the times they report data to the management center when they enter a defined area, or GeoZone, which is determined by the GPS and could be a port or yard.

The Army's LIA recently finished earlier this month, a 60-day test of Asset Assure, which the military branch refers to as Next Generation Wireless Communications (NGWC) for Logistics Applications. The LIA used the system to track outbound shipment originating from a depot in the western United States and arriving at another depot on the southeastern coast.

During the test, of which details are not being disclosed, the GSU sent reports every few hours and then more often when the shipments were moving through military installations. In addition, at one point during the test the GSU sent an alert when a door was opened on one of the containers (the opening was planned, and done as part of the test).

Now, the Army will begin certifying the solution complies with U.S. Department of Defense's Information Assurance procedures, Potter says. Once certifications are obtained, the military will begin to deploy the solution in 2010.