Ultra-Secure RF Tags for Safeguards and Security

There are numerous applications where radio-frequency (RFID) tags can play a crucial role in national security and broader applications. In the DOE, for example, RFID tags can assist in safeguarding nuclear materials to prevent proliferation. While some of the key technical challenges (such as performance of tags on metal, communication in harsh environments, radiation hardening, long-range passive RF tags, etc.) have been recently addressed and there have been key innovations at the DoE/NNSA National Laboratories and other commercial entities, important security needs to be incorporated onto these sensors in order to develop secure and reliable end-to-end monitoring systems that meet the strict and peculiar requirements of the DOE/NNSA Safeguards Programs. The overall objective of the proposed work is to develop end-to-end RF tagging/sensor systems that meet ALL important technical requirements of RF tags for safeguard applications. There are two types of technical requirements for Safeguard applications: (1) the environmental requirements, such as tags that are functional on metals; and (2) the security requirements, such as tags that communicate via data authentication. In Phase I we will focus on systems analysis, engineering and design for security and safeguards. The Phase II project will do functional end-to-end (software and hardware) prototype development and with required security features. Phase III will focus on manufacturing and deployment for use of the system by national and international agencies in nuclear non-proliferation. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits: The primary payoff of this project, if funded through Phase II and beyond, is the development of improved secure RFID tags for deployment in applications involving the securing of special materials. Besides Safeguards programs in nonproliferation, the use of RF tags in tracking personnel and assets is of interest to DOE, DOD, DHS, and DOT programs. Multiple programs from various government agencies are expected to become users of the product of this project. In addition, the secure use of RFIDs for high-value items (e.g. jewelry, materials, pets, etc.) is a problem of significant interest in the commercial world and Dirac Solutions intends to pursue several of these.