Low-Cost Automatic Shipboard Wireless Configuration Management

"This proposal focuses on decreasing total ownership costs of Naval ships by reducing shipboard workload. Specifically, there is emphasis on the development of an automatic configuration management system for physical shipboard systems, using prevailingwireless location area networks (WLAN) technology. This proposal builds on the extensive experience of Williams-Pyro, Inc. and our ongoing working relationship with Bath Iron Works. The proposed structure consists of passive wireless configurationmanagement (WCM) Tags for rugged and robust shipboard handling and neural networks featuring a new Discrete Event Controller based on matrices designed to dynamically detect the addition/deletion of equipment from the existing setup and perform failurediagnosis and fault prognosis. The system will employ an industry-standard Open Systems Architecture for seamless integration of the WCM Tag information into the WLAN. The Tags will be designed to permit distributed use for ship systems. Commercializationat WPI is generally a five-step process after technology development. The first step is to host a product demonstration at WPI's in-house laboratory for the U.S. Navy and Bath Iron Works. Second, our system will undergo a field test on Navy ships. Thethird step is a trial production to supply a test market. Because WPI will be manufacturing its own parts throughout the development process, there will be no delay in preparing a suitable manufact