Secure Carton Integrated Electronic Remote System

The Department of Homeland Security is seeking innovative approaches and key technologies for securing inter-modal cargo, and for integrity monitoring with tracking capability at the level below that of the ISO container. This technology is to include a secure tamper-evident skin and active RFID with a secure information system, and the capability of arming and monitoring the system, with local communications for reporting any integrity breach. Physical Optics Corporation (POC) proposes to develop a new four-security-layer Secure Parcel ISO Distributed Enhanced RFID (SPIDER) system based on: smart electric skin with conductive ink; unique RFID communication with container; protection against sophisticated intrusion; geospatial analysis tracking, and software for effective manipulation and analysis of parcel status in a WebGIS environment. In Phase I POC will design the critical material, electronic, and software components, and develop a working prototype for the first two security layers of the SPIDER. Phase II will culminate in a SPIDER fully functional prototype. POC¿s experience in the web-imprinting-fabrication process, electronic packaging, electronic components, and GIS not only ensures the smooth integration of SPIDER into U.S. Homeland Security ACSD and MATTS but also will attract investment to enter the international container shipping and global logistics markets. The integration of POC¿s cost-effective SPIDER technology into the ACSD and MATTS programs for secure ISO containers will increase the productivity and accuracy of these tools. POC¿s SPIDER not only meets the major DHS requirements for cargo integrity monitoring, but also has significant commercial applications in international inter-modal shipping and global logistics.