Development of Innovative Real-time/Near Real-time Information Systems

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) can benefit from development of Real-time/Near Real-time Information Systems that improve operational efficiencies of tasks that involve labor intensive activities and/or cannot be accomplished using traditional methods. Cytec offers a comprehensive solution to support USDA requirements by completing a high-quality research and development (R&D) capability that promotes advanced concepts related to Automatic Identification Technology (AIT) opportunities. The Cytec R&D initiatives are expected to lead to significant public benefit when the research is completed. Cytec envisions a Cotton Inventory Management System (CIMS) to provide tracking and data storage for warehoused cotton bales. Development of CIMS will be based on tracking and data storage needs that exist today, while adding the advancements that are a part of AIT. The utilized AIT components will consist of bar coding technology, contact memory button, radio frequency data collection (RFDC) and handheld pen based personal digital assistant (PDA) such as Palm Pilot/Handspring, and PocketPC (IPAQ, etc.). The development phase will address two specific issues: 1) the precise location of each cotton bale stored within the warehouse and 2) the detailed data (USDA rating*, fiber length, whiteness, etc.) associated with each cotton bale.