I-Corps: Bridging the Supply Chain Information Gap Using Micro-Logistics Internet of Things (IoT)

The broader impact/commercial potential of this I-Corps project is the development of a micro-logistics solution to address multi-billion-dollar challenges facing supply chains due to coarse item-level visibility and tracking. The complexity of today’s supply chain makes it difficult to optimize micro-logistics processes, such as quality control, inventory tracking, re-stocking, traceability, deadline projections, and indoor transport.

The commercialization of a micro-logistics Internet of Things (IoT) may bridge the physical with the digital world, providing significant visibility and enhanced analytics, potentially saving billions of dollars.

This I-Corps project is based on the development of technology for high-precision, robust, and real-time positioning. The proposed technology may transform billions of already-deployed, batteryless Radio-Frequency IDentification (RFIDs) tags into powerful micro-location sensors. The proposed technology relies on a wireless excitation protocol combined with innovations in signal processing, super-resolution algorithms, and sensor network architecture.

It has been tested in practical real-world environments, demonstrating the ability to achieve centimeter-scale positioning in challenging indoor environments.

This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.