Boston Engineering to Develop Secure Baggage Tracking System for Logan Airport

As the only U.S.-based licensed engineering service provider for INKODE Corporation’s innovative patented Chipless Remote Identification System (CRIS) technology, Boston Engineering Corporation is leading a pilot project that will demonstrate a cost-effective, fail-proof baggage-tracking security system at Logan Airport.

Boston, Ma. (PRWEB) May 17, 2006 -– As the only U.S.-based licensed engineering service provider for INKODE Corporation’s innovative patented Chipless Remote Identification System (CRIS) technology, Boston Engineering Corporation is leading a pilot project that will demonstrate a cost-effective, fail-proof baggage-tracking security system at Logan Airport. Called SEATS, for Secure Environment for Airport Terminal Systems, the project is a collaboration between Boston Engineering and Virginia-based INKODE. SEATS combines an award-winning passive disposable wireless tracking technology with a hardware system designed to improve airport baggage identification and tracking security, while reducing costs to airlines.

Failure-free tracking

The project’s wireless remote tracking system is based on INKODE’S patented long-range passive Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology. This ground-breaking technology recently received the Frost & Sullivan 2006 Excellence in Technology of the Year Award in the field automatic identification systems. As the world’s first chipless RFID system, the technology sidesteps many of the short-comings of silicon-based chip RFID, and offers a disposable, cost-effective option.

“Many existing RFID tracking systems cannot withstand the exposure to static electricity generated by baggage conveyors and baggage scanning systems,” said Mark Smithers, vice president and COO of Boston Engineering. Chip-based RFID tags have failure rates between 40-100% in environments such as airline baggage handling systems. With a range much greater than other systems, CRIS allows detection and tracking beyond 10 meters. “Plus, as a chipless system, it’s hacker-proof and tamper-resistant – a definite security advantage for airports and other applications,” added Smithers.

The proposed tracking system hardware being developed by Boston Engineering for the Logan Airport SEATS project includes a secure wireless system that keeps all information linked in a continual flow. This includes:

• A Self-Serve Boarding Pass Kiosk which scans IDs, takes a photo and verifies passenger profile;

• An Integrated Boarding Pass Kiosk and Bag Accepter, which again scans the ID and takes a photo that is printed on NanoRCS® baggage tags;

• An Agent Check-In and Bag Accepter to scan photo ID and verify bag tags;

• An In-line Bag-Conveyor NanoRCS® Reader with ramp-loader and reader to wirelessly track the bag through the system;

• A Gate Boarding Pass Reader that confirms the passenger has boarded.

Boston Engineering expects to develop additional industry applications for this technology for retail, commercial and other security uses. Companies wishing to develop chipless RFID applications may contact Boston Engineering for engineering development support.

About Boston Engineering Corporation:

As an outsourced engineering services firm, Boston Engineering (www.boston-engineering.com) offers turn-key electrical, mechanical, software, and controls engineering development services for clients in industries such as electronics, foodservice, homeland security, energy and environment, manufacturing and medical. Boston Engineering’s interdisciplinary systems approach follows a proven methodology that combines a focus on accelerated time to market with a Total System Responsibility™ (TSR) philosophy.

Additional background information available includes: Comprehensive Airport Security Ticketing and Baggage Architecture document for Logan Airport SEATS Project, photos, Frost & Sullivan Award document, published research paper “Chipless ID for Paper Documents.”

For more information, contact:

Mark Smithers, Vice President, COO

Phone: 781-466-8010 x 14

www.boston-engineering.com

Or:

Shari Monnes, Public Relations for Boston Engineering

Phone: 978-251-0176

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