Portable RFID System Used During Marine Expeditionary Force Exercise
Fortress Technologies, a provider of security and secure wireless solutions, recently announced that it successfully demonstrated a secure, wireless backbone as part of a deployable RFID “kit” during a III Marine Expeditionary Force exercise in Gladstone Port, Australia. The exercise, which included military units from both the United States and its Coalition partners, provides simulated real-life scenarios in order to test in an operational environment. The “kit” provides a secure transportable backbone and wireless access for mobile RFID readers.
“The U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) is consistently looking for innovative technologies that help them to more efficiently conduct their forward-deployed missions,” said Dennis O’Leary, a senior systems rngineer with Skylla Engineering Ltd. “The III Marine Expeditionary Force exercise provided an outstanding opportunity to demonstrate an easy-to-operate and secure deployable wireless capability. The ability to automate flow tracking within a congested port area by tying new technologies into current USMC logistics systems provides tremendous benefit in maintaining the Commander’s situational and operational awareness, as well as frees up significant man-hours currently used in tracking and recording.”
O’Leary is a contractor that is supporting the Marine Corps Systems Command in Quantico, Virginia.
As tested, the “kits” contain ES520 Secure Wireless Access Bridges, Secure Client Bridges, Client Software and antennas from Fortress, as well as signpost RFID readers and portable tripods from Savi Technology.
The portability of the “kits” enables them to be stowed onboard ships and then deployed at temporary ports and/or staging areas. Providing easy-to-establish secure wireless active RFID checkpoints, these “kits” offer the capability to scan and record vital location information on cargo as it is moved between various staging lots and loaded/unloaded from transport vehicles.
“Fortress set out with the goal of developing a high-end, portable, secure RFID ‘kit’ that would enable the III Marine Expeditionary Force to deploy anywhere at anytime,” said Dana Kuntz, vice president of Federal Sales for Fortress. “As a result of the exercise, we were able to prove that this configuration met our stated objectives. We appreciate the assistance of the III Marine Expeditionary Force and look forward to working with them on future implementations.”
Based in Okinawa, Japan, the III Marine Expeditionary Force is a forward-deployed Air-Ground-Logistics-Base team that maintains missions ranging from humanitarian assistance and disaster relief to amphibious assault and high intensity combat. As part of its readiness preparation, the III Marine Expeditionary Force conducts exercises throughout the year to test and evaluate mission critical technologies and solutions. This particular exercise was conducted during June and July and involved more than 15,000 U.S. and Coalition troops.