MTSL : Research

Completed Projects

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Environmental Testing of Macsema’s Buttonmemory® Technology
Funded by : Bruno Associates, Inc.
Project Description :	Bruno Associates, Inc., expressed an interest in acquiring performance data for MasSema’s rugged, high capacity, read/write ButtonMemory® technology. Specifically, Bruno Associates was interested in evaluating the performance of this technology after exposure to a variety of environmental conditions. In response to this need, the Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering (IME) at Oregon State University (OSU) performed this evaluation as an independent third party to ensure data objectivity. Three ButtonMemory® technology products were evaluated. Fourteen environmental tests were selected from the MIL-STD-810F standard to be carried out on the three ButtomMemory® technology products. Three additional tests (not included in the MIL-STD-810F standard) were also conducted: the Shear/Impact test, the Magnetic Field test and the Gamma Radiation test.
	Executive Summary

Technology Study of Identifying Methodologies for Flat Mail
Funded by : Litton-PRC and the USPS.
Project Description :	Litton-PRC expressed has expressed an interest in investigating several new automation initiatives for applicability to the United States Postal Service’s flat mail processing. Sorting flat mail to Carrier Sequence could provide considerable savings. There are also opportunities to make use of a remote database system to “look-up” and track flat pieces in a similar manner to the Letter mail ID code Sorting (ICS) system. Both of these systems will require that a bar code or similar identifier be applied to flat mail pieces. Several marking technologies were investigated in this study. For each technology, the theory of operation, current applications, limitations, and maturity in terms of its state of “readiness” for the USPS application were described.
	Executive Summary

Test and Evaluation of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Equipment
Funded by : Defense Logistic Agency
Project Description :	Thousands of packages arrive at the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Depots daily. Packages containing regulated hazardous materials (HAZMAT) are received simultaneously with common, non-hazardous items of supply. To mitigate the risk associated with the conditions outlined above, the application of emerging technologies and Commercial Off-the-Shelf (COTS) products should be demonstrated and tested. One such technology, Radio-frequency (RFID) Intelligent Tags, might provide a solution. However, RFID Intelligent Tags are a new technology whose performance is currently unknown and untested. To this end, the Automated HAZMAT Rapid Identification Sorting and Tracking (AHRIST) project team conducted three major series of RFID Intelligent Tag product characterization tests.
	Executive Summary

Test and Evaluation of Current Border Crossing Cards (BCCs) and Permanent Resident Cards (PRCs)
Funded by : Booz Allen & Hamilton, Inc., and the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (formerly INS)
Project Description :	Booz Allen & Hamilton Inc. has expressed an interest in assessing the ability of linear bar codes, OCR-B, and two dimensional (2D) symbologies as mechanisms to meet Sections 104 and 110 requirements. In addition, they have requested that an investigation be conducted on Infrared fluorescing pigments that may feasibly print and scan bar codes to/from existing permanent resident cards and border crossing cards. The evaluation included three key tasks. The first task was a Tracking test designed to determine the empirical performance of either a) a linear bar code symbol or, b) OCR reading of alphanumeric characters that currently exist on a set of Border Crossing Cards and Permanent Resident Cards provided by the client. The second test was a Live test emulating both pedestrian and vehicle settings where cards were presented to the scanner by untrained users. The third task was a Biometric test designed to assess the ability of a 2D symbology to store and retrieve encoded photograph and fingerprint data along with other alphanumeric identification information.
	Executive Summary

Performance Testing of QR Code in Support of AIAG Standards Acceptance
Funded by : Denso International America
Project Description :	The purpose of the testing described in this report was to assess the performance of the QR Code two-dimensional symbology under a variety of conditions. These test conditions were similar to the test conditions of other two dimensional symbologies approved for use by the Automotive Industry Action Group (AIAG). The client (Denso International America) requested an additional test to assess auto-discrimination capabilities of hand held scanners with three two dimensional symbologies: QR Code, Data Matrix, and PDF417.
	Executive Summary

Ongoing Projects

WLAN
ODOT
HP