RFID at Lawrence Livermore Laboratory - Industrial Partnerships

We have demonstrated the feasibility of radio-frequency identification technology for a wide range of applications in both transportation and industry. Radio-frequency identification can remotely identify vehicles, inventory, or personnel within its range without the need for individual scans—saving time and money as well as providing greater flexibility over current bar-code inventory-control systems...

Automatic Vehicle Identification: In partnership with the California Department of Transportation, we developed a prototype vehicle identification system for automating toll collections. An electronic tag on the car identifies the vehicle. As it passes roadside equipment, a 915-MHz signal is reflected back to the reader, modulated with information from the tag. Because the system automatically debits an account to collect the toll, the vehicle can proceed without stopping. The system will be capable of assuming broader roles in the future, such as vehicle-to-roadway communication or using vehicles as traffic probes. In the latter case, the system can read the velocity of particular cars and provide information on traffic conditions.

We are also assisting the Federal Highway Administration in developing a national vehicle-to-roadway standard for commercial vehicles. Primary application is for automatic clearance of trucks at highway speeds upstream from a weigh station. Electronic credentials, safety sensors status, and other information would be transmitted from the on-vehicle tag. In-transit data and driver messages would be transmitted from the infrastructure...

Companies interested in commercializing this technology should provide a written statement of interest that must include a description of corporate capability and experience relevant to this technology.