Hitachi RFID: Smart Dust Realized

Hitachi introduces RFID tag, sized in the 0.05 millimeter range, that will achieve the concept of smart dust. ...

... "The world's smallest and thinnest RFID tags were introduced Tuesday by Hitachi. " ...

Via LiveScience: New Chip Size

RFID Smart Dust Research: Miniaturization

UC Berkeley focuses its RFID research to miniaturize circuits to create smart dust particles, that can serve a variety of applications. ...

... "The science/engineering goal of the Smart Dust project is to demonstrate that a complete sensor/communication system can be integrated into a cubic millimeter package. " ...

Via UC Berkeley: SMART DUST

RFID Interoperability and Security ...

Deputy Secretary's Draft Testimony to the House Committee on Science

... "Interoperability and security for emerging scientific systems ($2 million). Sophisticated scientific information systems are critical to the continued competitive advantage of the United States. The systems that underlie the Nation's research advances in science and engineering the cyberinfrastructure are rapidly expanding in all directions. Individual information devices from radio-frequency ID (RFID) tags to smart dust to micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) are becoming ever smaller, more capable, and more ubiquitous. At the other end of the scale, system complexity systems of systems of systems is growing rapidly as well. It is crucial that standards and measurements for reliability, manageability, interoperability and security be included from the beginning of system design to avoid costly retrofits. " ...

RFID 2005 Workshop April 6th ...

Joint C4ISR Decision Support Center

... "April 6, 2005

Technology Administration - Radio Frequency Identification: Workshop with Industry

Description: Apr 6, 2005 - Washington, DC
U.S. Department of Commerce
1401 Constitution Ave, NW
Washington, D.C. 20230

RFID in 2005 - Technology Administration & Industry Perspectives will engage stakeholders on the latest advances in RFID technology to include: the benefits of RFID, technology development efforts, current and future applications, and privacy and security considerations.

On April 6, 2005, the U.S. Department of Commerce will host a workshop to discuss Radio Frequency Identification (RFID). This event builds on the April 2004 “From RFID to Smart Dust: The Expanding Market for Wireless Sensor Technologies” workshop, held jointly by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration and the Technology Administration. “RFID in 2005 – Technology & Industry Perspectives” will engage stakeholders on the latest advances in RFID technology to include: the benefits of RFID, technology development efforts, current and future applications, and privacy and security considerations.

CONTACT: Dr. Sujata Millick
sujata.millick@technology.gov, 202-482-6804
or,
Andrea Da Silva
andrea.dasilva@technology.gov, 202-482-0383" ...

RFID Investment Highlights

FY 2006 Technology Administration Budget Highlights

... "Interoperability and security for emerging scientific systems (+$2 million). Sophisticated scientific information systems are critical to the continued competitive advantage of the United States. The systems that underlie the nation's research advances in science and engineering the cyberinfrastructure are rapidly expanding in all directions. Individual information devices from radio-frequency ID (RFID) tags to smart dust to microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) are becoming ever smaller, more capable, and more ubiquitous. " ...

RFID Emerging Scientific Systems ...

Deputy Secretary's Draft Testimony to the House Committee on Science

... "Sophisticated scientific information systems are critical to the continued competitive advantage of the United States. The systems that underlie the Nation's research advances in science and engineering the cyberinfrastructure are rapidly expanding in all directions. Individual information devices from radio-frequency ID (RFID) tags to smart dust to micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) are becoming ever smaller, more capable, and more ubiquitous. At the other end of the scale, system complexity systems of systems of systems is growing rapidly as well. It is crucial that standards and measurements for reliability, manageability, interoperability and security be included from the beginning of system design to avoid costly retrofits. " ...

RFID Forum Wireless Sensors ...

RFID Forum Notice 03-01-2004

... "Wireless Sensor Technology Forum

AGENCY: National Telecommunications and Information Administration, United States Patent and Trademark Office, Technology Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce

ACTION: Notice of Public Meeting

SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), and Technology Administration (TA) will host a half-day forum on sensor technologies, entitled 'From RFID to Smart Dust: The Expanding Market for Wireless Sensor Technologies.' The first panel will address the future market for sensor technologies by examining a variety of wireless sensor technologies, along with the current and potential future uses by industry and government. Panelists will include researchers, market analysts, and industry and government users. The second panel will address public policy issues facing sensor technologies such as spectrum use, privacy and security, and intellectual property. Panelists will include representatives from companies and government, as well as public policy analysts.

DATES: The Wireless Sensor Technology Forum will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. on Thursday, April 1, 2004.

ADDRESSES: The forum on wireless sensor technologies will be held at the U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Auditorium, Washington, D.C. (Entrance to the Department of Commerce is on 14th Street between Constitution and Pennsylvania avenues.)

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Wendy Lader, Office of Policy Analysis and Development, NTIA, at (202) 482-1880, or electronic mail: wlader@ntia.doc.gov. Please direct media inquiries to the Office of Public Affairs, NTIA, at (202) 482-7002. " ...

RFID: Workshop with Industry, April 6, 2005 ...

RFID: Workshop with Industry, April 6, 2005, Department of Commerce

... "Technology Administration, RFID: Workshop with Industry

On April 6, 2005, the U.S. Department of Commerce will host a workshop to discuss Radio Frequency Identification (RFID). This event builds on the April 2004 From RFID to Smart Dust: The Expanding Market for Wireless Sensor Technologies workshop, held jointly by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration and the Technology Administration. RFID in 2005 Technology & Industry Perspectives will engage stakeholders on the latest advances in RFID technology to include: the benefits of RFID, technology development efforts, current and future applications, and privacy and security considerations.

WHERE: U.S. Department of Commerce
1401 Constitution Ave, NW
Washington, D.C. 20230

WHEN: Wednesday, April 6, 2005
9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m." ...

Smart Dust Training Is Coming Up in Early February 2005 ...

Event - Crossbow, Smarter Sensors in Silicon

... "Mote Training Course Feb. 9-10, 2005, in San Jose:

The first day of the course will cover a basic technology introduction, hardware overview, including the latest developments - MICAz and 802.15.4 radios (ZigBee ready), MICA3 for outdoor applications, and new sensor boards. The first day will also include a TinyOS overview and hands-on session with the radio stack and multi-hop routing capabilities of TinyOS. One track is focused on TinyOS Programming, and the other Track is focused on using and deploying motes with minimal programming. Both tracks will be highly interactive, with onsite technical engineers to help answer your questions. On the evening of Feb. 8, there is an install session for those who have ordered kits for delivery at the training seminar or who have not yet installed TinyOS. All attendees are required to have a Crossbow Mote kit and a laptop computer. A 10% discount on mote kits will be available with your registration. " ...

Founded in 1995, Crossbow Technology, Inc. is the leading end-to-end solutions supplier in wireless sensor networks and the largest manufacturer of Smart Dust wireless sensors. Crossbow has for years been at the forefront of creating and deploying smaller, smarter, wireless sensing devices and mesh networking platforms for large-scale defense, environmental, agricultural, industrial monitoring and control, building automation, security and asset tracking applications. Crossbow’s open architecture, TinyOS-based platform enables highly intelligent multi-sensing devices to dynamically and reliably self-organize to efficiently capture and send detailed data anywhere, anytime. Headquartered in San Jose, Calif., Crossbow has distributors in 24 countries worldwide. The company received its ISO 9001/2000 Certification in May 2002 and its FAA Certification for AHRS500GA in January 2003.

RFID Smart Dust: Smart Dust Advances in Russia

From Nanotechwire.com (press release), PA ... The birth of Smart Dust potential was based on RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) and the journey toward full-on Distributed-Sensing Smart Dust - which is ...

... Smart Dust is going to be something really special. But not just yet. Like a toddler learning to walk by furniture cruising, staggering wobbly from stationary object to object, Smart Dust is looking for its sea legs. ...

RFID: Smart Dust Collecting in the Enterprise

Real world example of smart dust / motes at work...

" ... In the spring of 2002, the Intel's Research Lab at Berkeley began working with the College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor and the University of California at Berkeley to install wireless sensor networks on Great Duck Island. The networks monitored the microclimates in and around nesting burrows used by the local waterfowl.

At the end of November 2002, well over 1 million readings had been logged from 32 motes strategically placed on the island. By 2003 a second generation network was added comprised of 56 nodes. The network was again expanded to 49 additional nodes in July and more than 60 more burrow nodes with 25 new weather station nodes were installed in August. The researchers say the nodes form a multihop network transferring their data back 'bucket brigade' style through dense forest. Some nodes are more than 1000 feet deep in the forest providing data through a low power wireless transceiver... "

RFID Smart Technology: Printronix's RFID Smart Technology Initiative Gives Suppliers ...

From PR Newswire (press release) ... Printronix Introduces SmartLine Family of RFID Printers, World's First Fully Integrated EPC-UHF Print-and-Apply System and Professional Consulting Group ...

Since 1974, Printronix Inc. (Nasdaq: PTNX) has created innovative printing solutions for the industrial marketplace and supply chain. The company is the worldwide market leader in enterprise solutions for line matrix printing and has earned an outstanding reputation for its high-performance thermal and fanfold laser printing solutions. Printronix also has become an established leader in pioneering technologies, including radio frequency identification (RFID) printing, bar code compliance and networked printer management. Printronix is headquartered in Irvine, Calif. For more information, please visit http://www.printronix.com.

Printronix has been a global leader in providing intelligent industrial and back-office enterprise printing solutions for 30 years. We continue this tradition in the emerging RFID (radio frequency identification) field with a full selection of SmartLine RFID product solutions, unsurpassed service and support, and educational tools that help enable your RFID applications. A solid, reliable, smart label printer is the foundation of any RFID system. Printronix adds 30 years of know-how in providing tough industrial printers that endure the harshest environments where dust, dirt, and temperature extremes stop ordinary printers. Printronix offers a range of world-class UHF printers and solutions that provide maximum versatility and flexibility for all your RFID applications. The SLPA7000e is a smart label printer applicator solution that encodes, prints and applies—all in one unit. It combines RFID smart label printing technology with applicator capability.

RFID Smart Dust: CIA's spy tools make Maxwell Smart's look like toys

From USA Today ... give James Bond. One of its most recent investments is Dust Networks, a company working on so-called smart dust. Someday, the CIA ...

Dust Networks, formerly Dust Incorporated, announced today that it has completed its name change. As the leading authority in wireless mesh networks, the company delivers ultra low-power wireless networks for building automation, industrial monitoring and homeland defense applications. Based in Berkeley, California, Dust develops hardware and software for low-power wireless mesh networks. Dust networks enable reliable, unattended monitoring of critical processes and assets. Patent pending mesh networking software, teamed with battery-powered wireless communication nodes, form a resilient, self-healing network that can operate with zero maintenance for years at a time on standard AAA or coin cell batteries. Unlike traditional wired control systems, Dust networks require no cable runs for power or data communication – greatly reducing the cost and complexity of connecting, maintaining and retrofitting installed sensors and actuators. Dust brings reliable, comprehensive monitoring and control within reach, enabling more informed decision making and better process control. For more information please visit www.dustnetworks.com.

Dust Networks technology has its roots in the Engineering lab at UC Berkeley. In 1997 Kris Pister, then a professor at UCB, proposed an ambitious project to deliver sensing, computing and networking in a millimeter scale package. Essentially an autonomous computer, yet smaller than a match head, this device (called a “mote”) would be capable of awareness of its environment, simple evaluation of conditions and events, and wireless communication to relay information and raise alerts. The project was funded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) that same year.

Dust mesh networking technology is based on years of research at UC Berkeley. Smart dust mesh network solutions consist of multiple wireless communication nodes or “motes” that communicate with each other as well as your information and control systems via a central collection point or “gateway”. From the communication and processing hardware all the way up through the network control system, Dust mesh networks are designed to smash the barriers to full information on physical assets, systems and environments. Dust Network’s Drop & Play Networking™ technology and the ability of motes to establish their own network means the system is ready within 5 minutes of setup. Dust motes self-optimize by automatically adjusting for the best possible data routing as conditions throughout the network change.

RFID Smart Dust: From punched tape to megapixels

From ZDNet.com ... may vary: Instead of following current Moore's Law trajectories to speed up a single CPU, it's likely that we'll see multiprocessors, smart dust and other ways ...

RFID Smart Dust: Crossbow Technology, Inc. leader in Smart Dust; Smallest Mote in ...

From Business Wire (press release) ... has created the world's smallest RFID reader (SkyeRead(TM) M1-Mini), specifically designed to connect to Crossbow's wireless sensor network mote, MICA2DOT. ...

Crossbow’s mote processors (MPR 400 Mica2 or MPR 500 Mica2 Dot) form the foundation of RFID and Asset Tracking solutions. These wireless network processor nodes can be integrated with multi-format RFID reader components (e.g., SkyeTek SkyeRead M1 Reader, www.skyetek.com) resulting in a low cost, mobile, networked RFID tag reader.

Crossbow’s modular sensing platform can be configured to measure physical parameters about tracked material. For instance, by combining temperature and accelerometers sensors (MTS420A see below) the status of fragile or perishable goods can now be cost effectively monitored in real-time.

Univ of California at Berkeley's RFID Smart Dust Program

UCalBerkeley is working on an RFID Smart Dust project to build a self-contained, millimeter-scale sensing and communication platform for a massively distributed sensor network... ...will be around the size of a grain of sand and will contain sensors, computational ability, bi-directional wireless communications, and a power supply, while being inexpensive enough to deploy by the hundreds... ...to build a complete, complex system in a tiny volume using state-of-the art technologies, which will require evolutionary and revolutionary advances in integration, miniaturization, and energy management.

Smart Dust is the innovation of Associate Professor Kris Pister and Professor Randy H. Katz. They are researching this topic at University of California, Berkeley. RFID smart dust is the convergence of three technologies: digital circuitry, wireless communications, and MEMS (Micro ElectroMechanical Systems), which must shape this equipment into a space no more than one or two cubic millimeters in size.

Wireless sensor technologies were explored at a U.S. Department of Commerce Forum on April 1, 2004, addressing the current and potential uses of sensor technologies by both industry and government as well as the public policy implications of widespread deployment.

RFID Smart Dust: What's in store?

From Computerworld Singapore, Singapore ... If you thought email was bad, RFID and smart dust swirling in the IT horizon could one day be chomping through your terabytes in a feeding frenzy. ...

RFID Smart Dust: NAB sheds legacy of ISI

From Melbourne Herald Sun, Australia ... Linux. He said it worked, but NAB had not decided to move to the system. RFID and intelligent dust are also being examined. "We ...

RFID Sensors and Smart Dust: Devices get smart

From InfoWorld, CA ... desktops and laptops. Handhelds and cellular handsets were the first wave; RFID sensors are on the near horizon. Or, an automotive ...

Smart Dust: RFID Sensors lead to privacy concerns

From London Free Press, Canada ... hair on the back of your neck to rise, a research facility in the United States has developed a complete sensor system, which they term "smart dust." It has ...

RFID Smart Dust: EARLY REVIEW OF NANO'S IMPACT COULD PREVENT MISUSES, MISTAKES

From Small Times ... Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags are expected to replace bar codes as a tagging tool within the next decade, saving businesses millions by automating ...

Smart Dust: Putting Wireless to the Test(bed)

From The Feature - Mar 6, 2004 ... From smart dust to software radios, new and powerful wireless technologies are demonstrated in industrial and academic laboratories every day. ...

Transforming RFID Chips into Smart Dust

From U.S. Department of Commerce ... Why Nanotechnology for Smart Dust? Sensors are: Small, Cheap, Low Power, and Highly distributed...

Nanosensors or Smart Dust functionalities can be incorporated into a size comparable to a grain of sand. These smart dust functions are: Filtration, Sample concentration, Chemical sensing, Biological sensing, Environmental stability, Internal referencing/drift correction, Remote identification, Remote interrogation (>100 m), Remotely triggered chemical processing, Targeted motion, and Collective behavior (swarming)...

... “The Smart Dust project is probing microfabrication technology's limitations to determine whether an autonomous sensing, computing, and communication system can be packed into a cubic millimeter mote (a small particle or speck) to form the basis of integrated, massively distributed sensor networks.” ...

Field trials with Smart Dust at SMER ... performed the first 19 field trials of porous Si “smart dust” and small wireless chip-based systems for detection of
environmental pollutants. The field trials were performed in the Santa
Margarita Ecological Reserve, over 24 hours, and involved two undergraduates, two high school students, a graduate student, and a
post-doc. A simulant (ethanol) was successfully detected from a distance of 25 meters. Santa Margarita Ecological Reserve (SMER) , San Diego county CA ...

From RFID to Smart Dust: The Expanding Market for Wireless Sensor Technologies

Wireless sensor technologies will be explored at a U.S. Department of Commerce Forum on April 1, 2004 that addresses the current and potential uses of sensor technologies by both industry and government as well as the public policy implications of widespread deployment. The forum is open to the public on a first come basis. Registration is onsite, no pre-registration required. A link to the forum webcast will be posted here on the day of the event.
DATE & TIME: The Wireless Sensor Technology Forum will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. on Thursday, April 1, 2004. Registration and demos open at 8:00 a.m.

LOCATION: The forum on wireless sensor technologies will be held at the U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Auditorium, Washington, D.C. (Enter through the Department of Commerce Main Lobby on 14th Street between Constitution and Pennsylvania avenues. Photo identification required.)

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Wendy Lader, Office of Policy Analysis and Development, NTIA, at (202) 482-1880, or electronic mail: wlader@ntia.doc.gov. Please direct media inquiries to the Office of Public Affairs, NTIA, at (202) 482-7002.

Commerce To Host Wireless Sensor Technologies Forum April 1st, Panel Discussions Will Examine Marketplace Expansion “From RFID to Smart Dust”

Wireless sensor technologies, the next highly anticipated billion-dollar market for the information technology sector, will be explored at a U.S. Department of Commerce Forum on April 1, 2004 that addresses the current and potential uses of sensor technologies by both industry and government as well as the public policy implications of widespread deployment.

Panel discussions will be moderated by Federal Communications Commissioner Kevin J. Martin and senior Commerce Department officials including Jon W. Dudas, Acting Under Secretary for Intellectual Property and Director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office; Michael D. Gallagher, Acting Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information; Elizabeth Prostic, Chief Privacy Officer; and Benjamin H. Wu, Deputy Under Secretary for Technology.

"Designing an appropriate regulatory framework for wireless sensor technologies requires an understanding of different policy objectives. We look forward to a lively discussion," said Acting Under Secretary Dudas.

“Widespread use of wireless sensor technologies is moving from factory floors to store shelves to family living rooms,” said Acting Assistant Secretary Gallagher. “We want to make sure government is a smart consumer. We also need to explore the implications for spectrum management and privacy, and we must adopt policies that maintain our economic competitive advantage,” Gallagher said.

The Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, and Technology Administration will host the half-day forum. The first panel will address the present and future market for sensor technologies. Panelists will include developers, manufacturers, market analysts, and industry and government users. The second panel will address public policy issues facing sensor technologies such as spectrum use, privacy and security, and intellectual property. Panelists will include representatives from industry and government, as well as public policy analysts.

The Wireless Sensor Technologies Forum will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. at the U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Auditorium, Washington, D.C. More information is available on the NTIA Web site at www.ntia.doc.gov .

Program:

8:00 AM Registration and Demo Area Opens

9:00-9:15 Opening Remarks by Mario W. Cardullo, Counselor for Technology and Entrepreneurism,

Office of the Under Secretary, International Trade Administration



9:15-11:00 Panel 1: The Market and Uses for Sensor Technologies



Moderators:

Michael D. Gallagher, Acting Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and

Information

Kevin J. Martin, Commissioner, Federal Communications Commission

Benjamin H. Wu, Deputy Under Secretary for Technology



Panelists:

Jon Brendsel, Director of Technology, VeriSign

Lyle Ginsburg, Managing Partner, Products Operating Group, Accenture

Ralph M. Kling, Principal Researcher, Intel

Ron Moser, Strategic Applications Analyst for RFID, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

Thomas M. McAuliffe, Vice President, Strategy & Business Development,

Secure Asset Solutions, Motorola

Robert Poor, Chief Technology Officer, Ember

Piyush Sodha, President & CEO, Matrics, Inc.

C. Stewart Verdery, Jr., Assistant Secretary for Homeland Security for Border

and Transportation Security Policy and Planning



11:00 - 11:30 Break



11:30 –1:15 Panel 2: Policy Issues Related to Sensor Technologies



Moderators:

Jon W. Dudas, Acting Under Secretary for Intellectual Property and Director of the

U.S. Patent & Trademark Office

Michael D. Gallagher, Acting Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and

Information

Elizabeth Prostic, Chief Privacy Officer, U.S. Department of Commerce



Panelists:

Paula Bruening, Staff Counsel, Center for Democracy and Technology

Sandra R. Hughes, Chief Privacy Officer, Procter & Gamble

Ari Juels, Principal Research Scientist, RSA Laboratories

Elliot Maxwell, Fellow, Center for the Study of American Government, Johns Hopkins University

Paul Moskowitz, Research Staff Member, IBM Watson Research Center

Ravi Rajapakse, Chief Technology Officer, Savi Technologies

Steven J. Winter, Senior Vice President, Global Service and Intellectual Property,

Intermec Technologies Corporation

Badri A. Younes, Director, Spectrum Management, U.S. Department of Defense

1:15 Close