Remote Environmental Monitoring and Diagnostics in the Perishables Supply Chain - Phase 2

Abstract : This report details the Phase II effort conducted by the University of Florida and the University of South Florida under Contract # W911QY-11-C-0011 as part of a multi-year, multi-phase effort entitled Remote Environmental Monitoring and Diagnostics in the Perishables Supply Chain. This work was conducted during the period March 2011 to September 2013 and involved the evaluation of state-of-the-art technologies including wireless temperature sensors, remote monitoring using radio frequency identification (RFID), algorithms, and diagnostics, to demonstrate that combat ration shelf life can be automatically calculated in real time using predictive models. A prototype system including sensor equipped pallet level RFID tags, handheld readers, and computer shelf life models was developed to determine the remaining shelf life of the First Strike Ration and Meal, Ready-to-Eat based on product time and temperature storage history.