RFID in Space: Exploring the Feasibility and Performance of Gen 2 Tags as a Means of Tracking Products

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Erick Jones
Gray, B

Abstract

Current inventory management techniques for consumables and supplies aboard space vehicles are burdensome and time consuming. The inaccuracy of reading barcodes and the excessive time required would be better spent performing scientific experiments. Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) has the potential to create a more effective and user-friendly inventory management system (IMS). A Design for Six Sigma Research (DFSS-R) methodology is introduced that allows for reliability testing of commercially available RFID technology. The results are compared to NASA requirements to evaluate the feasibility of using passive Generation 2 RFID technology to improve inventory control aboard crew exploration vehicles. Using experimental design, our findings suggested that the Gen 2 tags have shown significant performance improvements over their previous counterpart (Gen 1). The material that the tag was attached to had the greatest effect on the probability of producing a consistent read.

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