ARINC and Impeva Labs Complete a Large-Scale Test of Asset Visibility for U.S. Army, Using Mesh Network

Annapolis, Maryland—In one of the largest deployments of secure wireless mesh network asset tracking ever attempted, ARINC Incorporated and its partner Impeva Labs have successfully demonstrated continuous real-time visibility of more than 900 electronic asset tags, distributed across a test site of half a square kilometer in a large mesh network.

The successful test of the ARINC/Impeva Labs asset tracking solution, known as Next Generation Wireless Communications (NGWC) for Logistics Applications, was conducted recently at Moffett Field, California, for ARINC’s customer, the U.S. Army Logistics Innovation Agency (LIA).

Unlike other asset tracking solutions, the ARINC/Impeva Labs NGWC system provides continuous visibility of assets anywhere on earth without the need for ground infrastructure. Self-powered NGWC asset tags or “nodes” communicate electronically to self-assemble into a local mesh network. The network collects and transmits data on the condition and position of all assets over secure, long range DoD networks.

Multiple self-assembling NGWC configurations were deployed during the recent tests at Moffett Field.  Most notably, a “large mesh” network with 930 nodes simulated asset storage at a large military depot, or on board a ship. A second “long linear chain” network was also tested, with 54 nodes stretching half a mile. This configuration simulated the transportation of assets by railroad or truck convoy. 

“The large mesh testing at Moffett Field demonstrated satisfaction of several key project requirements and milestones,” said Dave Evans of LMI Government Consulting, a company evaluating NGWC development for LIA. “The new NGWC mesh technology will provide fully secure asset visibility to the DoD over a much wider range of business processes than current technologies.”

“Many key operational features of the NGWC system were successfully proven during our Moffett Field tests,” stated Monty Montero, ARINC Vice President, Defense Systems Engineering. “With our partner Impeva Labs, we showed that hundreds of NGWC asset tags can self-assemble into a functioning ‘ad hoc’ network, all without programming or human intervention. We also verified the self-healing capability of the NGWC mesh, and its ability to expand automatically when more nodes are added. In addition, we verified that the mesh can determine least-cost data routing, and go silent on command.”

“The successful tests at Moffett Field concluded the required third phase ‘Design Spiral’ for the NGWC system,” said Tony Moroyan, President & CEO of Impeva Labs. “In a previous design spiral in Q3 2008, the Army Logistics Innovation Agency deployed NGWC to track a global shipment of materiel transported by rail, truck, and container ship.” ARINC expects to conduct a fourth design spiral later in 2009, with expanded testing of a larger mesh network covering several square miles.

Impeva Labs, Inc. is the leading supplier of continuous global asset visibility (tracking, tracing, monitoring, and security). Impeva’s services enable effective asset management and the most efficient transportation of goods by providing a Continuous Chain of Custody (C-3) Shipping System^TM. Impeva’s customers can view real-time data from any location in the world, receive event alerts, and take corrective action without leaving the office. Impeva Labs is a privately held company based in Mountain View, CA, with offices in Florida, Brazil, and Armenia. With Impeva Labs: Whatever, Wherever, Whenever, You’ll Know^TM. The Impeva Labs logo, Global Sentinel, Continuous Chain of Custody (C-3) Shipping System, and Whatever, Wherever, Whenever, You’ll Know and Device Management Center are trademarks or registered trademarks of Impeva Labs, Inc. For more information, visit the web site at www.impeva.com.

ARINC Incorporated, a portfolio company of The Carlyle Group, provides communications, engineering and integration solutions for commercial, defense and government customers worldwide. Headquartered in Annapolis, Maryland with regional headquarters in London and Singapore, ARINC is ISO 9001:2008 certified. 

Release: 09-052

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