QinetiQ North America’s Systems Engineering Group (SEG) is developing the next-generation Smart Container for the U.S. Military, enabling it to provide improved, adaptive, flexible In-Transit Visibility (ITV) for tracking and managing shipping containers in the military supply system. Our solution combines next-generation shipping container construction, COTS sensing, tracking, and communications capabilities. It supports a seamless end-to-end vision for materiel and equipment state-of-readiness, contained in ISO-compliant polymer-and-steel, twenty foot equivalent unit (TEU) shipping containers. The Smart Container’s physical and environmental characteristics are monitored using satellite, cellular, ad-hoc mesh communications networks, global positioning, environmental sensors and Automatic Identification Technologies (AIT), including active RFID. This allows the military to enhance the container management process, knowing where the container is, what’s inside, and what environmental conditions it’s being subject to during shipment. The new Smart Container will dramatically improve the military’s capability to monitor items in-transit and ensure the right materials reach the intended destination in proper condition throughout the world.

For more information, please email: SEGinfo@QinetiQ-NA.com