MARYLAND INDUSTRIAL PARTNERSHIPS (MIPS)
PROJECT APPLICATION
UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND-ENGINEERING RESEARCH CENTER
Proposals due at the MIPS Office
on May 1, 2003
DO NOT SUBMIT THIS PAGE WITH PROPOSAL.
THANK YOU
5/2003
Please DO NOT USE STAPLES – Fasten Proposals with small binder clips
Application Due May 1, 2003
MARYLAND INDUSTRIAL PARTNERSHIPS (MIPS)
University Of Maryland--Engineering Research Center
Application Date:May 01, 2003 / Revision Date:
Project Title: (If this title contains confidential information, please give an alternate title)
Indoor Location and Emergency Alerting Technology
Company Name:
TRX-SYSTEMS, Inc.
County:
Prince Georges / (location of company submitting proposal – If Baltimore City,
type Baltimore City)
Project Phase: 1 of 2 / University Campus: College Park
Size of Company (using MIPS standards): Large Medium Small Start-up
Note: $ figures below should be the same as on page 14. Percentages are based on Company cash or total company match as percent of university budget.
University Budget (from page 14, item 11(a))...... $70, 000
MIPS Contribution (from page 14, item 11 (e))...... $ 63,000
Company Cash (from page 14, item 11(f))...... $ 7,000(10%)
Company Equipment Gift (from page 14, item 11(g))...... $ 0
Total Company Contribution to Univ.(from page 14, item 11(h))...... $126,512
Total Company Match (from page 14, item 11(j))...... $ 7,000(50%)
Authorized University Signature
Signature:
Typed Name :
Title :
Date: / /
(to be filled in by MIPS)
Short Title:
5/2003
1
1.Participants:
(a) / Company:TRX-Systems, Inc.
Company Address (including city/state/zip):
10001 Derekwood Lane, suite 204; Lanham; MD 20706
Telephone:
(202)-415-6677 / Website:
(b) / Project Manager:
(Company) Dr. Gilmer Blankenship / Telephone:
(202)-415-6677
Title:
President / Fax:
(301) 577 0831
E-mail:
(c) / Authorized Representative:
(Company) Dr. Gilmer Blankenship / Title:
President
Signature:
/ Telephone:
(202)-415-6677
E-mail:
/ Fax:
(301) 577 0831
(d) / University PI:
Dr. Neil Goldsman / Title:
Professor
PI’s Signature: / Telephone:
(301) 405 3648 / Fax:
(301) 314 9001
Department:
Electrical and Computer Engineering / Campus:
Full Mailing Address: (room #, city, state, zip)
AV Williams Building, University of Maryland College Park, MD 20742 / E-mail:
2. Company Background:
(a) / Number of employees in: Maryland 1 , worldwide 1 .(b) / Nature of Company’s business in Maryland.
TRX is a startup company created to address the market for indoor location, tracking, and alerting technology.
(c) / Nature of Company’s business outside of Maryland, if any, other than sales.
None yet
(d) / Is Company woman-owned? / Yes / No / x
(e) / Is Company minority-owned? / Yes / No / x
(f) / Are you a subsidiary of another firm? / Yes / No / x
If “yes”, name and address of parent firm:
N/A
Number of employees of parent firm:
N/A
(g) / If a start-up company, submit a Certificate of Standing from the State of Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation.
NOTE: This application should be written in layperson’s terms, except for the technical proposal (Section 6).
3.Project Summary:
(a)Describe the overall purpose of the MIPS project.
The objective of the project is the design and development of a technology for the location of firemen and other public service personnel inside buildings. The system will be composed of a body worn detector that provides information on the individual’s status and location, and a capability to transmit an alert to a command station outside the building, together with a receiver that processes the signals from the transmitter and displays them for management and safety assurance of personnel.
Variations of the system will be developed for police and EMS personnel. The system addresses a key problem in assuring the safety of public service personnel. The fire service is one of the most hazardous jobs in the country. Each year approximately 100 firemen are killed in the line of duty. The Fire Safety System will make a major contribution to the reduction of this toll.
It will be the first of a series of products from TRX that use location and sensing technology to promote safety and performance. See the attached business plan.
(b) Describe the expected outcome of this Phase. If there is more detail in the technical proposal, please reference page and paragraph.
The end result of Phase I will be a prototype of the Fire Safety System that provides location of individuals inside buildings and complex structures (tunnels, mines, etc.) together with an understanding of the propagation of electromagnetic (EM) waves inside structures as it applies to the computation of precise location. The attached technical proposal describes the specialized VLSI chips that will be developed to enable the application.
(c)Summarize Phase 1 research of this project.
In Phase I, the validity of the approach will be demonstrated in prototype hardware and software by using two problems: (1) location of personnel in complex buildings and (2) an evaluation of the distribution of EM signals in a structure. The first problem addresses a key concern and will demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of our approach. The second will provide an assessment of the limitations of the determination of location based on wave propagation and timing estimates. More details in the technical proposal work plan.
(d)If there are two phases, summarize Phase 2 research.
Phase II will complete the development of the hardware and software with additional capabilities for other applications. It is to be emphasized that the entire effort will be applicable to a wide range of public safety end users, not just firemen. The open framework of the design makes the system applicable to other problem areas including location of health care personnel in a hospital, prisoners and guards in a prison, etc. More details in the technical proposal work plan. The end result of Phase II will be a commercially viable system for the fire safety market and related public safety services.
For Phase 2 projects only.
(e)Briefly summarize objectives, accomplishments, and status of project Phase 1. Compare accomplishments with the objectives:
N/A
(f)List problems and/or failures to meet specific objectives during Phase 1. Give reasons.
N/A
(g)If any funds requested in this proposal are intended for work to correct problems listed in (e) above, explain
and give amount: $ .
N/A
4.Research Personnel Qualifications
Provide information on Principal Investigator and other key University and Company researchers. Attach a one or two-page c.v. of the P.I. (only), after page 16 of this application.
(a) / Principal Investigator:Name:
Dr. Neil Goldsman / Title:
Professor
Campus:
College Park / Dept:
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Degrees/Disciplines:
BA, ME, Ph.D (Cornell University)/ Electrical Engineering
Experience pertinent to project:
Neil Goldsman has been involved in the teaching, research and development of electronics for over twenty years. He has over 100 publications in the overall area of microelectronics. He has developed a senior class, which teaches students how to design mixed signal VLSI chips (ENEE408D), and a graduate course on Radio Frequency Circuit Design (ENEE614). He has supervised the design and fabrication of numerous chips, and helped design and build many of the circuits that we plan to use for this project. Currently working on a project that integrate electromagnetism and VLSI circuit design.
Other experience:
Neil Goldsman has worked with major chip companies including Intel and LSI Logic.
Neil Goldsman wrote the text for the junior level electronics design ENEE306, which has enrollment of approximately 200 students/year
(b) / Other Key Researcher(s):
Name: O. Ramahi / Title: Assistant Professor
Campus:
College Park / Dept:
Degrees/Disciplines:
Phd
Experience pertinent to project:
Electromagnetic wave propagation
Other experience:
(c) / Name: Dr. Gilmer Blankenship / Title: President TRX-Systems
Campus: / Dept:
Degrees/Disciplines:
BS, MS, PhD (MIT) Electrical Engineering
Experience pertinent to project: In addition to his research on control, signal processing, and systems engineering, Dr. Blankenship directed a company that specializes in search and rescue based on satellite aided location technology. He directed the formation of a second company that provides services to the maritime community for ship location, tracking, systems and security monitoring.
Other experience: Dr. Blankenship has an excellent appreciation of the value and potential of location technology for a wide range of application areas.
(d) / Name: Blake Robertson / Title:
Campus:
College Park / Dept:
Degrees/Disciplines:
Undergraduate
Experience pertinent to project:
Computer hardware to software interfacing
Other experience:
(e) / Name: Yun Bai / Title:
Campus:
College Park / Dept:
Degrees/Disciplines:
Graduate Student
Experience pertinent to project:
VLSI Circuit Design and Electromagnetic Modeling
Other experience:
5.Commercialization/Economic Impact
For new projects, respond to 5(a) through 5(e) only. For Phase 2 projects, respond to 5(f) only.
(a)Commercialization Plans. What is the product or process you are planning to commercialize? Describe your strategy and time frame (following the completion of this project) for manufacturing the product, providing services or implementing the process. How will you finance this effort?
TRX-Systems, Inc. (TRX) in collaboration with other industry partners will commercialize the Fire Safety System. TRX was formed to take advantage of the emerging ubiquity of personal location technology. The FSS will be our first product.
We propose to test the Phase I prototype FSS with the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute to get feedback and to determine design weaknesses for refinements in Phase II. We anticipate that the Institute will help (indirectly) in publicizing a successful the system through its network. This will give us credibility and allow us access to the fire service market place.
We shall also explore collaboration with an established provider of fire safety equipment. A preliminary discussion was held with Grade Industries.
TRX will fund the initial marketing efforts from internal funds. We plan a series of presentations and demonstrations at trade shows for public sector personnel. An angel investor will be sought to support the marketing effort. We plan to apply to the Small Business Innovative Research programs of the National Science Foundation and other agencies for further development funds. This will limit the need to provide large amounts of our company stock to outside investors.
(b)Market. What is the market for the product or process? By what means have you determined this? What will be your market share and why? Who will be your customers? If you are not in the market now, how are you going to get there? What key strategies will make your product or process introduction successful?
In a recent report,[1] the Public Service Wireless Networking initiative (PSWN) gave a very precise statement of the problem addressed in this proposal. As pointed out in the PSWN Report, more than 1,000 “… firefighters have died in the line of duty over the past decade. One of the leading causes of firefighter death and injury is the inability of rescuers to locate and extract firefighters trapped in a structure or overcome by the progress of a fire. In 1999, six firefighters were killed in a large warehouse fire in Worcester, Massachusetts, subsequent to an internal structure collapse and a failed search and rescue effort. In calendar year 2000, five multiple fatality incidents resulted in the deaths of 10 firefighters. The tragic terrorist events of September 11, 2001, culminating in the loss of some 343 New York City firefighters at the World Trade Center, only amplifies the need for technology solutions that enhance incident scene accountability and assist in the search and rescue of trapped or downed personnel.”
“Why is it America has the technology to track a whale across oceans around the world and pinpoint rocks to the centimeter on the surface of Mars, but no devices to accurately pinpoint the location of downed firefighters inside a simple two-story building?”[Letter from National Fire and Rescue Magazine to President Clinton]
The initial market will be the fire service departments in municipalities. The need for the system was crystallized by the terrible loss of life in the September 11 terrorism We are unaware of a comprehensive competitive technology that captures the features, advantages and benefits of the proposed system.
It is to be emphasized that as the functionality of the system grows it will find great number of users since it is applicable to a wide range of defense, public service, and other end users. We believe the price point for the final system will be between $400-600 per unit depending on volume. There is the potential for many thousands of end users. Assuming a conservative price of $500 and an initial market of 10,000 units, the market is $5 million.
(c)Competition. What are the competing products or processes? What is being used now? Who will be
your competition? What is the uniqueness of your product or process?
We are unaware of a competitive technology that captures the features, advantages and benefits of the proposed Fire Safety System.
(d)Measurable Results. Forecast annual sales, new jobs created, jobs retained, cost reductions, etc. as a result of this project, starting 1 year after completion. Example: Year 1– 2 new jobs; year 2 – sales increase $900,000, 12 new jobs; Year 3 – additional sales $800,000, 11 new jobs… X years; etc.
Year 1 / Year 2 / Year 3 / Year 4Sales / $50,000 / $200,000 / $1,000,000 / $2,500,000
Price*Units / $500*100 / $500*400 / $500*2,000 / $500*5,000
Jobs Added / 0 / 1 / 5 / 10
Jobs Retained / 1 / 2 / 8 / 18
We anticipate that the initial sales after the Phase II development is over will be small, however given the potential for development we forecast conservatively that the sales will grow substantially in the coming years. The new jobs will be in the areas of development, marketing and support.
(e)Other factors pertinent to this project. Examples: importance of project, new opportunities, etc.
This will be the first product of our company, and it will establish our business. It is critical to our success.
(f)Review the commercialization/economic impact statements of your Phase I proposal and describe any changes or additions now envisioned and why. (Applies to Phase 2 applicants only)
N/A
6.Technical Proposal: A technical proposal is required. It is to consist of a narrative (not to exceed 5 pages), and a master schedule. The narrative should include:
Purpose of the total project (all phases)
Results to be achieved by the total project
For this proposed phase only, describe:
-technical approach
-scope of work
-anticipated results
-risk factors
-other pertinent information
(Insert your technical proposal immediately after this page 8. Pages of the Technical Proposal should be numbered 8-a, 8-b, 8-c, etc. The Master Schedule follows on page 9. )
Fill out the master schedule form (page 9). A typical master schedule will consist of 4 to 10 schedule items. An example of a partial master schedule is as follows:
Schedule Item / Month# / Description / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12
1 / Evaluate surface conditions of molded cases
2 / Develop mathematical model of surface deterioration
TECHNICAL PROPOSAL
Indoor Positioning Systems
1. Introduction
The advent of Global Positioning Systems (GPS) has revolutionized navigation. However, the GPS network does not function inside human structures, i.e. office buildings, factories, etc. The reason is that GPS is uses radio waves to operate. However, radio waves, which are a form of electromagnetic radiation, do not propagate in very well inside a building. In fact, electromagnetic wave propagation becomes very complicated inside structures, with waves reflecting off walls and penetrating various construction materials differently. In this work we seek matching funding to help develop a series products for location determination that operates indoors. To achieve this we plan to combine the knowledge of three fields: Very Large Scale Integration (VLSI) Radio Frequency Electronics; Electromagnetic (EM) Theory; and Statistics. We also plan to implement two different approaches. One that is based on a new highly sensitive GPS receiver that Motorola Corporation plans to introduce; and one that uses a local positioning system that is being designed by the principal investigators and their co-workers. Both approaches will employ a unique combination of circuit design, electromagnetic theory and statistics.
The products we plan to bring to market with the aid of MIPs funding we are seeking include:
- A local distance determination system capable of indoor operation.
- A local absolute positioning system capable of indoor operation.
- A sensitive GPS system capable of indoor operation.
- Software for predicting the path of electromagnetic wave propagation with applications to positioning.
2. Local Positioning System: Complete Custom Design
As described above, we plan to develop two different location systems. One completely custom designed by our research team, and another that we design that also uses a nascent Motorola chip. First, we describe the complete custom approach.
2.1. Measuring Absolute Distance
To measure absolute distance we use ultra-fast clocks along with the speed of light. Inexpensive ultra-fast clocks are now possible to build as a result of the microelectronic revolution. Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) Transistors are the basic building blocks of most modern integrated circuits (chips). Technology has moved so quickly that it is now possible to routinely build chips with millions of transistors that have critical dimensions of less than 0.2 microns. In addition to packing a large number of transistors on a chip, their small size allows these basic building blocks to operate on time scales of less than 0.1 nanosecond. Over the past several years, it has become possible for the small business to build chips using these state-of-the-art transistors. We design our circuit, and then contract out the fabrication to the manufacturer. (The manufacturer we use is the MOSIS facility, which specializes in small volumes.) This enables small business to develop products based on the most modern technology.
We have used ultra-small transistors to build ultra-fast clocks. In fact, with such small devices we have designed, and had electronic clocks fabricated that operate so fast that we can use them to measure the speed of light. For example, we have designed electronic clocks that can measure times as small as 0.1 nanosecond. By knowing that the speed of light is 3 X 1010 cm/sec, we can use our clocks, in conjunction with electromagnetic wave propagation, to measure distances with a resolution of 3cm [(3 X 1010 cm/sec)(1 X 10 –10 sec)=3cm].