Benny C. F. Cheung

Design and development of a mobile EPC-RFID-based self-validation system (MESS) for product authentication

The increase in the number of counterfeits penetrating into the open market has created the need for a product authentication approach in tracing and tracking the product anytime, anywhere. Owing to the vague concepts frequently represented in flow of products, this paper presents a self-valuation and visualization system by integrating the RFID technology and EPC concept to protect products from counterfeiting by the means of mobile platform. In this paper, a system architecture is proposed which is capable of integrating mobile technology and EPC-RFID applications. The implementation roadmap of such system architecture is examined and explained in the context of a case study. The aims of the system are to provide greater visibility of the product logistic flow data and to improve the anti-counterfeit process, from traditional physical identification to self-validated location-based authentication. The case study illustrates the capability, benefits and advantages of using the proposed system, particularly its support of product authentication and supply chain activities in countering the global counterfeit problems.

An Intelligent RFID-Based Electronic Anti-Counterfeit System (InRECS) for the Manufacturing Industry

Abstract Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is a potent technology that manufacturing enterprises can deploy to enhance supply chain management, inventory control and asset management effectiveness. However, counterfeit prevention is seldom addressed in these RFID applications. The quality image of reputable manufacturers is vulnerable to the damage caused by the expanding flow of counterfeit products in todays global market. To combat the counterfeit problem, this paper proposes an Intelligent RFID-based Electronic Anti-Counterfeit System (InRECS) that will deliver accurate and global supply chain visibility with intelligent feedback into inventory and materials transfer processes. A case study will also be presented to highlight the benefits the proposed system can bring to the supply chain participants.

A Dynamic RFID-Based Mobile Monitoring System in Animal Care Management Over a Wireless Network

Due to the increasing integration of animals into family lifestyles, animal care management becomes an important issue as animals have a direct impact on human psychological and physical health. Even though there are a lot of solutions, maltreatment of animals and risks in animal health are increasing as indicated in the newspapers and statistics. In addition, many identification methods are not efficient and user-friendly. In this paper, an RFID-based mobile monitoring system (RFID-MMS) is designed in helping users to better manage the animals in dynamic information retrieving, location tracking, and behavior analyzing over a wireless network. The proposed system, which is suitable for using in all animals unities, enhances the companionship between humans and animals.

Auditing and mapping the knowledge assets of business processes: an empirical study

A systematic, contextual and action-oriented methodology was developed and has been adopted in a large business unit in a public utility company in Hong Kong to map out the companys explicit and tacit knowledge assets based on input from both structured questionnaires and interactive workshops conducted in an open and participative manner. Outputs from the knowledge audit include a critical knowledge inventory list, an assessment of the level of diffusion and codification of the knowledge sources, and a knowledge map for each of the business processes. The inquiry process makes the data collection transparent and also facilitates knowledge sharing, interaction, mutual understanding and consensus among workshop participants.

A methodological approach to optimizing RFID deployment

The interest of adopting RFID continues to grow in many industries, ranging from supply chain automation to healthcare management. However, dynamics of the operating environment is one of the major challenges that impede RFID deployment. Even though numerous researchers focus on controlled laboratory experiments to enhance the success of deployment, it is found that system performance in the actual production environment may differ significantly from that conducted in a controlled laboratory, resulting in poor deployment result. To cope with this situation, this paper proposes an RFID Deployment Optimizer (RFIDDO), which is a generic methodology for optimizing the RFID configuration to provide objective, quantifiable data about the data capture performance of RFID readers for comparing and optimizing RFID applications in a scientific manner. A case study has also been conducted in a logistics company to demonstrate the implementation of RFIDDO and provide contextual details to help other firms in coping with the environmental dynamics in the journey of RFID deployment.

Computational fluid dynamics–based analysis of material removal characteristics in fluid jet polishing

Fluid jet polishing is an enabling ultra-precision machining technology, which has not only been widely used for removing machine tool marks in order to achieve super finished surfaces, but also for controlling the form accuracy in machining freeform surfaces. Due to the complex machining mechanism, it is difficult to model the material removal rate accurately with consideration of a lot of operational parameters in fluid jet polishing. In this article, the optimal operational parameters and the significance of the important parameters are determined by the Taguchi design of experiments. Hence, a computational fluid dynamics–based analysis is built for the determination of the material removal rate in fluid jet polishing. In this model, the impact information of the particles with respect to the workpiece is computed by computational fluid dynamics simulation which is then coupled with a local mechanics erosion model so as to predict the detailed distribution of the material removal rate in fluid jet polishing. To verify the computational fluid dynamics–based erosion model, a series of polishing experiments have been conducted. The experimental results are found to agree well with the predicted form error and the pattern of the material removal rate by the integrated erosion prediction model.

A Study of Computer Controlled Ultra-Precision Polishing of Silicon Carbide Reflecting Lenses for Enhancing Surface Roughness

Reflecting lens is an important component of optical systems, such as high-resolution cameras, large space telescopes and meteorological satellites etc. Among the lens materials, Silicon Carbide (SiC) has attracted a lot of attention as an important optical material because of its excellent mechanical and physical properties. Apart from the form accuracy, the attainment of a consistently high optical quality in polishing SiC is still of a concern. There are advanced ultra-precision polishing machines that can correct geometrical errors and surface finish of the workpiece. These include surface roughness and waviness. However, the hardness of SiC material itself put an challenge for polishing process. In this paper, A computer controlled ultra-precision polishing (CCUP) method based on mechanical polishing is used to produce the SiC lens. Experiments are being designed on a 7-axis ultra precision polishing machine (Zeeko IRP200). As it is difficult to find out slurry which is harder than SiC so that the conventional polishing slurry is be used. It provides a nice consequence that it also efficient when the polish powder is softer than the machined materials. The tool pressure, polishing head speed and the feed rate are varied and optimized to obtain the best reflectivity of the lens being polished. A pilot experiment will be conducted for the corrective polishing for the form error of the optical surface made of SiC. The result from the study will provide an important means to optimize the process for machining SiC reflective lens using the CCUP process.

Digital Manufacturing and RFID-Based Automation

Advances in the Internet, communication technologies, and computation power have accelerated the cycle of new product development as well as supply chain efficiency in an unprecedented manner. Digital technology provides not only an important means for the optimization of production efficiency through simulations prior to the start of actual operations but also facilitates manufacturing process automation through efficient and effective automatic tracking of production data from the flow of materials, finished goods, and people, to the movement of equipment and assets in the value chain. There are two major applications of digital technology in manufacturing. The first deals with the modeling, simulation, and visualization of manufacturing systems and the second deals with the automatic acquisition, retrieval, and processing of manufacturing data used in the supply chain. This chapter summarizes the state of the art of digital manufacturing which is based on virtual manufacturing (VM) simulation and radio frequency identification (RFID)-based automation. The associated technologies, their key techniques, and current research work are highlighted. In addition, the social and technological obstacles to the development of a VM system and in an RFID-based manufacturing process automation system, and some practical application case studies of digital manufacturing based on VM and RFID-based automation, are also discussed.

Theoretical and experimental investigation of three-dimensional-structured surface generation using fluid jet polishing

Fluid jet polishing is an emerging process which possesses the advantages of localized force and less heat generation, as well as the stable and controllable material removal function without tool wear. Due to the complex machining mechanism, it is still difficult to model the material removal rate and predict the surface generation for fluid jet polishing. In this article, theoretical and experimental investigation of three-dimensional-structured surface generation by fluid jet polishing has been carried out. A surface topography simulation model is established for predicting the three-dimensional-structured surface generation by fluid jet polishing. A series of polishing experiments have been conducted to optimize the process parameters of fluid jet polishing and the fabrication of three-dimensional-structured surfaces. In terms of the pattern of three-dimensional-structured surfaces generated, the simulation results are found to agree with the experimental results.

An autonomous multisensor in situ metrology system for enabling high dynamic range measurement of 3D surfaces on precision machine tools

An in situ measurement is of prime importance when trying to maintain the position of the workpiece for further compensation processes in order to improve the accuracy and efficiency of the precision machining of three dimensional (3D) surfaces. However, the coordinates of most of the machine tools with closed machine interfaces and control system are not accessible for users, which make it difficult to use the motion axes of the machine tool for in situ measurements. This paper presents an autonomous multisensor in situ metrology system for enabling high dynamic range measurement of 3D surfaces on precision machine tools. It makes use of a designed tool path and an additional motion sensor to assist the registration of time-space data for the position estimation of a 2D laser scanner which measures the surface with a high lateral resolution and large area without the need to interface with the machine tool system. A prototype system was built and integrated into an ultra-precision polishing machine. Experimental results show that it measures the 3D surfaces with high resolution, high repeatability, and large measurement range. The system not only improves the efficiency and accuracy of the precision machining process but also extends the capability of machine tools.