Matteo Lanini

A Microwave Tomographic System for Wood Characterization in the Forest Products Industry

Abstract Nondestructive testing and evaluation techniques able to extract information about the internal structure of the samples under test are very important in the wood industry. Microwave imaging systems have been considered for a long time promising apparatuses for this task. In this framework, approaches exploiting the full scattering phenomena for creating images of the distributions of the dielectric properties of the targets have been developed in the last few years. In this paper, a prototype of microwave tomographic system is presented and several experimental validation confirming its suitability for the use in the wood and forest product industry are reported.

Design of a slim wideband-antenna to overcome the strong reflection of the air-to-sample interface in microwave imaging

A new wideband sensor for microwave imaging is introduced. The structure consists of a folded quasi-self complementary monopole antenna which is applied in contact with the sample-under-test (SUT) to minimize the interface impedance mismatch. The sensor presents a slim design that allows the development of very compact antenna arrays, thus avoiding the need of coupling mediums.

RFID–ERP Key Data Integration Challenges

This chapter provides an overview of the potential utilisation of RFID in the manufacturing context. More specifically the specificity of RFID applications, in terms of application fields, objectives, drivers, potential benefits, are analysed for various manufacturing strategies. The characteristics of the market context and of the structure of the manufacturing/assembly system having a significant impact on RFID application are identified and their influence described. An extensive review of industrial case studies classified according to the various manufacturing typologies (ETO, MTO, ATO, MTS, Retailing & Distribution) is provided. This allows to better assess the steps to be undertaken for developing a successful RFID applications, understand the activities to be included, identify the challenges, estimate the potential benefits and the required investments.