The St. Gallen Lab with offices both at University of St. Gallen and ETH Zurich currently conducts research on eight different topics ranging from more near term questions such as how to efficiently manage and maintain large scale EPC-Networks to the development of future EPC-Network features such as adding uncertainty, location and sensors.
A Active Tags, Localization and Sensors
Short Description: Upcoming use cases show, that even in the retail industry some business processes might require their objects to collect data about their status or environment (e.g. temperature tracking in the meat and fish supply chain) themselves. In other businesses, e.g. in the automotive and production business, this trend seems to be clear-cut. While the principle design of the EPC network allows adding sensors, there is massive work required to ensure that the proposed Auto-ID infrastructure also works robust and scalable with higher class tags.
Contact: Elgar Fleisch
B Addressing Uncertainty
Short description: Use of probabilistic measures to detect and reduce false positive and negative RFID readings and thus improve the quality of generated process information.
Contact: Christian Floerkemeier
C Anti-Counterfeiting (Special Interest Group)
Short description: Current research shows that RFID technology, and the EPC-Network in particular, can provide effective measures in the areas of product counterfeits, brand protection, pedigree, grey markets and user/patient safety. This research activity aims at understanding and modeling the mechanisms of ilicit trade as first step. At a second step this activity designs both inferred and direct anti-counterfeit solutions based on the EPC-Infrastructure in the pharma, automotive, aviation and luxury goods industry.
Contact: Alexander Ilic, Mikko Lehtonen, Florian Michahelles, Thorsten Staake
D Privacy, Security and Risks
Short description: This work package structures the risks of RFID and pervasive computing in general, their perception by the public and develops best practices for RFID-related risk management. Furthermore, it discusses the privacy issues of RFID from a business perspective, develops integrated privacy strategies and supports the implementation of fair information practices in RFID protocols.
Contact: Frederic Thiesse
E Smart Products and Services
Short description: The EPC-Network enables the extensive collection of data at very low cost which in many cases will serve as the basis for new services and product features such as use-based payment models or self-checking services. This research activity develops new services and products based on the emerging EPC-infrastructure.
Contact: Elgar Fleisch
F Automotive
Short description: Today, in most cases RFID applications in the automotive industry are limited to closed-loop systems. The management of reusable containers equipped with RFID tags is a well known example. In this field the Auto-ID Labs conducted research working closely together with the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA), leading vehicle manufacturers and their suppliers as well as EPCglobal and GS1 Germany. The next step will be to develop and evaluate proposals for RFID applications in the automotive aftermarket. In this so called open-loop system, the Auto-ID Labs are focussing e.g. on spare parts management, vehicle distribution, new services, improved recall and product-lifecycle management, pay-per-use systems, fleet management etc. based on the RFID technology. In this field questions regarding open and global standards play a major role.
Contact: Patrick Schmitt
G EPC-Discovery Service
Short description: This research activity focuses on the challenges in the design of an EPC discovery service.
Contact: Christoph Roduner
H Smart Shelf
Short description: Out-of-shelf situations in the retail industry result in significant loses of revenue. We develop low cost sensing systems that meet the requirements of the retail industry and analyzes the effect of those systems on replenishment practices.
Contact: Christian Metzger
I Business Innovation – From the Idea to the Demonstrator (M-Lab Membership)
Short description: In this research activity, Auto-ID Lab researchers support partner companies in identifying and creating business scenarios and applications based on Auto-ID technology on both, business and technology level. All work packages above as well as company individual work are included (see also www.m-lab.ch.
After a trademark dispute, the EPC Prototyping Platform is now called "Fosstrak" (previously Accada). Fosstrak stands for "free and open source software for track and trace".
