MATTS Integration Kit (miKIT) for Sensor Manufacturers

The miKIT provides sensor manufacturers with a quick and easy way to integrate their devices with the MATTS system, providing a bi-directional, secure, intransit, communications path for their sensors. MATTS is the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's program for remote monitoring and tracking of cargo containers. Other DHS and commercial programs involve sensors mounted to the container for detecting hazardous materials and intrusion. The miKIT will jump-start your sensor development and deployment, while also satisfying MATTS communications and tracking requirements.

miKIT: The design of the miKIT isolates the MATTS system from the sensor. This approach minimizes integration effort and time. The integration to MATTS is accomplished via a single module, the iCHIME. The iCHIME connects to your sensor electronics via a 20-pin connector. The connector has pins dedicated for transmit, receive, ground, power, and wake-up. The iCHIME transmits the sensor data to the MATTS system via its MATTS-compatible radio.


The miKIT (Figure 1) consists of:

• MATTS iVIEW Web Page (standard set of directives and data visualization plus customer survey inputs; Figure 2.)
• MATTS iGATE (desktop version)
• MATTS iTAG (rechargable for lab environment)
• iCHIME: Sensor-to-MATTS Interface Module (1.75"x1.25" with 20-pin connector and bi-directional wake-up). Three iCHIMEs will be included in the TRUST miKIT. Two are unamplified for use in development and one is the extended range iCHIME that would be used in field testing.
• Evaluation I/F Board: Quick Start - Connect to the iCHIME via a standard DB9 connector. Allows you to test data flow with your sensor even before you implement the iCHIME I/F connector on your own board.
• Sensor Emulator: Quick Start - Emulates sensor data packets
• iCHIME Mechanical and Electrical Specification: Allows you to add the iCHIME module directly to your sensor package.
• Support: Up to 40 hours of phone and email support. This support is limited to the initial setup and operation of the miKIT. The initial setup involves implementation of data obtained from the customer survey for setting up the iVIEW web page representative of the data displays and directives necessary for integration. Further customization may be purchased separately (40 hour minimum blocks).
• Accessories: Cables, power adapters, and ruggedized lockable Pelican case

Integration Process:

1. Communications and Data Checkout: Use the Sensor Emulator and Evaluation I/F Board to quickly test the communications path and data types.
2. Sensor Data Flow Verification: Replace the Sensor Emulator with the real sensor and connect to the iCHIME through the Evaluation I/F board to verify that data to/from sensor is correct.
3. Sensor-to-iCHIME Integration: Use the iCHIME Mechanical and Electrical Specifications to integrate the iCHIME Module directly to your sensor electronics. Your sensor now communicates directly from the iCHIME to the MATTS iTAG via the radio link.

Figure 1: MATTS Integration Kit (miKIT)

               Figure 2: MATTS iVIEW Page Showing Container Tracking and Sensor Command Console and Data

Sensor/iCHIME to MATTS Architecture

The iCHIME has been tested in sensors mounted inside new ISO steel containers and has successfully established communication paths to MATTS and MATTS-compatible devices on the outside of the container. These devices include the MATTS remote communications and tracking tag (iTAG), the handheld wireless interrogator (miGATE), and the LAN-WAN gateway (iGATE). The remote MATTS database and webserver (iVIEW) collects and displays both sensor and MATTS data and provides remote reconfiguration of sensors and MATTS. The data can also be exported to SQL-compliant databases or queried using web service calls. The communication protocol is designated as header and length, allowing you to keep your sensor data and format private. You do not need to become an expert on the MATTS system, allowing you to focus your resources on your sensor development. The figure below illustrates the communication path options for the sensor/iCHIME mounted inside a container.

Figure 3: MATTS Architecture and Sensor/iCHIME Communication Path Options