# Presentation: 155965

## Electronic Portable Information Collection (EPIC) SystemSENTEL Corporation, Alexandria, Virginia

- Innovation
- SENTEL and NASA jointly developed the Electronic Portable Information Collection (EPIC) system under an SBIR contract at Kennedy Space Center.  The system was originally designed to assist in KSC’s migration to a paperless procedures systems for Space Shuttle and payload processing operations by producing a work authorization and quality inspection system based on electronic documents and digital signatures.

- Accomplishments
-   EPIC represents a unique tool for workflow and process management. It can facilitate procedure 	execution, procedure documentation, process auditing, and quality inspections.   In real time, it 	can also define a process, measure the workflow, and compare measurement results to 		established standards and goals.
-   SENTEL Corp. and NASA jointly designed, built, and tested prototype paperless work 		authorization procedures.  Initially called the Quality Assurance Portable Data Collection 	System (QAPDC), this project was an important step towards reducing paper and increasing 	quality for the International Space Station Operations at KSC.
-   The QAPDC system won the NASA SBIR of the Year Award (software category) at Technology 	2006.
-   The QAPDC system incorporated a handheld, pen-based computer platform with the capability 	to install a variety of data collection forms, record data against those forms, imprint controlled 	signature authority and quality inspector stamps, maintain the integrity of data collected, and 	relay the data to a computer network for analysis or archiving.
-    By combining the technologies and lessons learned from the QAPDC and the Wireless 	Information Network (WIN), another SENTEL SBIR contract project, EPIC proves secure and 	reliable document modification, review, and approval.
-    EPIC allows for direct incorporation of procedure modifications and deviations.  It offers 	realtime workflow measurement and documentation, workgroup information sharing and 	collaboration, and reduced use of paper.
-    A Formative Evaluation study was conducted by an Auburn University professor for EPIC 	usability and performance enhancement.
-    Scheduled to be used in parallel with current procedures during International Space Station 	payload processing operations at KSC.
-    SENTEL teamed with Symbol Technologies and CM stat Corp. to provide a commercial 	process management system incorporating EPIC, called the Advanced Process ManagerTM.
-    Founded in 1987, SENTEL received its 8(a) certification from the U.S. SBA in 1989.  Since its 	inception, SENTEL has enjoyed significant but controlled growth.  The company has 		progressed from a single $33K subcontract in 1987 to its current $30 million plus in revenue.

- EPIC System In Use at KSC

- NASA Field Center: Kennedy Space Center
- Date of Update May, 1998
- Success Story # 10-001

- Commercialization
-   Two products:  1) EPIC, a standalone portable data collection system, developed jointly by NASA  	and SENTEL.  2) Advanced Process ManagerTM, a full-function product data management system.
-   Secondary markets are the Defense system lifecycle data management, product data management, 	supply chain management, and fleet maintenance management.
-   SENTEL has partnered with CMstat Corporation, Alexandria, Virginia, and Symbol Technologies, 	to develop Advanced Process ManagerTM.  SENTEL interfaced EPIC with CMstat’s V5 	configuration management product.  For worker mobility, Advanced Process Manager features 	Symbol Technology’s *Spectrum 24TM *wireless networking technology.

- Points of Contact:
-   NASA:  Darcy Miller 407-867-3523
-    www.ksc.nasa.gov/payload/projects/qapdc
-   SENTEL:  Kevin Jackson 703-739-0084
-    www.sentel.com
- 1998 SBIR Phase II; NAS10-12118

- Government/Science Applications
-   The EPIC project began as an SBIR contract initiated by the Safety and Mission Assurance 	Directorate at Kennedy Space Center.  They teamed  with the Payload Processing Directorate to 	jointly develop the project with SENTEL Corporation, which was awarded the SBIR contract.  The 	prototype was tested and determined to be a viable option.
-    After the contract was completed,  NASA KSC and SENTEL Corp. joined in a Nonreimbursable 	Space Act Agreement in 1997 to develop an  operational version of the product, to be used to 	electronically execute Work Authorization Documents (WADs).
-    KSC and Ames Research Center are conducting joint research to apply EPIC in wireless 	communications and in developing smaller, lighter hardware to display EPIC portable data 	terminals in various KSC environments.