Asset Tracker Trip Detection Using IMU Motion Thresholds
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing asset tracking systems face challenges in efficiently managing battery life and accurately detecting trips, particularly when assets are in transit during shipping.
Innovation Solution
The proposed method and asset tracker system introduce a shipping state that reduces power consumption by entering a sleep mode, and utilize an inertial measurement unit (IMU) to detect activation triggers and transition through states for trip detection, including travel motion detection and traveling states.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the asset tracker remains active continuously to detect trips, then trip detection accuracy is improved, but battery life is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The asset tracker dynamically adjusts its operational state between a low-power shipping state and an active travel detection state. The system transitions from continuous monitoring to periodic monitoring based on detected motion, optimizing the balance between battery consumption and trip detection reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes its operational parameters by switching between different states (shipping state with sleep mode and travel state with active sensing). This parameter change allows the tracker to reduce power consumption during shipping while maintaining detection capability when motion is detected.
2Reliability
If the asset tracker uses continuous motion detection to ensure accurate trip detection, then detection reliability is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The asset tracker employs periodic motion detection rather than continuous monitoring. The IMU performs detection at specific intervals or when triggered by threshold changes, reducing power consumption while maintaining reliable trip detection through periodic sampling of motion data.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts its monitoring intensity based on the operational context. During shipping, it uses minimal periodic detection, while during travel, it increases monitoring intensity to ensure accurate trip detection, thus optimizing the balance between power consumption and detection reliability.
3Loss of energy
If the asset tracker enters sleep mode during shipping, then power consumption is reduced, but response time to trip detection may increase
Solution Approach 1:
The asset tracker performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring the IMU with motion detection thresholds and maintaining a ready state upon detecting motion. This preliminary setup ensures that when a trip occurs, the system can respond immediately without delay, thus reducing the effective response time while still benefiting from low-power sleep mode during shipping.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically transitions from a low-power sleep state to an active detection state when motion is detected. This dynamic state change allows the tracker to maintain minimal power consumption during shipping while ensuring rapid response to actual trips, as the system is already prepared to activate its full detection capabilities when needed.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution effectively conserves battery life by minimizing unnecessary power usage during shipping and accurately detects trips, enhancing the reliability of asset tracking systems.
Implementation Method 1
measuring by a 3-axis accelerometer an acceleration that is greater than a travel motion acceleration threshold
Data Source
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AI summary
An asset tracker for detecting an end of trip by an asset tracker are described. An end of trip may be detected using a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) module or an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU), such as a three-axis accelerometer. In some implementations, the asset tracker uses the IMU for end of trip detection. In other implementations, the asset tracker uses the IMU for impact detection while using the GNSS module for end of trip detection.