Asset Tracking Ping Rate Adjustment for Battery Life
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless asset tracking systems face inefficiencies due to non-value added pings and timed or scheduled pings unrelated to business logic or exception events, leading to faster battery drainage and reduced operational value.
Innovation Solution
An active RF tracking system that adjusts ping rate and period based on the probability of asset motion and desired events, utilizing a transmitter with a GPS positioning element, two-way communication module, and a route exception database to increase the value per ping and prolong battery life.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the ping rate is increased to capture more asset movements, then the tracking accuracy and value per ping is improved, but the battery life deteriorates due to faster energy consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the ping rate based on asset motion detection and business conditions. When motion is detected or business-critical events occur, the ping rate increases to capture accurate location data. When the asset is stationary and no critical events are expected, the ping rate decreases to conserve battery energy, thus resolving the contradiction between tracking accuracy and battery life.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters (ping rate and ping period) based on detected conditions such as asset motion, geographic location, and business rules. By adjusting these parameters dynamically rather than maintaining a fixed rate, the system optimizes the balance between measurement precision and energy consumption throughout the asset's lifecycle.
2Loss of energy
If the ping period is extended to decrease cost per ping, then the operational cost is reduced, but critical asset movements may be missed
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where the transmitter monitors asset motion, location, and business conditions, then adjusts the ping period accordingly. When critical events are detected or the asset enters high-value zones, the system reduces the ping period to ensure reliable detection, while extending it during low-risk periods to reduce energy loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses preliminary detection of motion and condition changes to trigger appropriate ping rates before critical events occur. By detecting asset movement or entering predetermined geographic zones in advance, the system can proactively adjust the ping period to capture upcoming critical events, ensuring detection reliability while minimizing unnecessary pings.
3Reliability
If continuous pings are sent to maintain up-to-date location information, then the reliability of asset tracking is improved, but the battery drainage increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuous pings, the system implements periodic pings with variable intervals. The ping period is dynamically adjusted based on asset motion, location, and business conditions. This periodic approach maintains tracking reliability during critical periods while significantly reducing battery consumption during stable, low-risk periods compared to continuous monitoring.
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
The system enhances the value per ping by focusing transmissions on critical events, reducing operational costs, particularly battery maintenance costs, while maintaining accurate asset tracking with extended battery life.
Implementation Method 1
global positioning systems (GPS) use wireless signals transmitted by earth-orbiting satellites to calculate the position of a receiving device
Implementation Method 2
radio frequency identification (RF or RFID) systems have been developed in which devices, often referred to as 'tags,' wirelessly communicate with readers
Data Source
AI summary
Asset tracking system that utilizes a time-based ping in which the ping rate and the ping period are based on a predetermined event. Over the period of use of the system and device, the ping rate and ping period are adjusted based on the expected occurrence of an event. The system has lower operational cost, particularly battery maintenance cost, than conventional active ping systems that have a set ping rate or a random ping rate.