Container Tracking Assembly Sleep Mode for Battery Life
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refuse container tracking systems continuously consume power and have limited battery life, as they are always active and cannot determine container movement independently, relying on external systems for this information.
Innovation Solution
A container tracking assembly that remains in a low-power or powered-off state until sensors or timers are actuated, using sensors to determine movement or changes in location, allowing the system to wake up and track location via satellite or terrestrial navigation, with data transmission based on movement speed to conserve power.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the tracking system remains always active to continuously monitor container location, then location tracking accuracy is improved, but battery life deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The tracking system operates in periodic cycles, alternating between active tracking mode and low-power sleep mode. The microcontroller periodically wakes up to acquire GPS location data, transmits it via radio frequency, then returns to sleep mode. This periodic operation maintains location tracking capability while dramatically reducing average power consumption compared to continuous operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts its operational state based on container movement status. When the container is stationary, the system enters low-power mode with extended sleep intervals. When movement is detected through accelerometer data or location changes, the system activates tracking. This dynamic state adjustment optimizes the balance between tracking accuracy and power consumption.
2Loss of information
If the system continuously transmits location data to maintain real-time monitoring, then information availability is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Location data transmission occurs periodically rather than continuously. The microcontroller transmits accumulated location information at scheduled intervals or when triggered by movement events, then enters sleep mode. This periodic transmission maintains information availability for monitoring purposes while minimizing radio frequency power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from accelerometer sensors and location change detection to trigger transmissions only when necessary. When the container remains stationary and location data hasn't changed, the system suppresses transmissions and enters low-power mode. This feedback-based approach ensures information is transmitted when meaningful changes occur while avoiding redundant transmissions that would waste energy.
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 approach extends battery life and accurately tracks changes in container location and movement while minimizing power consumption, allowing the system to remain deployed for longer periods.
Implementation Method 1
determine its location, for example via a satellite navigation transceiver
Implementation Method 2
an accelerometer sensor, the like, or any other suitable sensor
Data Source
AI summary
Container tracking systems and related methods. A container tracking assembly comprises a processor having a powered-off state and a sleep state, at least one sensor, a radio frequency transceiver, and a power source in electrical communication with the processor, the at least one sensor, and the radio frequency transceiver. Additionally, the container tracking assembly comprises a non-transitory memory having instructions stored thereon, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, are operative to acquire, via the radio frequency transceiver, a current location of the container and cause the processor to enter the powered-off state if the current location of the container does not differ from a previously-acquired location of the container by more than a threshold amount. If the current location of the container differs from the previously-acquired location of the container by more than the threshold amount, the processor enters the sleep state for a first period of time.