Data Logger Sensor Monitoring for Cold Container Logistics Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current logistics systems fail to provide real-time location tracking of goods during transportation, especially for perishable items like fresh food, leading to difficulties in maintaining freshness and incurring high logistics costs due to the need for temperature-controlled infrastructure and packaging, which deters consumers from online purchases.
Innovation Solution
A data logger equipped in cold containers determines normal or abnormal states based on sensor thresholds for acceleration and rotation angle, generating log information to track the condition of goods in real-time, using a first and second portable reader and a server to transmit normal or abnormal data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If real-time location tracking and monitoring are implemented during transportation, then the current location of goods can be identified in real-time, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple monitoring functions (location tracking via GPS, temperature monitoring via sensors, and shock/tilt detection via accelerometers) into a single integrated data logger device. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate tracking systems, reducing overall device complexity while enabling comprehensive real-time monitoring of goods during transportation.
2Reliability
If temperature-controlled infrastructure and refrigerated vehicles are established to maintain freshness, then the freshness of perishable goods can be maintained, but the logistics costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors temperature, shock, and tilt conditions during transportation and transmits this data to a server. This feedback mechanism allows real-time identification of conditions that may compromise freshness, enabling proactive adjustments to prevent spoilage without requiring continuous expensive refrigeration, thereby reducing energy costs while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The data logger automatically monitors and records environmental conditions (temperature, shock, tilt) without requiring external intervention. This self-monitoring capability provides continuous freshness assurance through automated data collection and transmission, reducing the need for manual checking and expensive infrastructure while maintaining high reliability in freshness maintenance.
3Reliability
If comprehensive sensor monitoring is implemented to detect abnormal states, then the freshness of goods can be ensured, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple sensing functions (temperature sensing, acceleration detection, tilt angle measurement) are integrated into a single data logger unit with unified processing logic. This merging approach ensures comprehensive freshness monitoring through multiple sensors while managing device complexity through integrated design and centralized data processing.
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
Enables real-time monitoring of perishable goods, reducing logistics costs and enhancing consumer confidence by ensuring freshness, thus improving the delivery experience.
Implementation Method 1
a sensor which senses an acceleration and a rotation angle of the data logger
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a method of providing logistics information. A method of providing logistics information using a data logger equipped in a cold container for storing goods, a first portable reader, a second portable reader, and a server, including receiving, by the data logger, configuration information including a start time and a sensing period of the data logger, and threshold values of a gravitational acceleration and a rotation angle for the data logger from the first portable reader, starting, by the data logger, operation from the start time, comparing output values of a sensor of the data logger with the threshold values, and determining whether an abnormal state occurs in the data logger according to a result of the comparison, generating and transmitting to the server, by the data logger, normal log information at each of the sensing period when the abnormal state does not occur in the data logger, and generating and transmitting to the server, by the data logger, abnormal log information whenever the abnormal state occurs regardless of the sensing period.