Enclosed-Space Human Presence Detection With Remote Sensor Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for detecting human presence in enclosed spaces, such as containers or trailers, rely solely on driver monitoring, which is risky and prone to collusion, and are easily bypassed by criminals, leading to security risks and financial losses.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising sensors within an enclosed space that detect environmental and activity parameters, communicating data to a remote computing system for anomaly detection, generating alerts without driver involvement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If driver monitoring is used for detecting human presence in containers, then the system complexity is low, but the reliability and security are poor due to driver collusion risks and inability to detect concealed occupants
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual driver monitoring with an automated sensor-based detection system. Environmental sensors (temperature, humidity, CO2) and activity sensors (motion, impact, door status) automatically detect human presence and anomalies, eliminating reliance on driver attention and preventing collusion. The system processes sensor data through algorithms that identify patterns indicative of concealed occupants.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a remote server as an intermediary between the container sensors and the monitoring system. The server receives sensor data, performs complex analysis to detect anomalies and human presence patterns, and generates alerts. This intermediary handles the computational complexity remotely, keeping the in-container system simple while achieving high detection reliability.
2Measurement precision
If simple CCTV arrangements are used for monitoring containers, then the device complexity is low, but the detection precision is insufficient as criminals can easily bypass these systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple types of sensors (environmental sensors measuring temperature, humidity, CO2 levels and activity sensors detecting motion, impact, and door status) into an integrated detection system. By merging data from these diverse sensors, the system achieves high detection precision through pattern recognition, making it difficult for criminals to bypass since they would need to evade multiple simultaneous detection methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent monitors changes in environmental parameters (temperature, humidity, CO2 concentration) and activity parameters (motion detection, impact forces, door opening/closing events). By detecting anomalies in these parameters and their rates of change, the system achieves high precision in identifying human presence and unauthorized activities, going beyond simple visual detection.
3Productivity
If driver monitoring is required for container security, then the ease of operation is maintained, but the loss of time increases due to driver delays and potential cargo losses
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous monitoring of the container interior through deployed sensors that operate throughout the entire transport journey. Environmental and activity sensors continuously collect data, and the remote server continuously analyzes this data stream, ensuring uninterrupted detection capability. This eliminates gaps in monitoring that occur with periodic driver checks, maintaining continuous security without slowing transport.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-monitoring and self-detection without requiring driver intervention. The sensors automatically detect anomalies and the remote server autonomously analyzes data and generates alerts. This self-service capability eliminates time loss associated with driver response, as the system independently identifies and reports issues, allowing drivers to maintain normal transport schedules.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If the driver is solely responsible for monitoring container security, then the ease of operation is high, but the object-affected harmful factors increase due to driver safety risks when dealing with potential stowaways
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the monitoring and detection function from the driver's responsibilities and transfers it to an automated sensor system and remote server. The driver no longer needs to physically inspect containers or confront potential stowaways, as the system automatically detects human presence and alerts authorities. This extraction eliminates the harmful safety risks while the system handles operational complexity remotely.
Solution Approach 2:
The remote server acts as an intermediary that handles the complex analysis of sensor data and coordination of responses. Instead of drivers directly dealing with potential security issues, the server processes information and generates appropriate alerts to relevant parties. This intermediary role protects drivers from safety risks while maintaining operational effectiveness through automated decision support.
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed herein is a system for detecting human presence within an enclosed space. The system comprises: a detection unit for positioning within an enclosed space, and a remote computing system. The detection unit comprises one or more human presence detecting sensors configured to detect parameters within the enclosed space associated with human presence, a data processor and a wireless data transceiver. The one or more human presence detecting sensors are configured to communicate sensor signals to the data processor. The data processor is configured to process the sensor signals to generate sensor data corresponding to the sensor signals and control the wireless data transceiver to communicate the sensor data to the remote computing system. In use the remote computing system has running thereon software providing a human presence detection function configured to process the sensor data to determine if the sensor data is potentially indicative of human presence within the enclosed space, and if so, generate a corresponding alert .