Fuel Dispensing Terminal Anomaly Detection for Flow Tampering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fuel dispensing terminals lack effective mechanisms for detecting anomalies and preventing malicious manipulation of fuel dispensing operations, leading to potential fuel loss and system degradation.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for anomaly detection at fuel dispensing terminals, which involves monitoring the pulser rod and meter component for discrepancies in fuel flow measurements, and automatically stopping the fuel dispensing operation if an anomalous or malicious activity is detected.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional fuel dispensing terminals are used without anomaly detection mechanisms, then the system is simple and easy to operate, but the system becomes vulnerable to malicious manipulation and fuel loss
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by monitoring fuel flow rates and detecting anomalies before they can cause significant fuel loss or damage. The anomaly detection mechanism continuously checks for discrepancies between expected and actual fuel dispensing patterns, enabling early intervention to prevent malicious manipulation from succeeding.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms by continuously monitoring fuel flow rates and comparing them against expected parameters. When anomalies are detected, the system provides feedback by triggering alerts and automatically stopping the dispensing operation, creating a closed-loop control system that enhances security while maintaining operational simplicity.
2Loss of substance
If anomaly detection and automatic stopping mechanisms are implemented, then fuel loss and system damage are prevented, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-service by automatically detecting anomalies and stopping the dispensing operation without requiring external intervention. The built-in monitoring and control mechanisms enable the system to protect itself and prevent fuel loss autonomously, reducing the need for additional external security systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces complex mechanical security measures with electronic and software-based anomaly detection mechanisms. By using sensors, processors, and algorithms to monitor and detect malicious manipulation, the system achieves enhanced security with less physical complexity compared to traditional mechanical protection systems.
3Measurement precision
If the pulser rod rotation speed is monitored continuously, then measurement precision is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs periodic action by monitoring the pulser rod rotation speed at regular intervals rather than continuously. This approach maintains adequate measurement precision for detecting anomalies while significantly reducing energy consumption compared to continuous monitoring, achieving an optimal balance between accuracy and efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
A system detects a fuel dispensing operation that indicates fuel is being dispensed from the fuel dispensing terminal. The system determines an identifier value associated with a volume of fuel dispensed from the fuel dispensing terminal. The system determines a measured volume per unit time parameter associated with the fuel dispensed from the fuel dispensing terminal by dividing the determined identifier value by a unit parameter. The system compares the measured volume per unit time parameter with a threshold volume per unit time parameter. In response to determining that the measured volume per unit time parameter is less than the threshold volume per unit time parameter, the system communicates an electronic signal to the fuel dispensing terminal that instructs the fuel dispensing terminal to stop dispensing fuel.