Gravimetric Sensor System for Energy-Efficient Warehouse Monitoring
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing storage systems for monitoring logistic systems are complex to install and require extensive power and data lines, leading to high energy consumption and inflexibility, making them unsuitable for retrofitting in existing warehouses.
Innovation Solution
A gravimetric sensor system that consumes minimal energy when weight remains unchanged, using additional sensors only when changes occur, and incorporating energy-efficient identification methods like RFID or optical sensors, allowing for flexible installation and operation with reduced energy usage and frequent data transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If additional sensors are added for unambiguous identification of stored goods, then identification accuracy is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The identification sensor operates periodically or on-demand rather than continuously, being activated only when weight changes indicate goods movement. This reduces energy consumption while maintaining identification accuracy when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The gravimetric sensor triggers the identification sensor automatically when it detects weight changes, eliminating the need for continuous operation of the identification sensor and reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining measurement precision.
2Duration of action of moving object
If detection devices are equipped with energy storage, then operational autonomy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates detection functions into two independent modules: gravimetric sensing for weight monitoring and identification sensing for goods recognition. This modular approach reduces overall device complexity while enabling operational autonomy through selective activation.
Solution Approach 2:
The gravimetric sensor acts as an intermediary that triggers the identification sensor only when necessary. This mediation reduces the operational burden on the identification sensor, allowing it to function with energy storage while maintaining simplicity.
3Reliability
If supply lines are installed for power and data transmission, then system reliability is improved, but installation complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical/electrical supply lines with wireless communication technology for data transmission and power transfer. This substitution maintains system reliability through wireless connectivity while dramatically reducing installation complexity and cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The detection device integrates multiple functions (weight sensing, identification, wireless communication, and power management) into a single unit, eliminating the need for separate supply lines and reducing installation complexity while maintaining reliable operation.
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 energy-efficient monitoring with reduced energy consumption, flexible installation, and unambiguous identification of stored goods, facilitating easy integration into existing warehouses without extensive cabling, and allowing for efficient warehouse management and optimization.
Implementation Method 1
Measuring weight, with a suitable gravimetric sensor design, consumes little to no energy when the weight remains constant.
Implementation Method 2
The use of a radio sensor, an RFID detection sensor
Implementation Method 3
an optical sensor (especially barcode and QR code readers)
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The invention relates to a storage system and a method for monitoring logistics systems, having at least one storage area for stored goods and having at least one detection arrangement that is assigned to the storage area for identifying the stored goods stored in the storage area, said detection arrangement comprising at least one weight sensor (6) and at least one further sensor (7) for identifying the stored goods, wherein the weight sensor (6) is linked to the further sensor (7) and wherein the weight sensor (6) is embodied to trigger a recognition process by the further sensor (7) if the measured weight changes. The problem of providing a system and a method for monitoring logistics systems which can be operated so as to save as much energy as possible and which can be installed easily in existing stores without needing a large-scale installation of supply and data lines, and which facilitates a storage arrangement that is as flexible as possible and easily modifiable is solved by virtue of an interface that is separable when operated as intended being arranged between the detection arrangement and storage area such that the detection arrangement is separable from the storage space and consequently mobile.