IoT Asset Tracker Clustering for Low-Power Location Reporting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Asset tracking systems face a trade-off between location accuracy, reporting frequency, and battery life, with redundant communication contributing significantly to power consumption.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a cluster tracking method using low-power radios for asset trackers to determine proximity, coordinating communication through a higher power radio, and establishing a connection for data aggregation to reduce power requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple asset trackers communicate autonomously with remote cloud services using higher power radios, then location reporting frequency and reliability are improved, but battery power is wasted due to redundant communication
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple asset trackers that are geographically close and traveling together are merged into a single communication cluster. Instead of each tracker independently communicating with the cloud, one designated tracker communicates on behalf of the entire cluster, eliminating redundant communications while maintaining reliable location reporting.
Solution Approach 2:
A designated leader tracker acts as an intermediary between the cluster of asset trackers and the remote cloud service. The leader collects location data from all cluster members and transmits aggregated data to the cloud, reducing the total communication power consumption while maintaining reporting reliability.
2Reliability
If each asset tracker independently communicates with the cloud service, then individual tracking reliability is maintained, but power consumption increases due to lack of coordination
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where trackers continuously monitor their geographic proximity to other trackers. When trackers detect they are within cluster formation distance, they automatically join the cluster communication protocol, providing feedback-driven dynamic adjustment of communication behavior to eliminate redundancy.
Solution Approach 2:
The communication architecture dynamically adapts based on the spatial distribution and movement of asset trackers. Trackers transition between autonomous and clustered communication modes depending on their real-time geographic relationships with other trackers, optimizing power consumption while maintaining tracking reliability.
3Measurement precision
If asset trackers use higher power radios for frequent location reporting, then location accuracy and reporting frequency are improved, but battery life is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Location measurements from multiple trackers within a cluster are aggregated and averaged to improve overall location accuracy. By combining data from multiple sources, the system achieves higher measurement precision while each individual tracker uses lower power radios and communicates less frequently.
Data Source
AI summary
In one aspect, a computerized method for electing an asset tracker to communicate the location of each asset tracker in a cluster of asset trackers comprising: detecting an n-number of asset trackers within a low power radio range and form a cluster of these asset trackers; polling the n-number of asset trackers for one or more attributes of each asset tracker; based on an optimization of the one or more attributes of each asset tracker, electing an asset tracker to collect all the asset tracking and location data from the other asset trackers in the n-number of asset trackers; and communicating the collecting of all the asset tracking and location data to a remote server system.