IoT Tags Enforcing Proximity Rules
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for enforcing proximity rules, such as those for chemical storage and safety, rely on manual intervention and are not automated, leading to potential hazards due to incorrect item placement or separation.
Innovation Solution
The use of Internet of Things (IoT) tags equipped with rule sets that determine the proximity of items and alert users or systems when proximity rules are violated, allowing for automatic enforcement of 'keep apart' and 'keep together' policies across various environments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual intervention is used to enforce proximity rules, then flexibility and adaptability are maintained, but reliability and safety are compromised due to human error and lack of automation
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service by having IoT tags automatically monitor proximity between items and trigger alerts without human intervention. The tags independently evaluate proximity rules and notify users when violations occur, eliminating the need for manual checking while maintaining high reliability through automated enforcement.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring item proximity through IoT tags and providing real-time notifications when proximity rules are violated. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures reliable rule enforcement by immediately alerting users to compliance issues, allowing for prompt corrective action.
2Reliability
If IoT tags with automatic monitoring are deployed, then reliability and safety are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the monitoring function into separate IoT tags attached to individual items, with each tag independently tracking its own proximity to other tagged items. This segmentation distributes the monitoring complexity across multiple simple units rather than requiring one complex centralized system, making the overall solution more manageable and scalable.
Solution Approach 2:
The IoT tags are designed as universal multi-functional devices that can track proximity, identify items, and communicate violations across different contexts. This universality allows the same tag design to serve multiple items and various proximity rules, reducing overall system complexity by avoiding the need for specialized monitoring equipment for each item type.
3Reliability
If continuous proximity monitoring is implemented, then safety and hazard prevention are improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The IoT tags perform proximity monitoring at periodic intervals rather than continuously, checking distances between items at scheduled times. This periodic action maintains effective hazard prevention by regularly detecting proximity violations while significantly reducing energy consumption compared to continuous monitoring, extending battery life and improving efficiency.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3
AI summary
An apparatus alerts on a distance between items. The apparatus includes a radio for communicating with an internet of things (IoT) tag on an item. A locator module determines a distance between two or more items, and an alertor module alerts a user to a violation of a proximity rule.