Laboratory Utilization Monitoring via Smart Plugs and BLE
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Solution Overview
Problem
Managers of large laboratories face challenges in understanding and optimizing space layout and equipment usage due to a lack of robust information on actual utilization, making it difficult to maximize productivity and adapt to shifting research priorities.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that calculate combined utilization scores for laboratory spaces by tracking equipment and occupancy data, using network-connected plugs to measure resource consumption and Bluetooth Low Energy badges to track occupant positions, providing a graphical user interface to display these metrics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional manual tracking methods are used for laboratory equipment and occupancy, then implementation complexity is low, but measurement precision and data reliability are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs multi-functional components: smart plugs simultaneously measure power consumption and provide equipment location tracking; Bluetooth beacons enable both occupancy detection and equipment monitoring; the centralized platform integrates multiple data types (power, occupancy, equipment status) into a unified utilization scoring system. This multi-functionality approach achieves high measurement precision without proportionally increasing system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediary devices that bridge manual tracking and automated monitoring: smart plugs act as intermediaries between electrical outlets and equipment; Bluetooth beacons serve as intermediaries between occupants and tracking systems; a centralized software platform mediates between various data sources and the utilization scoring algorithm. These intermediaries enable precise measurement while maintaining manageable system complexity through standardized interfaces.
2Productivity
If comprehensive equipment and occupancy tracking is implemented, then productivity optimization capability is improved, but loss of time for data collection and processing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements continuous automated data collection through smart plugs that continuously monitor power consumption, Bluetooth beacons that continuously track occupancy, and a centralized platform that continuously processes data and updates utilization scores. This eliminates manual data collection interruptions and provides real-time visibility into laboratory utilization, enabling immediate productivity optimization decisions without time loss for periodic data gathering.
Solution Approach 2:
The system establishes continuous feedback loops where utilization data is automatically collected, processed into scoring metrics, and presented through user interfaces to managers. This feedback mechanism enables real-time or near-real-time optimization of space allocation, equipment scheduling, and resource distribution, eliminating the time delay associated with manual assessment and enabling proactive productivity management.
3Measurement precision
If detailed resource consumption data is collected for all equipment, then utilization score accuracy is improved, but use of energy for data collection and processing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system leverages the equipment's own operational characteristics to generate utilization data: smart plugs measure power consumption that naturally reflects equipment usage patterns; Bluetooth beacons utilize existing mobile device batteries and processors for location tracking; the system processes data that is naturally generated by laboratory operations rather than requiring separate active sensing for each piece of equipment. This self-service approach minimizes additional energy consumption while maintaining high measurement precision.
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
This approach provides a holistic view of space utilization, enabling better space redesign, experiment scheduling, and equipment management, leading to more efficient laboratory operations.
Implementation Method 1
operating the set of laboratory equipment to consume electrical power via network-connected plugs and measuring, by the network-connected plugs, amounts of the electric power consumed by the set of laboratory equipment
Implementation Method 2
tracking positions of a plurality of beacons... detecting, by each of three or more transceivers, a distance between the transceiver and the beacon and performing a triangulation calculation based on the distances and the positions of the transceivers to determine a position of the beacon
Data Source
AI summary
A method includes defining a plurality of monitored spaces. For each of at least a subset of the plurality of monitored spaces, the method includes associating a set of laboratory equipment with the monitored space, calculating an equipment utilization score for the monitored space based on resource consumption data for the set of laboratory equipment, calculating an occupancy utilization score for the monitored space based on occupant tracking data for the monitored space, and calculating a combined utilization score based on the equipment utilization score and the occupancy utilization score. The method also includes providing a graphical user interface comprising the combined utilization scores for the subset of the plurality of monitored spaces.