Micro RF Transponders for Explosives Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods fail to effectively track and identify explosives throughout their entire life cycle, especially electric detonators, due to safety concerns and inefficiencies in monitoring and tracing their origin and movement, as existing tracking systems can inadvertently activate explosives and lack comprehensive coverage.
Innovation Solution
Embedding or fixing micro RF transponders of submicroscopic size within the explosives or their packaging during manufacture, allowing for worldwide localization and identification, which remain passive until interrogated and are designed to be safe for use around explosives, enabling remote tracking from manufacturing to usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional tracking methods (shipping documents, inventory lists) are used to monitor explosives, then documentation can be maintained, but the system cannot effectively track and detect explosives in real-time and may be fraudulent or improper
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual documentation systems (shipping documents, inventory lists) with an automated electronic tracking system using micro RF transponders embedded in explosives and readers positioned at checkpoints. This substitution eliminates fraudulent documentation while enabling real-time tracking and detection of explosives throughout their lifecycle.
2Reliability
If electronic tracking apparatus is provided for electric detonators, then tracking capability is improved, but the transmissions may inadvertently ignite the explosives
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the operational parameters of the tracking system by using passive RF transponders that only respond to interrogation signals rather than active transmitters that continuously emit signals. The transponders are designed to remain dormant until activated by a reader, at which point they transmit only brief identification data. This parameter change eliminates the risk of inadvertent ignition while maintaining tracking capability.
3Measurement precision
If micro RF transponders are embedded in explosives for tracking, then tracking precision and identification capability are improved, but the device size and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs extremely small, inexpensive micro RF transponders (comparable in size to a grain of sand) that can be easily embedded in explosives. These disposable transponders provide precise tracking information when interrogated by readers at checkpoints, airports, or borders. Their low cost and minimal size allow widespread deployment without significantly increasing system complexity, as the readers handle all processing functions.
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
The micro RF transponders provide efficient and safe tracking of explosives, allowing for precise identification of location, type, manufacture, and origin, even at long distances, and remain undetectable to the unaided eye, ensuring continuous monitoring without affecting the functionality of the explosives.
Implementation Method 1
a micro RF transponder (100) that responds to an interrogation signal with an identification signal
Data Source
AI summary
Stolen or lost explosives are detected by fixing micro RF transmitters in the form of RFID tags to the explosive packaging or embedding them in the explosive material itself. Moreover, the subject microradio transponders may be contained in an adhesive binder or slurry. The identity of the explosive, its place of manufacture and ownership is detectable by RFID tag interrogators strategically located along commonly used roads or railways in which the RFID tags scavenge energy from interrogation beams, with the RFID tags indicating the identity of the explosive and its origin.