Modular Environmental Sensing Assembly for Supply Chain Traceability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing environmental sensing technologies lack efficient and cost-effective solutions for monitoring perishable and high-value items throughout the logistics supply chain, particularly in terms of providing real-time environmental data communication and traceability to ensure quality and safety.
Innovation Solution
An electronic assembly equipped with a logic circuit, environmental sensor, memory, and wireless communicator that senses environmental changes, stores time-stamped data, and communicates with other assemblies, allowing for grouping and efficient data analysis, with features like sleep mode to conserve power and a communication range exceeding 1000 feet.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If environmental sensing assemblies are deployed throughout the supply chain to monitor perishable and high-value items, then quality assurance and traceability are improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the monitoring function into discrete, modular environmental sensing assemblies that can be independently deployed at various points in the supply chain. Each assembly is a self-contained unit with sensor, processor, and communication capabilities, allowing selective placement without requiring a complete system overhaul.
Solution Approach 2:
The environmental sensing assemblies are designed as multi-functional units that can monitor multiple environmental parameters (temperature, humidity, shock, light) and serve various purposes (quality assurance, theft detection, logistics tracking) across different industries and supply chain segments, reducing overall system complexity through standardization.
2Measurement precision
If continuous environmental monitoring is implemented across multiple assemblies, then data accuracy and traceability are improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The environmental sensing assemblies perform measurements at predetermined time intervals rather than continuously, with the processor activated periodically to sample environmental conditions and store data. This periodic operation maintains data accuracy for quality assurance while dramatically reducing power consumption during battery-operated periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The assemblies automatically manage their own power consumption by entering sleep modes between measurement cycles and only activating when environmental thresholds are exceeded or data needs to be communicated, eliminating the need for external power management and reducing overall energy usage.
3Productivity
If real-time communication between assemblies is enabled, then monitoring effectiveness and response time are improved, but loss of energy increases
Solution Approach 1:
Wireless communication between assemblies and with central systems occurs at predetermined intervals rather than in real-time, allowing data to be transmitted batch-wise. This periodic communication maintains monitoring effectiveness by ensuring data is eventually communicated while minimizing energy loss from continuous radio transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements event-driven communication where assemblies only initiate wireless transmission when environmental thresholds are exceeded or significant changes occur, rather than continuous broadcasting. This feedback-based approach ensures rapid response to critical conditions while conserving energy during normal operating conditions.
Data Source
AI summary
One apparatus embodiment includes an electronic assembly, equipped to sense one or more changes in an environmental condition. The assembly includes a logic circuit coupled to: one or more environmental sensors, memory that provides data storage, and a wireless communicator. The logic circuit is configured to perform time measurement, perform environmental measurement with the one or more environmental sensors, store time-stamped environmental data in the memory, and communicate with particular other electronic assemblies, equipped to sense one or more changes in an environmental condition, via the wireless communicator. The logic circuit is also coupled to a power source that provides power to at least one of the logic circuit and the wireless communicator.