Object-Vehicle Association Tracking Using Weight and Tag Verification

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing warehouse tracking systems for object movements are prone to errors due to environmental conditions and equipment malfunctions, leading to inaccuracies in associating and disassociating objects with transportation vehicles, which disrupt operations and inventory management.

Innovation Solution

A system utilizing weight sensors and wireless tags to track objects and vehicles, with processors determining association based on distance and weight consistency, prompting user verification, and sending instructions for loading and unloading, thereby enhancing accuracy and reliability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If automated tracking systems use distance measurement and weight changes to determine association, then tracking capability is provided, but measurement precision deteriorates due to environmental conditions and equipment malfunctions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomated tracking capabilityVSAvoidassociation detection accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary verification process where a user confirms the actual loading status of objects. This intermediary step mediates between the automated system's distance/weight measurements and the final association determination, correcting errors caused by environmental conditions and equipment malfunctions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback by using user verification results to correct and refine the automated tracking data. The user confirmation provides feedback that validates or corrects the distance measurement and weight change data, improving measurement precision for subsequent tracking operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Measurement precision

If user verification is implemented to confirm object loading, then measurement precision improves, but productivity decreases due to additional manual steps

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassociation detection accuracyVSAvoidobject tracking efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary automated assessment of object-vehicle association using distance measurement and weight sensors before requiring user verification. This preliminary action filters out obvious cases and only requires user confirmation when the automated system detects uncertain or conflicting data, reducing the frequency of manual intervention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The automated tracking system performs self-verification through multiple sensors (distance sensors, weight sensors) and cross-references data internally before prompting the user. The system serves itself by detecting inconsistencies and only escalating to user verification when necessary, minimizing manual steps while maintaining precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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

Minimizes errors in object tracking by ensuring precise association and disassociation, optimizing warehouse operations, improving inventory management, and enhancing overall efficiency and productivity.

Implementation Method 1

a weight sensor configured to measure weight on the object carrier

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectWeight measurement:

Implementation Method 2

at least two tags providing locations of the object transport vehicle

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLocation tracking:

Data Source

PatentUS20250371483A1Systems and methods for object tracking

Publication Date: 2025.12.04 FEDEX FREIGHT INC

AI summary

A system for associating an object transport vehicle to an object includes an object transport vehicle, at least one processor, and at least one non-transitory memory storing instructions. The object transport vehicle includes an object carrier, a weight sensor configured to measure weight on the object carrier, and at least two first tags configured to providing locations of the object transport vehicle, which is configured to transport objects with a second tag. The method for associating the object transport vehicle to the object include receiving a first location and a first weight of a first object, receiving a vehicle location of the object transport vehicle, and determining that the first object and the object transport vehicle are associated from a distance between the object and the object transport vehicle, a weight change on the object carrier, and a user verification.