Sensor-Integrated Pallet Sled for Delivery Validation and Usage Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current pallet delivery systems lack efficient tracking and validation of pallets and their contents, leading to potential errors in delivery and asset management, as well as inadequate monitoring of usage and maintenance needs.
Innovation Solution
A pallet sled equipped with a processor, RFID reader, GPS receiver, load wheels, and sensors to track and validate pallets, determine correct delivery locations, monitor usage, and facilitate data transmission to a remote server for centralized management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual pallet tracking and validation methods are used, then device complexity is low, but delivery accuracy and asset management reliability deteriorate due to potential errors
Solution Approach 1:
The pallet sled is transformed into a multi-functional device that combines traditional mechanical pallet moving capabilities with integrated RFID readers, GPS receivers, weight sensors, and data processing systems. This single device simultaneously performs pallet transport, identification, location tracking, weight measurement, and data transmission functions, thereby improving delivery accuracy and asset management reliability without requiring multiple separate systems
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables automatic self-validation of pallet contents and delivery locations through integrated sensors and processors that autonomously read RFID tags, determine GPS coordinates, measure weights, and communicate with remote servers without requiring manual verification, thus enhancing reliability while keeping the operational interface simple
2Measurement precision
If comprehensive tracking and monitoring systems are implemented, then measurement precision of pallet location and usage is improved, but device complexity increases due to multiple sensors and processors
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple measurement and tracking functions are merged into a single integrated system on the pallet sled. The RFID reader, GPS receiver, weight sensors, and processors are combined and coordinated by a central control system, allowing precise measurement of pallet location, identification, and weight while avoiding the complexity of multiple independent tracking systems
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated sensor system serves multiple functions simultaneously: RFID readers identify pallet contents, GPS receivers track location, weight sensors monitor load, and all data is processed and transmitted together. This multi-functional approach achieves comprehensive measurement precision without requiring separate dedicated systems for each measurement type
3Loss of information
If data transmission and centralized management systems are added, then information availability for asset management is improved, but loss of energy increases due to communication circuits and processors
Solution Approach 1:
The data transmission system operates periodically rather than continuously, transmitting pallet identification, location, and weight data to remote servers at scheduled intervals or at key events such as delivery confirmation. This periodic communication maintains information availability for asset management while significantly reducing energy consumption compared to continuous data transmission
Data Source
AI summary
A pallet sled includes a pair of tines extending forward from a base. A load wheel supports each of the pair of tines. The load wheels are each configured to move away from the respective tine to lift the respective tine upward relative to a support surface on which the load wheel is supported. A processor on the pallet sled records usage of the sled, such as lift cycles, location over time, battery condition, lift height, weight lifted, distance traveled, and the like. A communication circuit may be configured to send data from the pallet sled to a remote server. An identification reader may be configured to read an identification tag of an object supported on the pair of tines, such as an rfid tag on a pallet.