RF Mesh Occupant Tracking for Industrial Facility Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Monitoring and managing complex industrial facilities, which include both static and dynamic occupants, is challenging due to the need for precise location tracking and data collection from various sources within and outside the facility.
Innovation Solution
A radiofrequency (RF) mesh system is deployed, comprising RF mesh extenders affixed to building structures and external facilities, forming a network to receive signals from RF emitters on occupants, allowing for triangulation to determine coordinates and unify data for enhanced monitoring and management, including control signals and notifications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional monitoring systems are used in industrial facilities, then basic facility management is possible, but precise location tracking and comprehensive data collection from multiple sources become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The monitoring system is segmented into multiple distributed RF mesh extenders deployed throughout the facility, each independently tracking occupants in its local zone. This segmentation enables precise location tracking without requiring a single complex centralized system, as each extender handles only local monitoring tasks while contributing to overall facility-wide tracking capability.
Solution Approach 2:
RF emitters are introduced as intermediary devices attached to occupants, serving as mediators between the occupants and the mesh extender network. These emitters enable the extenders to accurately determine occupant locations and collect occupant data without requiring direct complex interaction between the monitoring system and diverse occupant types.
2Area of stationary object
If a comprehensive monitoring system covers both indoor and outdoor areas, then complete facility coverage is achieved, but system complexity and deployment difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The RF mesh extender is designed as a universal device that functions identically both indoors and outdoors, monitoring the same types of occupants in both environments. This multi-functionality allows the same hardware and software to provide comprehensive coverage across the entire facility without requiring separate specialized systems for indoor and outdoor areas, simplifying deployment while achieving complete coverage.
3Loss of information
If multiple data sources from various occupants are collected, then comprehensive facility data is obtained, but data integration and processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Data from multiple RF emitters and various occupant types is merged into a unified format by the mesh extenders and central system. All location data, occupant identifiers, and monitoring information are combined into a single integrated dataset that can be processed uniformly, reducing the complexity that would otherwise arise from handling multiple separate data streams from diverse sources.
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 RF mesh system enables precise location tracking and data collection, facilitating improved management and decision-making by providing real-time data and control inputs for facility occupants both within and outside the building, enhancing operational efficiency and safety.
Implementation Method 1
receive signals from RF emitters which are coupled to various occupants of the facility
Implementation Method 2
determine coordinates of a facility occupant based upon a triangulation of the signals received from the different RF mesh extenders
Data Source
AI summary
An industrial facility monitoring system may include a matrix of radiofrequency (RF) mesh extenders and a processing unit. Each of the RF mesh extenders is fixed to building structures of a facility and located throughout an interior of the facility. Each of the RF mesh extenders is to receive signals from RF emitters coupled to facility occupants. The processing unit receives signals from the RF mesh extenders and determines coordinates of a facility occupant based upon a triangulation of the signals from the matrix of RF mesh extenders.