RFID Asset Tag for Personal Weapon Tracking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing tracking systems for durable assets, such as personal weapons, require complex disassembly and modification, and are vulnerable to physical and chemical damage, while also compromising the structural integrity and military specifications of the assets.

Innovation Solution

A tracking system that incorporates a durable asset tag with an RFID transponder, which can be easily installed in an externally exposed cavity of the asset without altering its structure, and is protected from damage by being housed within a removable plug of insulating material, allowing for wireless identification without affecting the asset's military specifications or maintenance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If an RFID transponder is mounted within a personal weapon using complex disassembly and modification, then tracking capability is achieved, but structural integrity and military specifications are compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetracking capabilityVSAvoidstructural integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The system divides the tracking function into a separate, removable asset tag component that can be independently installed and removed without modifying the weapon's structure. The asset tag contains the RFID transponder and can be attached to or removed from the weapon's externally exposed cavity, maintaining structural integrity while achieving tracking capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The asset tag acts as an intermediary component between the weapon and the tracking system. Instead of embedding the RFID transponder directly into the weapon's structure, the transponder is housed within the removable asset tag, which then interfaces with the weapon's externally exposed cavity, thereby achieving tracking without compromising structural integrity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If an RFID transponder is embedded directly in the durable asset, then tracking is enabled, but the transponder is vulnerable to physical and chemical damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetracking functionVSAvoidphysical and chemical damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The asset tag provides pre-established protection for the RFID transponder through its sealed cavity structure and removable design. The transponder is housed within the protected environment of the asset tag cavity, which can be sealed to protect against chemical agents like cleaning solvents and physical damage, while still enabling tracking functionality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Reliability

If the durable asset is disassembled and modified to install tracking, then tracking capability is achieved, but installation time and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetracking capabilityVSAvoidinstallation time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The asset tag is prepared in advance as a complete, self-contained unit with the RFID transponder already installed and configured. This preliminary preparation allows the asset tag to be installed as a single component into the weapon's externally exposed cavity without requiring time-consuming disassembly or modification of the weapon during the tracking installation process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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

Enables efficient and secure tracking of durable assets without altering their structural integrity or maintenance procedures, providing protection from physical and chemical damage, and allowing for easy replacement or redundancy of RFID transponders.

Implementation Method 1

an RFID transponder capable of wireless communication for uniquely identifying the durable asset

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRFID (Radio Frequency Identification): Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP3577410B1Tracking system for a durable asset in the form of a personal weapon and corresponding method

Publication Date: 2022.11.30 IMPACT RESOURCES INC

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AI summary

A tracking system (20) for durable assets such as personal weapons (22) is provided. The tracking system (20) includes a durable asset tag (84) including an RFID transponder physically mounted within an externally exposed cavity of the durable asset (22), and an identification card (32) with a machine-readable unique identifier associated with a person. The system also includes first (40) and second (48) databases, each storing information The durable asset tag (84) may be original to the durable asset (22) or retrofitted thereto after manufacture. Multiple durable asset tags (84) may be associated with a durable asset (22) to provide increased range and reliability, and to reduce the likelihood of tampering. Methods are also provided for associating unique identifiers with a durable asset (22), tagging the durable asset (22), and checking in and checking out the durable asset (22).