RFID Object Movement Direction Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Manual entry of product shipment information is prone to errors in supply chains, leading to incorrect delivery of goods, especially for perishable items, and existing barcode scanning systems fail to track all items accurately due to pallets being loaded and unloaded during transportation.
Innovation Solution
A system that uses object identifiers read in multiple areas to determine the movement and direction of objects, employing RFID tags and readers to track the entry and exit times of objects through defined reading areas, allowing for accurate monitoring of product movement within the supply chain.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual entry of shipment information is used, then data can be recorded, but errors occur leading to incorrect delivery
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables automatic tracking where the RFID tags and readers self-record movement data without human intervention. The objects themselves carry their identification information, and the system automatically captures when they enter and exit reading areas, eliminating the need for manual data entry while ensuring accurate tracking.
2Reliability
If barcode scanning is used to track products, then data entry errors are minimized, but the system cannot determine if all shipments are on the truck due to pallets being loaded and unloaded
Solution Approach 1:
The RFID reading areas are positioned to continuously monitor objects as they move through the loading/unloading process. Multiple reading areas capture the continuous movement of pallets and individual items, ensuring that the system always knows the current status of shipments regardless of loading/unloading operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides continuous feedback about object location by comparing readings from multiple reading areas. When an object enters a reading area, the system immediately updates its status, providing real-time information about whether shipments are on or off the truck, enabling immediate detection of any discrepancies.
Data Source
AI summary
An object identifier for an object is read in a first reading area and a second reading area. A time the object entered the first reading area and a time the object exited the first reading area is determined. Also, a time the object entered the second reading area and a time the object exited the second reading area is determined. A direction of movement of the object is determined based on at least some of the determined times.