RFID Overboard Detection System Using Segmented Hull Readers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing security systems for detecting a person falling overboard from a vessel often rely on immersion-based triggers, leading to false alarms and inefficiencies, particularly in scenarios where multiple individuals are on board, and struggle to accurately determine the time and location of the event.
Innovation Solution
A radio frequency identification (RFID) based system where passengers wear RFID tags and the vessel is equipped with RFID readers around the hull, allowing for real-time tracking and immediate detection of a person falling overboard, with the control unit recording the exact time and location for alarm activation and passenger accounting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If immersion-based triggers are used to detect a person overboard, then the system can detect when someone enters water, but it causes false alarms when people swim intentionally
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the detection process into two independent stages: first detecting the interruption of the person-overboard signal, and separately detecting the activation of the immersion trigger. The control unit then logically combines these two conditions to confirm a true overboard event, thereby eliminating false alarms from intentional swimming while maintaining detection accuracy.
2Reliability
If continuous monitoring of transmitters is implemented for vessels with large numbers of people, then all individuals can be tracked, but it requires excessive power supply and creates an overly complex receiver system
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuous monitoring, the system uses periodic signal transmission where each passenger's transmitter sends signals at intervals. The receiver monitors for the absence or interruption of these periodic signals, triggering an alarm only when a passenger fails to transmit as expected. This dramatically reduces power consumption and receiver complexity while maintaining reliable tracking of all passengers.
3Reliability
If transmitters are activated at all times for each passenger, then continuous tracking is possible, but it consumes a large amount of power supply
Solution Approach 1:
Each passenger transmitter is designed to send signals periodically rather than continuously. The transmitter can be in a low-power state between transmissions, activating only to send a signal at predetermined intervals. This periodic operation maintains the ability to track all passengers continuously while dramatically reducing the power consumption of each transmitter device.
4Reliability
If infrared sensors are used to detect light beam interruption, then a person falling overboard can be detected, but objects like water or birds can also trigger false alarms
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback by requiring confirmation from multiple independent detection conditions before triggering an alarm. The immersion trigger provides feedback that validates whether a signal interruption was caused by a person entering water (which would activate the immersion trigger) or by another object (which would not). This feedback mechanism eliminates false alarms from birds, water, or other non-person objects.
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
This solution provides accurate and immediate detection of a person overboard without false alarms, enabling swift rescue efforts and efficient passenger tracking, while minimizing power consumption and reducing complexity in monitoring multiple individuals.
Implementation Method 1
a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag worn by each passenger onboard a vessel, one or more RFID readers which are placed surrounding the hull of the vessel
Data Source
AI summary
A security system for automatically detecting and signaling the event of a person falling overboard from a vessel into a body of water includes a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag worn by each passenger onboard a vessel, one or more RFID readers placed surrounding the hull of the vessel, a control unit onboard the vessel wherein the RFID readers are individually connected, and an alarm system. When a person who is wearing the RFID tag falls overboard, he or she would inevitably pass through one or more of the RFID readers placed surrounding the hull of the vessel. One or more RFID readers read the information contained in the RFID tag, and said information is transmitted from the RFID reader to the control unit. The control unit records the time and location of the event, and activates an alarm system for facilitating the rescue of the person.