RFID Sensor Identification for Road Construction Equipment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless sensor systems for road construction equipment face challenges in identifying sensors due to the lack of physical wired connections, leading to costly repairs and time-consuming setup processes, as they cannot utilize traditional methods like analog input ports or CAN ID configurations.
Innovation Solution
A sensing system that employs a machine-readable medium, such as an RFID tag, on a mounting bracket for road construction vehicles, allowing a wireless sensor to read location data and transmit it to the master controller, eliminating the need for unique wireless receivers and manual configuration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of repair
If wireless sensors are used without physical wired connections, then cable damage and repair costs are eliminated, but sensor identification and configuration become complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a machine-readable medium (intermediary) that facilitates communication between the sensor and controller without requiring physical wired connections. This intermediary enables automatic sensor identification and configuration, resolving the complexity issue while maintaining the wireless advantage.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor system performs self-identification and self-configuration through the machine-readable medium, eliminating the need for manual configuration by workers. The sensor automatically provides its identity and parameters to the controller, reducing both complexity and time requirements.
2Ease of operation
If manual configuration switches and buttons are used on each sensor, then sensor identification is possible, but setup time increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The machine-readable medium enables the sensor to automatically provide its identification information to the controller without requiring manual configuration by workers. This self-service approach eliminates time-consuming manual setup while maintaining ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor's identification information is pre-encoded in the machine-readable medium during manufacturing. This preliminary action ensures that when the sensor is deployed, its configuration information is already prepared and can be automatically read by the controller, eliminating the need for time-consuming manual setup.
3Measurement precision
If unique wireless receivers are assigned to each sensor, then sensor identification is accurate, but system cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The machine-readable medium serves as an intermediary that provides accurate sensor identification information to the controller without requiring expensive unique wireless receivers for each sensor. This intermediary enables cost-effective yet precise sensor identification.
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 enables efficient identification and setup of wireless sensors, reducing time and costs by allowing sensors to be recognized at fixed locations without requiring unique receivers or manual configuration, thus streamlining daily operations.
Implementation Method 1
A wireless sensor is mounted on the mounting bracket and has a reading device such that when the wireless sensor is mounted to the bracket the reading device is able to scan and thus read the machine readable medium to receive location data from the medium
Data Source
AI summary
A sensing system for road construction equipment that includes a mounting bracket secured to a road construction vehicle that has an RFID tag. A wireless sensor is provided with an RFID reader so that when the wireless sensor is secured in the mounting bracket the RFID scanner is adjacent the RFID tag and scans and reads the RFID tag sending location information of the wireless sensor to a master controller.