Smart Glue Board Sensing for Condition-Based Fly Trap Maintenance
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Solution Overview
Problem
The pest control industry is labor-intensive due to the need for timely maintenance and replacement of consumables in traps, such as glue boards and light bulbs, which often requires immediate attention rather than regular schedules, leading to inefficiencies in trap performance.
Innovation Solution
A system that facilitates communication between traps and consumables using RFID tags or sensors to detect performance issues, allowing for real-time data capture and advisory messages to be sent to system operators when consumables need replacement, including sensors on glue boards to detect flying insects and light bulbs to monitor current or resistance levels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If consumables are replaced according to regular intervals, then maintenance scheduling is simplified, but trap performance deteriorates when consumables fail between scheduled maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback through sensors that continuously monitor consumable status (light bulb functionality, glue board coverage) and automatically communicate with the central system. This real-time feedback replaces manual scheduling with automated condition-based monitoring, resolving the contradiction by maintaining reliability through continuous awareness while simplifying operation through automated alerts and scheduling.
Solution Approach 2:
The trap system performs self-monitoring and self-reporting of consumable status without requiring manual inspection. The integrated sensors and communication systems enable the trap to autonomously assess its own condition and notify operators, eliminating the need for labor-intensive regular checks while ensuring timely maintenance.
2Reliability
If manual inspection of traps is performed frequently, then consumable status is monitored, but labor costs and time consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces manual mechanical inspection with automated electronic sensing and communication systems. Sensors detect consumable status (light bulb operation, glue board coverage levels) and automatically transmit data via RFID or other communication protocols, eliminating the need for physical manual checks while maintaining continuous monitoring capability.
Solution Approach 2:
An automated communication system acts as an intermediary between the trap and the central monitoring system. This intermediary automatically transmits status data and receives maintenance instructions, replacing the need for direct human inspection while ensuring reliable information flow about consumable status.
3Stability of the object's composition
If consumables are replaced early based on time schedules, then maintenance timing is standardized, but resource waste increases when consumables are still functional
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from static time-based replacement schedules to dynamic condition-based replacement timing. Sensors continuously assess actual consumable status (light bulb output, glue board coverage) and adjust maintenance timing accordingly, allowing consumables to be used until their actual functional limits are reached rather than adhering to fixed schedules, thereby reducing waste while maintaining consistency through automated monitoring.
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 system ensures timely and effective maintenance of traps by providing real-time auditable management, improving catch rates and extending warranty by ensuring consumables are replaced only when necessary, reducing labor-intensive checks and enhancing trap performance.
Implementation Method 1
the sensor is configured to detect flying insects by mutual capacitance sensing
Implementation Method 2
the sensor is designed and configured to generate a directional fringe field which is responsive to the flying insect
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The invention relates to a system (10) for facilitating communication between a trap (20) and a consumable (30), a glue board (32) for use in said system, a trap comprising said glue board and a method for determining a fly catch on the glue board (32). The glue board (32) comprises a back face (35) and a capture surface (37) having an adhesive (36) thereon and a sensor (100) is affixed to or is positioned in close proximity to the back face (35) of the glue board. The sensor (100) detects flying insects by mutual capacitance sensing and comprises a sensor conductor (12) which is a transmit electrode (Tx), and two electrically conductive un-grounded conductors (14a; 14b) which are receive electrodes (Rx).