Smart Load Carrier with Embedded Sensors for Environmental Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing load carriers for product displays lack the ability to monitor environmental conditions and track their position, which can lead to issues such as temperature exposure affecting perishable goods and inadequate placement in sales rooms, impacting sales and inventory management.
Innovation Solution
Integration of an electronic device with autonomous power and sensors on the load carrier to acquire environmental data, including temperature, acceleration, and presence of electronic devices, allowing for real-time monitoring and tracking of its position, without protruding from the carrier's surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If an electronic device with sensors is integrated into the load carrier, then environmental monitoring capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The electronic device with environmental sensors is integrated into the load carrier structure, merging monitoring functionality with the transport device. This combination allows environmental data collection without requiring separate external monitoring systems, thus improving measurement capability while managing complexity through integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The electronic device serves multiple functions: it monitors environmental conditions (temperature, humidity), tracks position and movement, and provides data for both quality control and logistics optimization. This multi-functionality justifies the added complexity by delivering comprehensive monitoring capabilities from a single integrated system.
2Ease of operation
If the electronic device is arranged on the load carrier without protruding, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The electronic device is nested within or flush with the load carrier structure, similar to how a doll is placed inside another doll. This nesting approach allows the device to be integrated without protruding beyond the external contours of the load carrier, maintaining ease of operation while housing the monitoring functionality within the existing structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The load carrier incorporates thin integrated circuits or sensor films that can be embedded in the deck surface without creating protrusions. These thin-film technologies allow environmental monitoring to be built into the load carrier itself, maintaining a smooth surface for easy handling while providing comprehensive monitoring capabilities.
3Reliability
If environmental data acquisition devices are added to monitor temperature and acceleration, then reliability of goods quality control is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Environmental sensors are pre-installed on the load carrier before goods are loaded. This preliminary action ensures that temperature and acceleration data are collected from the moment goods are placed on the carrier, providing continuous monitoring for quality control without requiring additional equipment at the destination or during transit.
Solution Approach 2:
The electronic device continuously monitors environmental conditions and provides feedback data about temperature exposure and mechanical stress. This feedback mechanism enables real-time quality assessment, allowing stakeholders to identify potential quality issues based on recorded environmental data, thus improving reliability through continuous monitoring and data-driven quality control.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates, inter alia, to a load carrier (10), in particular for a product display (11) in the form of a pallet, in particular made of plastic, in particular designed as a quarter pallet (12), comprising a deck (13) with a support surface (14) for goods (15), on the underside (19) of which a plurality of feet (1a, 18b, 18c, 18d) are arranged, wherein the load carrier comprises an electronic device (50) with an autonomous power supply (39), wherein the device (50) includes a device (31, 33) for recording environmental data, with which data and/or measured values from the environment of the load carrier can be determined, wherein the device (50) has a transmitter (42) for in particular autonomous remote data transmission, with which the recorded environmental data or information derived therefrom, and in particular identity information about the identity of the load carrier, can be transmitted to an external computer.