System and method for measuring individual air pollutant exposure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air quality monitoring systems that rely solely on wearable devices or mobile phones are costly, complex, and ineffective for tracking pollutant exposure of individuals who do not use these devices, while systems that do not utilize mobile data are unnecessarily complex.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising air quality monitors with sensors, radar scanners, and RF scanners to detect individuals and correlate mobile device data with radar data to create unique personal signatures, which are then uploaded to a server for tracking and identifying individuals without relying on wearables or mobile phones.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a system uses only wearable devices to track individuals, then individual identification is achieved, but the system becomes expensive and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses mobile devices that occupants already possess for multiple purposes: identification tracking, air quality monitoring correlation, and communication. This eliminates the need for separate wearable identification devices, reducing system complexity while maintaining reliable individual identification through the mobile device's inherent capabilities
Solution Approach 2:
The system leverages the mobile device's own RF emissions and existing hardware components (antenna, processor, memory) to perform identification and communication functions. The mobile device essentially identifies itself through its natural RF signals, eliminating the need for additional active transponders or specialized wearables
2Reliability
If a system uses only wearable devices to track individuals, then individual identification is achieved, but the cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system repurposes the mobile device as a universal identification and communication tool, eliminating the need to purchase and deploy expensive specialized wearable trackers. By using the mobile device's existing RF capabilities for identification, the system achieves reliable tracking at minimal additional cost
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of requiring occupants to purchase specialized tracking wearables, the system uses the mobile device they already own as a copy/alternative identification medium. The mobile device's RF signature serves as a sufficient identifier, replacing the need for expensive dedicated tracking hardware
3Device complexity
If a system does not use mobile phone data, then privacy concerns are reduced, but the system becomes more complex than necessary
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts only the essential identification information (RF signature, device ID) from the mobile device data, rather than collecting comprehensive personal information. This selective extraction enables tracking functionality while minimizing data privacy concerns and simplifying the system's data handling requirements
4Measurement precision
If the system scans for mobile devices and radar data, then individual tracking accuracy is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The RF and radar scanners operate periodically at regular intervals rather than continuously, scanning for mobile devices and detecting living humans at scheduled times. This periodic operation maintains accurate individual identification capability while significantly reducing energy consumption compared to continuous scanning
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs scanning only when necessary for identification purposes, using partial action (intermittent scanning rather than continuous) to achieve sufficient tracking accuracy. The scanners activate at specific intervals to capture needed data points without the excessive energy expenditure of constant operation
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
Accurately tracks individual pollutant exposure by combining radar and RF data to create unique personal signatures, enabling precise concentration and time measurement, optimizing HVAC systems for improved air quality and energy efficiency while maintaining privacy.
Implementation Method 1
a radar scanner to detect living humans
Implementation Method 2
a RF scanner for detecting RF signals such as the signals emitted by a mobile phone
Data Source
AI summary
An air quality monitor connected to a server that can identify individual people as they move from room to room count the people in each room; the information is then used to determine each person's individual exposure to pollutants.