Trailer-Mounted Surveillance for Remote Fluid-Handling Sites
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional mobile surveillance systems are costly and inefficient for monitoring geographically distributed fluid-handling devices, such as those in remote oil wells and construction sites, due to high installation costs, unreliable power supplies, and impaired data connections, which hinder effective remote monitoring and control.
Innovation Solution
A surveillance system comprising a trailer-mounted camera with a cellular modem, a command center server, and solar power, allowing for low-cost, robust remote monitoring and control of fluid-handling devices through a web-based interface, even in areas with limited infrastructure, and integrating video feeds with site data for comprehensive site management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional mobile surveillance units are deployed at geographically distributed sites, then visual monitoring capability is provided, but installation and system integration costs become prohibitively expensive due to custom installation and training requirements for each site
Solution Approach 1:
The surveillance system is designed as a universal platform that can be deployed across multiple geographically distributed sites without custom installation. The system uses standard components including off-the-shelf cameras, solar panels, and cellular modems that can be rapidly deployed at any site. The command center server provides centralized management that works with any number of surveillance units, eliminating the need for site-specific customization and reducing installation costs while maintaining reliable visual monitoring capability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If surveillance units are deployed at remote sites without existing power infrastructure, then monitoring capability is extended to remote locations, but power supply reliability deteriorates due to lack of available power sources
Solution Approach 1:
The surveillance unit incorporates a self-sufficient power system using solar panels that charge onboard batteries. This allows the system to operate autonomously at remote sites without connection to external power infrastructure. The solar power system ensures continuous operation by charging batteries during daytime, which then power the surveillance equipment during nighttime or cloudy periods, maintaining reliable operation while enabling deployment at any remote location.
3Area of stationary object
If surveillance units are deployed at geographically remote sites, then monitoring coverage is expanded, but data transmission reliability deteriorates due to unreliable or low-bandwidth connections
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses cellular modems as intermediary devices to transmit video data from remote surveillance units to the command center server. The cellular network serves as a mediator that can communicate across geographic distances without requiring direct line-of-sight or dedicated infrastructure. The system is designed to work with existing cellular networks, using available bandwidth efficiently to transmit surveillance data reliably even from the most remote locations.
4Adaptability or versatility
If surveillance systems are deployed with custom installation and integration for each site, then site-specific monitoring requirements are met, but deployment time and training requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The surveillance system is pre-configured with all necessary components including cameras, solar panels, batteries, and cellular modems assembled into ready-to-deploy units. The command center server is pre-configured with software that automatically recognizes and integrates new surveillance units when they connect to the network. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for time-consuming custom installation and training at each site, allowing rapid deployment while maintaining the ability to meet site-specific monitoring requirements through software configuration rather than physical customization.
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
The system enables cost-effective, reliable remote monitoring and control of fluid-handling devices, reducing theft and vandalism, and improving operational efficiency by providing a comprehensive view of site activities through integrated video and data feeds, even in remote locations with limited resources.
Implementation Method 1
a solar panel coupled to the power storage device such that the solar panel charges the power storage device
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a surveillance system, including: a trailer having wheels, a mast, and a trailer towing coupler; a camera coupled to the mast; a cellular modem communicatively coupled to the camera and operative to transmit video captured by the camera; a command center server operative to remotely receive and store data describing operation of a fluid-handling device and to receive the transmitted video and send the video to a user in response to a request from a web browser of the user; a power storage device; and a solar panel coupled to the power storage device such that the solar panel charges the power storage device.