Vehicle Cargo-Space Capture for Tool Billing and Replenishment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems fail to efficiently capture and bill tool usage and consumable material usage during manual activities outside a workshop, particularly in mobile settings, and do not facilitate timely replenishment of materials.
Innovation Solution
A device comprising a capture device, position-determining device, identification device, and transfer device integrated into a vehicle's cargo space to track tools and consumables, record spatial positions and occupant identities, and transfer data to an evaluation unit for billing and material replenishment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual tracking of tools and consumable material is used, then device complexity is reduced, but productivity and billing accuracy deteriorate due to time-consuming manual recording
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically captures tool and material data without manual intervention. The capture device in the cargo space automatically detects when tools or consumable material are placed into or removed from the vehicle, and the position-determining device automatically records spatial positions and routes, eliminating the need for manual tracking and enabling efficient billing
Solution Approach 2:
Manual mechanical tracking methods are replaced with electronic detection systems. The capture device uses automatic sensing mechanisms to detect tool and material movements, while the position-determining device uses electronic positioning technology to track vehicle locations, replacing traditional manual logging with automated electronic capture
2Measurement precision
If comprehensive tracking of tool usage and material consumption is implemented, then billing accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases due to multiple sensors and data collection components
Solution Approach 1:
The capture device serves multiple functions: it detects both tools and consumable material, determines their movement in and out of the cargo space, and triggers billing processes. The evaluation unit consolidates data from multiple sources (capture device, position-determining device, identification device) to perform comprehensive billing and inventory management, reducing the need for separate specialized systems
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple tracking functions are merged into integrated devices. The capture device combines detection capabilities for both tools and consumable material in one unit. The evaluation unit merges data processing, billing calculation, and inventory management functions into a single system that consolidates information from all data collection devices
3Loss of time
If automatic data capture and billing preparation is implemented, then time for billing and material replenishment is reduced, but initial setup complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary data capture and organization automatically during tool and material handling. Data is captured in advance at the point of use, and the evaluation unit prepares billing information before the vehicle returns to the workshop, eliminating the need for post-job billing compilation and enabling timely material replenishment
Data Source
AI summary
A device for capturing deliverables and/or consumable material for manual activities in mobile use outside a workshop includes a capture device which is arranged in the region of a cargo space of a vehicle and is intended to capture tools and/or consumable material placed into the cargo space of the vehicle and/or removed from the cargo space of the vehicle. The device further includes a position-determining device in or on the vehicle for recording a spatial position of the vehicle or a route of the vehicle, an identification device in or on the vehicle for identifying occupants of the vehicle and a transfer device for transferring the acquired information to an evaluation unit.