Welding Asset Tracking Network for Direction and Removal Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
In large welding environments, distinguishing and locating specific welding assets is challenging due to their similarity, leading to inefficiencies in asset allocation and increased costs from lost, misplaced, or stolen assets.
Innovation Solution
A welding asset tracking system utilizing an asset tracking network with tags, hubs, and gateways that continuously monitor and communicate the identity, location, and usage of welding assets, enabling the determination of travel directions and ingress/egress from welding areas, and allowing for centralized management and authorization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If welding assets are tracked using manual identification methods, then the system complexity remains low, but the time required to locate and manage assets increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical identification methods with an automated electronic tracking system using RFID tags, readers, and a centralized database. This substitution eliminates the need for physical inspection and manual record-keeping, dramatically reducing the time required to locate and manage welding assets while accepting the introduction of electronic tracking infrastructure.
2Reliability
If welding assets are monitored continuously across multiple environments, then asset security and allocation efficiency improve, but the cost and complexity of the tracking system increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal tracking system where RFID tags and readers can operate across multiple welding environments and facilities. The centralized database serves as a multi-functional repository that tracks assets across different locations, job sites, and storage areas, allowing the same infrastructure to support tracking reliability across diverse environments without requiring separate systems for each location.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces RFID tags as intermediary devices attached to welding assets, which serve as mediators between the physical asset and the electronic tracking system. These tags enable automatic identification and tracking without requiring direct line-of-sight or complex interaction between readers and assets, simplifying the overall system architecture while improving tracking reliability across multiple environments.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If RFID tags are switched to control asset activation, then asset security and unauthorized use prevention improve, but the system complexity and energy management requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-configuring RFID tags with switching means that can be remotely activated or deactivated. The system establishes control protocols in advance that allow authorized users to enable or disable tag functionality before assets are moved or used. This preliminary setup enables security control without requiring complex real-time decision-making systems, as the switching capability is prepared in advance and can be activated through simple remote commands.
Data Source
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AI summary
A system for and a method of welding asset movement tracking are disclosed. The welding asset tracking system comprises an asset tracking network of tags, hubs, and/or gateways retained by welding assets (200b) within a welding area (300). Directions of travel (306a-b) of monitored assets (200b) is determined by comparing the order in which assets (200b) are identified by the asset tracking network. The travel directions (306a-b), travel paths, and/or ingress and egress of tracked assets (200b) from welding areas (300) are stored for subsequent analysis and/or retrieval. Additionally or alternatively, functionality of tracked assets (200b) may be disabled and/or enabled based on whether the assets (200b) are authorized to be removed from a designated area (300).