Wheeled Platform Load And Location Tracking With Periodic Wake Cycles
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Fleets of nonautomotive platforms, such as trolleys and dollies, are difficult to track and monitor due to the lack of on-board power sources and cost-effective, long-lasting battery-operated devices for data communication.
Innovation Solution
A load and location tracking system using battery-operated IoT devices with low-power communication protocols, comprising a load monitor and a location tracker, equipped with various sensors and synchronized clocks, to wirelessly transmit and receive load and location data efficiently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If battery-operated devices are used for tracking wheeled platforms, then portability and ease of installation are improved, but energy consumption increases and battery life becomes limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic action by having the load monitor transmit data at specific intervals rather than continuously. The location tracker enters sleep mode between receptions and only activates when a transmission is detected, creating a periodic operation pattern that significantly reduces energy consumption while maintaining tracking functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs self-service mechanisms where the location tracker autonomously detects incoming transmissions from the load monitor and automatically wakes from sleep mode to receive and process data. This eliminates the need for continuous power consumption and manual intervention, allowing the device to serve itself by managing its own power state based on transmission detection.
2Reliability
If continuous monitoring is implemented, then data accuracy and reliability are improved, but energy consumption and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system achieves reliable monitoring through periodic transmissions at configured intervals rather than continuous operation. The load monitor wakes from sleep, transmits data, and returns to sleep, creating periodic monitoring cycles that maintain data reliability while minimizing energy consumption through extended idle periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where the location tracker detects transmissions and confirms successful data reception. This feedback loop ensures data reliability by verifying that monitoring information is successfully captured, while allowing the system to remain in low-power states between feedback cycles.
3Measurement precision
If multiple sensors are integrated into each device, then measurement capability and data quality are improved, but device complexity and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies segmentation by dividing the monitoring functionality into two separate devices: the load monitor equipped with load sensors and the location tracker equipped with location sensors. This segmentation distributes measurement capabilities across specialized devices, reducing the complexity of individual devices while maintaining comprehensive measurement precision through the combined system.
Solution Approach 2:
Each device is designed with multi-functionality, where the load monitor not only measures load but also transmits data wirelessly, and the location tracker not only determines location but also receives and processes transmissions. This universality reduces overall system complexity by consolidating multiple functions into single devices rather than requiring separate specialized components.
Data Source
AI summary
A load and location tracking system installed at a first position on a wheeled platform, the load monitor is configured to sense a set of load related attributes and to wirelessly transmit the set of load related attributes in a first transmission and a location tracker device installed at a second position on the wheeled platform, the location tracker is configured to wirelessly receive the first transmission, sense a set of location related attributes and wirelessly transmit the load related attributes taken from the first transmission, the sensed location related attributes and an identifier identifying the wheeled platform to an application.