Wireless Asset Tracking for Hazardous Material Rule Violations

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems lack an efficient method to automatically track and prevent violations of rules regarding the storage and proximity of assets, particularly in environments where certain assets cannot be mixed due to safety or regulatory constraints.

Innovation Solution

A wireless tracking system utilizing adhesive tape platforms with integrated wireless transducing components that detect proximity and environmental conditions, alerting users to rule violations and providing instructions for resolution.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If manual tracking and monitoring of assets is used, then system complexity is reduced, but productivity and ability to detect rule violations decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to detect rule violationsVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The tracking devices automatically monitor their own locations and detect rule violations without requiring manual intervention. The system self-monitors asset positions, compares them against predefined rules, and generates alerts autonomously, eliminating the need for manual tracking while maintaining high productivity in violation detection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The tracking devices perform multiple functions including location tracking, rule violation detection, environmental monitoring, and alert generation within a single integrated system. This multi-functionality increases productivity by consolidating multiple monitoring tasks while managing system complexity through unified device architecture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Measurement precision

If continuous monitoring of all assets is implemented, then measurement precision of asset positions is improved, but use of energy increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveasset position detection accuracyVSAvoidenergy consumption of tracking devices

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The tracking devices perform monitoring at periodic intervals rather than continuously, checking asset positions at scheduled times to detect rule violations. This periodic operation maintains adequate measurement precision for safety-critical applications while significantly reducing energy consumption compared to continuous monitoring.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback mechanisms where tracking devices report positions only when changes occur or at scheduled intervals, and the central system processes this feedback to detect violations. This feedback-based approach maintains measurement precision by capturing critical position changes while reducing overall energy consumption through event-driven rather than continuous operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If more tracking devices are deployed to monitor assets, then reliability of rule violation detection is improved, but device complexity and cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection reliabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The monitoring system is segmented into independent tracking devices, each responsible for monitoring specific assets or zones. This segmentation improves reliability by distributing detection responsibilities across multiple independent units, while managing complexity through modular architecture where each segment operates autonomously and can be managed independently.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple tracking devices are merged into a unified networked system that shares data and coordinates detection efforts. This merging improves reliability through cross-validation and comprehensive coverage, while managing complexity through centralized coordination and shared processing logic that prevents redundant operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS20220374826A1Hazardous Material Monitoring and Detecting Rule Violations for Grouped Assets Using Wireless Tracking Devices

Publication Date: 2022.11.24 TRACKONOMY SYSTEMS INC

AI summary

A tracking system is configured to track a group of assets detect violations of rules associated with the group of assets. The tracking system includes a control system on a server and a plurality of tracking devices. Each tracking device of the plurality of tracking devices associated with an asset of a group of assets, each tracking device comprising a first type of wireless communication system. The plurality of tracking devices determine that a violation of a rule for the group of assets has occurred based on wireless communications between the tracking devices using the respective first wireless communication systems.