Wireless Position Sensor Beacon for Automated Material Tracking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Manual management of material arrival and shipment in large industrial settings is inefficient and prone to human error, lacking automated detection of materials entering and exiting interest regions.

Innovation Solution

A system utilizing wireless position sensors attached to objects to transmit beacons with identification numbers, detected by wireless terminals that use RSSI to determine entry and exit based on specific conditions, with a server system for data management and communication.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If manual management methods (work logs or terminals) are used to track material arrival and shipment, then the system is simple to implement, but the efficiency is low and human error is substantial

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvematerial tracking efficiencyVSAvoidaccuracy of material arrival/shipment recording
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables automatic self-monitoring of material arrival and shipment through RFID tags and wireless position sensors that automatically detect and report their status without human intervention. The RFID tags on materials automatically communicate with terminals in the material warehouse, and wireless position sensors continuously monitor entry and exit from interest regions, eliminating the need for manual work logs and reducing human error.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual mechanical recording systems (work logs and terminal-based manual entry) with automated electronic detection systems. RFID technology and wireless position sensing automatically detect material status and location, substituting human-operated mechanical systems with electronic automation that improves both efficiency and reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Productivity

If automated monitoring systems are implemented to detect material arrival and shipment, then the efficiency and accuracy improve, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomated material tracking efficiencyVSAvoidcomplexity of detection system
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system employs multi-functional components that serve multiple purposes. RFID tags not only identify materials but also track their location and status. Wireless position sensors simultaneously monitor entry and exit from interest regions, detect material presence, and provide real-time location data. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated devices for each monitoring task, thereby managing complexity while maintaining automated tracking efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces intermediary devices that facilitate communication between different system components. Gateways serve as intermediaries between wireless position sensors and the server system, translating and relaying data. The server system acts as a central intermediary that consolidates information from RFID tags, wireless sensors, and other sources, simplifying the overall system architecture by providing a centralized coordination point.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Measurement precision

If continuous monitoring of materials in interest regions is performed using wireless position sensors and RSSI detection, then real-time detection accuracy improves, but the energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccuracy of entry/exit detectionVSAvoidenergy consumption of wireless position sensor
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The wireless position sensor transmits beacons at periodic intervals rather than continuously, and the terminal detects these periodic signals to determine entry and exit from interest regions. This periodic operation maintains real-time monitoring capability while significantly reducing energy consumption compared to continuous transmission and detection, as the sensor can enter low-power states between beacon transmissions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

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

This solution automates material tracking, reducing inefficiency and human error, enabling real-time monitoring and minimizing resource input for inspection, thus lowering costs.

Implementation Method 1

transmitting a beacon having an identification number at a certain period in a wireless position sensor attached to an object

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic radiation: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

extracting the identification number included in the beacon, and detecting entry and exit for the object using the extracted number of times of the identification number and a Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) of the beacon

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSignal strength detection: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP3454270B1System and method for automatically detecting entry into and exit from region of interest
Publication Date: 2020.09.02 DOOSAN HEAVY IND & CONSTR CO LTD
  • EP3454270B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3454270B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3454270B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A system for detecting exit and entry for an interest region for automatically detecting entry and exit for an object in an interest region that is disclosed includes a wireless position sensor attached to an object to set an identification number and for transmitting a beacon having the identification number at a certain period, a wireless terminal for receiving the beacon from the wireless position sensor, extracting the identification number included in the beacon, and detecting entry and exit for the object using the extracted number of times of the identification number during a predetermined certain time and a Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) of the beacon, a server system for receiving entry and exit detection information for the object from the wireless terminal.