Another Combined RFID App
I really like the idea of combining RFID technology with GPS to create a comprehensive tracking and monitoring system. There's an article floating around online this week that Seimens has a good proof of concept for tracking shipping containers worldwide.
The idea is that they are using the RFID transponder to monitor the temperature in the container, and to document whether the door is opened or closed. GPS technology is being used to locate the container. In this case, the RFID reader in the container is relaying information to the satellite, too.
A box measuring about 8 inches wide by 11 inches long was attached to the two refrigerated containers used in the test on the ship, which spent about three weeks at sea while sailing from Shanghai to Singapore and back. The box contained an active RFID transponder wired to two sensors—one for documenting whether the container door was opened or closed, another for monitoring the temperature inside the refrigerated containers. Each container's RFID tag transmitted its ID number and sensor data to an RFID reader, which then forwarded that information via a GSM base station to an on-board control system, and via satellite to the ground system monitored by a central surveillance center.
This seems like a lot of fuss to make sure a container isn't too warm or prematurely opened, but in fact huge amounts of these containers are shipped internationally on a daily basis, and until now there hasn't been a method for monitoring them. This leaves them at risk for sabotage, theft, and mishandling.
The idea is that they are using the RFID transponder to monitor the temperature in the container, and to document whether the door is opened or closed. GPS technology is being used to locate the container. In this case, the RFID reader in the container is relaying information to the satellite, too.
A box measuring about 8 inches wide by 11 inches long was attached to the two refrigerated containers used in the test on the ship, which spent about three weeks at sea while sailing from Shanghai to Singapore and back. The box contained an active RFID transponder wired to two sensors—one for documenting whether the container door was opened or closed, another for monitoring the temperature inside the refrigerated containers. Each container's RFID tag transmitted its ID number and sensor data to an RFID reader, which then forwarded that information via a GSM base station to an on-board control system, and via satellite to the ground system monitored by a central surveillance center.
This seems like a lot of fuss to make sure a container isn't too warm or prematurely opened, but in fact huge amounts of these containers are shipped internationally on a daily basis, and until now there hasn't been a method for monitoring them. This leaves them at risk for sabotage, theft, and mishandling.
posted by Mika Lofton at
1:13 PM
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