RFID Car Park Management System and Real-Time Locating System Application
RFID car park management system is one of the few real-time locating system that provides fast return of investment. The application is similar to the trailer park application where each car are equipped with an active RFID ZONER tag that beacon periodically while a network of active RFID RELAYER readers are used to monitor and derive the location in real-time. Each vehicle occupies a single XY space. There is no stacked confusion if the parking lot is outdoor as shown in Figure below. One of the differences may be the requirement of more accuracy for standard cars that are smaller in footprint.
The second difference is that private vehicle owner typically places their tag inside the windshield instead of on top of the car unlike that of a trailer. This placement position will give substantial difficulty or inaccuracy in the locating of the tag using triangulation time-lapsed and “free space signal loss” approaches.
Each car in park occupies a fixed space. The space is typically smaller (3x3 meters). When placing the tag inside the windshield is preferred, the triangulation time-lapsed method may have a challenge. AVANTE ZONING and weighed distance analysis using received signal strengths eliminate the multi-patch problems for accuracy locating of well within one meter.
Indoor car park with multiple levels could present even more challenges for the standard triangulation time-lapsed method. Again, AVANTE ZONING and weighed distance analysis using received signal strength bypass the multi-path problems for accurate well within one meter.
A transponder mounted in the cab of the truck relays information to the roadside electronic reader through antennae in the overhead structure. Source: FHWA
AVANTE Yard and Car Park Management Applications Using RFID RTLS systems
There are several established RFID real-time locating system (RTLS) applications that proved successful with a return of investment (ROI) in less than one year. One of most rewarding application is the RFID yard management system for trailers and containers.
In the RFID yard management application, power is available at fixed locations. Both standard triangulation time-lapsed approach and AVANTE dynamic zoning is one of the proven approaches that minimize the effects of multipath and other interferences. One of the unparalleled security features that is uniqut to the AVANTE RFID RTLS solution is beyond the traditional access control to any yard management system with the association of staff to the operations enhances the value to the management solution.
The coupling of real-time locating of personnel and assets along with the association of activities and operation provides real visibility and security management for more critical infrastures such as port and container transport and management.
When and if AVANTE RFID container intrusion detection technology is applied for managing container transport and supply chain security, end-to-end security management of supply chain management may be achieved for the first time. This unique and patent-pending capability of using RFID recived signal strength indicator (RSSI) for intrusion detection and theft prevention enhances the value of RFID yard management. AVANTE yard management solution provides real-time locating and intrusion and exception reporting in real-time.
Container yards with multiple containers stacked to form a 3-D space produce many multiple path problems. The lack of “line-of-sight” is not normally applicable using simple grid of RFID readers using triangulation time-lapsed method. The zoning approach using relative signal power method can provide the accuracy required. AVANTE normally placed its ZONER RFID tags on the ridge of the corrugated metal for handling protection. The readers normally place at height above the highest positions of the stacked container (40-50 ft. above ground).
(View video on AVANTE Real- Time Asset Tracking System and Solution)
A single RELAYER reader placed outside the container monitors access into the sealed container using the RSSI from the ZONER tags attached inside the container. The ZONER tag has an embedded temperature sensor and optional integrated sensors to monitor radioactivity and chemicals inside the sealed container (in case of higher risk suppliers) for a period of inland transit to the port terminal. The data from the sensor-integrated ZONER devices are extracted upon arriving at the departing port and the integrated tags replace with standard ZONER tags without the sensors to reduce the cost of operations. Each driver and staff also wears a personnel ZONER badge-tag for any associated operation with the container. The RELAYER reader on each container can also communicate with another RELAYER monitor onboard of the truck that interface with a cellular and/or satellite communication module equipped with GPS to report any incidence and exceptions to the monitoring headquarters.
Please refer to the following links for other specific applications using this patented RFID real-time locating system:
- Hazmat Storage and Transport
- Livestock and Pedigree Tracking
- Car Park Management
- Dealer Vehicle Loating and Tracking
- Vehicle Fleet Management
- Yard Management
- School Bus and Student Transportation Tracking
- Car and Vehicle Theft Recovery
