AVANTE Yard and Storage Management using RFID RTLS
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 the most rewarding applications is the RFID yard management system for trailers and containers.
In the RFID yard management application, power is available at fixed locations. Both the standard triangulation time-lapsed approach and AVANTE’s dynamic zoning are proven approaches that minimize the effects of multi-path and other interference. One of the unparalleled security features that is unique to the AVANTE RFID RTLS solution is the association of staff to daily operations, thus enhancing traditional access control and providing a complete management solution.
The coupling of real-time locating of personnel and assets provides real security for critical infrastructure management such as port and container transport.
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 received signal strength indicator (RSSI) for intrusion detection and theft prevention enhances the value of RFID yard management. AVANTE yard management solution provides locating, intrusion and exception reporting in real-time.
Container yards with multiple containers stacked to form a 3-D space produce many multiple path problems. Without a clear “line-of-sight” a simple grid of RFID readers using the triangulation time-lapsed method produces inaccurate or inadequate results. The zoning approach using relative signal power method can provide the accuracy required. AVANTE normally places its ZONER RFID tags on the ridge of the corrugated metal for handling protection. The readers are normally placed at a height above the highest position of the stacked container (40-50 ft. above ground).
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 is extracted upon arriving at the departing port and the integrated tags replaced 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 the truck that interfaces with a cellular and/or satellite communication module equipped with GPS to report any incidences and exceptions to the monitoring headquarters.
