GB2623982A - A system for a warehouse - Google Patents

A system for a warehouse Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2623982A
GB2623982A GB2216251.5A GB202216251A GB2623982A GB 2623982 A GB2623982 A GB 2623982A GB 202216251 A GB202216251 A GB 202216251A GB 2623982 A GB2623982 A GB 2623982A
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Prior art keywords
rfid
signalling
air
quality
warehouse
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GB2216251.5A
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GB202216251D0 (en
Inventor
Edgar David
Wroe Matthew
Bozic Milos
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Three Smith Group Ltd
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Three Smith Group Ltd
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Priority to GB2216251.5A priority Critical patent/GB2623982A/en
Publication of GB202216251D0 publication Critical patent/GB202216251D0/en
Publication of GB2623982A publication Critical patent/GB2623982A/en
Pending legal-status Critical Current

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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
    • G06K7/00—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns
    • G06K7/10—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensing; by corpuscular radiation
    • G06K7/10009—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensing; by corpuscular radiation sensing by radiation using wavelengths larger than 0.1 mm, e.g. radio-waves or microwaves
    • G06K7/10366—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensing; by corpuscular radiation sensing by radiation using wavelengths larger than 0.1 mm, e.g. radio-waves or microwaves the interrogation device being adapted for miscellaneous applications
    • G06K7/10376—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensing; by corpuscular radiation sensing by radiation using wavelengths larger than 0.1 mm, e.g. radio-waves or microwaves the interrogation device being adapted for miscellaneous applications the interrogation device being adapted for being moveable
    • G06K7/10405—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensing; by corpuscular radiation sensing by radiation using wavelengths larger than 0.1 mm, e.g. radio-waves or microwaves the interrogation device being adapted for miscellaneous applications the interrogation device being adapted for being moveable the interrogation device including an arrangement for sensing environmental parameters, such as a temperature or acceleration sensor, e.g. used as an on/off trigger or as a warning means
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01S—RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
    • G01S13/00—Systems using the reflection or reradiation of radio waves, e.g. radar systems; Analogous systems using reflection or reradiation of waves whose nature or wavelength is irrelevant or unspecified
    • G01S13/74—Systems using reradiation of radio waves, e.g. secondary radar systems; Analogous systems
    • G01S13/75—Systems using reradiation of radio waves, e.g. secondary radar systems; Analogous systems using transponders powered from received waves, e.g. using passive transponders, or using passive reflectors
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
    • G06K7/00—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns
    • G06K7/10—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensing; by corpuscular radiation
    • G06K7/10009—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensing; by corpuscular radiation sensing by radiation using wavelengths larger than 0.1 mm, e.g. radio-waves or microwaves
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
    • G06K7/00—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns
    • G06K7/10—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensing; by corpuscular radiation
    • G06K7/10009—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensing; by corpuscular radiation sensing by radiation using wavelengths larger than 0.1 mm, e.g. radio-waves or microwaves
    • G06K7/10019—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensing; by corpuscular radiation sensing by radiation using wavelengths larger than 0.1 mm, e.g. radio-waves or microwaves resolving collision on the communication channels between simultaneously or concurrently interrogated record carriers.
    • G06K7/10079—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensing; by corpuscular radiation sensing by radiation using wavelengths larger than 0.1 mm, e.g. radio-waves or microwaves resolving collision on the communication channels between simultaneously or concurrently interrogated record carriers. the collision being resolved in the spatial domain, e.g. temporary shields for blindfolding the interrogator in specific directions
    • G06K7/10089—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensing; by corpuscular radiation sensing by radiation using wavelengths larger than 0.1 mm, e.g. radio-waves or microwaves resolving collision on the communication channels between simultaneously or concurrently interrogated record carriers. the collision being resolved in the spatial domain, e.g. temporary shields for blindfolding the interrogator in specific directions the interrogation device using at least one directional antenna or directional interrogation field to resolve the collision
    • G06K7/10099—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensing; by corpuscular radiation sensing by radiation using wavelengths larger than 0.1 mm, e.g. radio-waves or microwaves resolving collision on the communication channels between simultaneously or concurrently interrogated record carriers. the collision being resolved in the spatial domain, e.g. temporary shields for blindfolding the interrogator in specific directions the interrogation device using at least one directional antenna or directional interrogation field to resolve the collision the directional field being used for pinpointing the location of the record carrier, e.g. for finding or locating an RFID tag amongst a plurality of RFID tags, each RFID tag being associated with an object, e.g. for physically locating the RFID tagged object in a warehouse

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Toxicology (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Artificial Intelligence (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Computer Vision & Pattern Recognition (AREA)
  • Electromagnetism (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Radar, Positioning & Navigation (AREA)
  • Remote Sensing (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • Warehouses Or Storage Devices (AREA)

Abstract

A system for monitoring air quality in a warehouse. The system comprises: a mobile sensor system 209 for attaching to a vehicle 210 (e.g. a forklift truck) that moves around the warehouse. The mobile sensor system comprises: an RFID antenna 211 configured to provide RFID-signalling representative of one or more RFID tags 218 that are at fixed locations in the warehouse; and an air quality sensor 212 configured to provide air-quality-signalling representing a sensed air quality value (e.g. relating to particulate matter or CO2). The system for monitoring air quality further comprises a controller 213 configured to: process the RFID-signalling to determine an antenna-location that represents the location of the RFID antenna when the RFID-signalling was acquired; associate the air-quality-signalling with the determined antenna-location that was acquired at substantially the same time; and provide an air-quality-output-signal based on the association between the air-quality-signalling and the determined antenna-location. The vehicle could also comprise a second antenna and other environmental sensors.

Description

Intellectual Property Office Application No G132216251.5 RTM Date:27 April 2023 The following terms are registered trade marks and should be read as such wherever they occur in this document: Bluetooth, Wi-H, Zigbee Intellectual Property Office is an operating name of the Patent Office www.gov.uk/ipo
A SYSTEM FOR A WAREHOUSE
Field
The present disclosure relates to a system for monitoring air quality in a warehouse.
Summary
According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a system for monitoring air quality in a warehouse, the system comprising: a mobile sensor system for attaching to a vehicle that moves around the warehouse, the mobile sensor system comprising: an RFID antenna configured to provide RFID-signalling that is representative of one or more RFID tags that are at fixed locations in the warehouse; 15 and an air quality sensor configured to provide air-quality-signalling that represents a sensed air quality value; and the system for monitoring air quality in a warehouse further comprising a controller configured to: process the RFID-signalling to determine an antenna-location that represents the location of the RFID antenna in the warehouse when the RFID-signalling was acquired; associate the air-quality-signalling with the determined antenna-location for RFID-signalling that was acquired at substantially the same time; and provide an air-quality-output-signal based on the association between the air-quality-signalling and the determined antenna-location.
Advantageously, such a system can be used to determine the air quality at a variety of locations in the warehouse without requiring the installation of multiple air quality sensors. Furthermore, the location of the air quality sensor when it acquires the air-quality-signalling can be sufficiently well determined without requiring any permanently installed location determining components that require a power source.
The air-quality-output-signal may represent a map of the warehouse with indicators of the air quality values at different locations on the map.
The air-quality-output-signal may comprise an air-quality-warning-signal if the air quality value exceeds a threshold.
The air-quality-output-signal may comprise an air-quality-warning-signal if the air quality value associated with a predetermined location in the warehouse exceeds a threshold.
The one or more RFID tags may be associated with fixed items of infrastructure in the warehouse.
The one or more RFID tags may be passive RFID tags.
The air quality sensor may comprise one or more of: a particulate matter sensor; a carbon monoxide or carbon dioxide sensor; a sulphur dioxide sensor; an NOx sensor; and a VOC, Volatile Organic Compounds, sensor.
The controller may be configured to process the RFID-signalling to determine the antenna-location by: determining an identifier for one or more of the RFID tags that are represented by the RFID signalling; looking up the locations of the RFID tags based on the determined identifiers in 25 computer memory; determining the distance from the RFID antenna to each of the RFID tags; and determining the antenna-location based on the determined distances to the locations of each of RFID tags.
The mobile sensor system may comprise: a first RFID antenna configured to provide first-RFID-signalling that is representative of the one or more RFID tags that are at the fixed locations in the warehouse; and a second RFID antenna configured to provide second-RFID-signalling that is representative of the one or more RFID tags that are at the fixed locations in the warehouse.
The controller may be configured to: process the first-RFID-signalling and the secondRFID-signalling to determine the antenna-location that represents the location of the first and second RFID antennas in the warehouse when the first-RFID-signalling and the second-RFID-signalling was acquired.
The air quality sensor may be configured to be located at a lower region of the vehicle.
The mobile sensor system may further comprise: an environmental sensor configured to provide environmental-signalling that represents one or more sensed environmental characteristics.
The controller may be configured to: associate the environmental-signalling with the determined antenna-location for RFID-signalling that was acquired at substantially the same time; and provide an environmental-output-signal based on the association between the air-environmental-signalling and the determined antenna-location.
The environmental sensor may comprise one or more of: a temperature sensor; a humidity sensor; a noise / sound sensor; and a light sensor.
The environmental-output-signal may comprise a map of the warehouse with indicators of the one or more sensed environmental characteristics at different locations on the map.
The environmental-output-signal may comprise an environmental-warning-signal if the one or more sensed environmental characteristics exceeds a threshold.
The environmental-output-signal may comprise an air-quality-warning-signal if the one or more sensed environmental characteristics associated with a predetermined location in the warehouse exceeds a threshold.
The system may further comprise: one or more static sensor systems at known locations in the warehouse, the static sensor system comprising an air quality sensor configured to provide static-sensor-air-quality-signalling that represents an air quality value.
The controller may be configured to: provide the air-quality-output-signal based on: the static-sensor-air-quality-signalling and the known locations of the associated one or more static sensor systems; and the association between the air-quality-signalling and the determined antenna-location.
There is also disclosed a vehicle comprising any system disclosed herein.
According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method for monitoring air quality in a warehouse, the method comprising: processing RFID-signalling that is provided by an RFID antenna to determine an antenna-location that represents the location of the RFID antenna in the warehouse when the RFID-signalling was acquired, wherein the RFID antenna is attached to a vehicle that moves around the warehouse, and wherein the RFID-signalling is representative of one or more RFID tags that are at fixed locations in the warehouse; associating air-quality-signalling provided by an air quality sensor with the determined antenna-location for RFID-signalling that was acquired at substantially the same time, wherein the air quality sensor is also attached to the vehicle that moves around the warehouse; and providing an air-quality-output-signal based on the association between the air-quality-signalling and the determined antenna-location.
There may be provided a computer program, which when run on a computer, causes the computer to configure any apparatus, including a controller, system or device disclosed herein or perform any method disclosed herein. The computer program may be a software implementation, and the computer may be considered as any appropriate hardware, including a digital signal processor, a microcontroller, and an implementation in read only memory (ROM), erasable programmable read only memory (EPROM) or electronically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM), as non-limiting examples. The software may be an assembly program.
The computer program may be provided on a computer readable medium, which may be a physical computer readable medium such as a disc or a memory device, or may be embodied as a transient signal. Such a transient signal may be a network download, including an Internet download. There may be provided one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a computing system, causes the computing system to perform any method disclosed herein.
Brief Description of the Drawinas
One or more embodiments will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows schematically a plan view of part of the inside of a warehouse, which is a suitable environment in which an air quality monitoring system that is described herein can be used; Figure 2 shows an example embodiment of an air quality monitoring system for a warehouse; Figure 3 shows schematically an illustration of an air-quality-output-signal according to the present disclosure; Figure 4 shows another example embodiment of an air quality monitoring system for a warehouse; and Figure 5 illustrates an example embodiment of a method of monitoring air quality in a warehouse.
Detailed Description
In a warehouse environment, vehicles may be required to move within confined spaces and in close proximity to valuable goods and personnel. For example, in a warehouse, forklift trucks (FLTs) may pass between aisles of racking or shelving that contain valuable stock. A FLT may have to perform tight turns and manoeuvres to load and unload stock from the racking. Furthermore, pedestrians can be present in the warehouse at the same time as the FLT.
Examples disclosed herein relate to systems for monitoring air quality in a warehouse. For instance, to ensure that it is safe for pedestrians or other operators to be in the warehouse without being exposed to poor quality air that could adversely affect their health. Non-limiting examples of poor quality air include air that is high in carbon dioxide from the exhausts of vehicles operating in the warehouse or any other potentially harmful chemicals or particulates that may be present in a warehouse environment.
Figure 1 shows schematically a plan view of part of the inside of a warehouse. Figure 1 shows six banks of racking 101, with aisles 102 in between each bank 101. As shown in Figure 1, a forklift truck (FLT) 108 can drive along the aisles in order to access stock that is stored in different banks of racking 101. Each bank of racking 101 has a plurality of racking legs 103. A racking leg 103 is a vertical support that is used to support shelving or pallets. The banks of racking 101 can also include beams (that are generally horizontal) and / or braces (that extend generally diagonally with reference to the ground).
Figure 1 also shows that a part of the warehouse is designated as a pedestrian walkway 104. The pedestrian walkway 104 is separated from an end aisle of racking by a barrier 105. In this example, the barrier 105 is shown as including a plurality of spaced apart posts 106, with rails 107 joining the majority of the adjacent posts 106.
These barriers 105, posts 106, rails 107, banks of racking 101 and racking legs 103 are examples of infrastructure that can be located in a warehouse. Other examples of infrastructure, that are not shown in Figure 1, include rack ends, shelving, gates, bumpers, wall buffers, dock buffers, guards, bollards, sign posts, and height restrictors. At least some of this infrastructure can be located at fixed, known, locations in the warehouse.
Figure 2 shows an example embodiment of a system for monitoring air quality in a warehouse. The air quality monitoring system includes a mobile sensor system 209. The mobile sensor system 209 is for attaching to a vehicle (in this example an FLT 210) that moves around the warehouse. The mobile sensor system 209 includes an RFID antenna 211 that is configured to provide RFID-signalling 214 that is representative of one or more RFID tags 218 that are at fixed locations in the warehouse. In this example, the RFID tags 218 are shown as being located in posts 206. However, it will be appreciated that the RFID tags 218 can be associated with any fixed location in the warehouse, such as the items of infrastructure that are identified above. In some examples, the items of infrastructure may include safety structures, including polymer safety structures. Polymer safety structures (e.g. polyurethane safety structures) can provide robust protective safety structures for warehouse and factory environments.
In this example the RFID tags 218 are passive, which is advantageous because a power supply (either batteries that would need to be periodically recharged or replaced; or a main power supply that may have to be wired in) is not required at each item of associated infrastructure in the warehouse. The RFID tags 218 in this example are ultra high frequency (UHF) tags.
The mobile sensor system 209 also includes an air quality sensor 212 that is configured to provide air-quality-signalling 215 that represents a sensed air quality value. The air quality sensor can include one or more of: a VOC, Volatile Organic Compounds, sensor, a particulate matter sensor; a carbon monoxide or carbon dioxide sensor; a sulphur dioxide sensor; and a NOx (nitrogen monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, etc.) sensor, as non-limiting examples. It will be appreciated that any air quality sensor 212, especially those that can sense an air quality value that is relevant to a pedestrian's health, can be used.
In some examples, the air quality sensor 212 can be located at a lower region of the vehicle / FLT 210. For instance, less than 50cm or lm from the ground. This can be beneficial for being able to detect pollutants that are heavier than air and therefore can be more concentrated closer to the ground. In some example, a first air quality sensor 212 can be located near the floor and a second air quality sensor 212 can be located on the roof of the vehicle / FLT 210. That is, a plurality of air quality sensors 212 can be located at different heights on the vehicle / FLT 210 in to provide a more detailed picture of the air quality. As a yet further example, an air quality sensor 212 can be located on a fork of the FLT 210. As the forks are lifted, the air quality sensor 212 can provide air-quality-signalling 215 that represents sensed air quality values at higher positions in a warehouse. In some environments the air quality at higher elevations can be particularly important, for instance in an environment where there is a risk of hydrogen accumulating because hydrogen is lighter than air. Yet further, any of the air quality sensors 212 disclosed herein can be associated with a height sensor (not shown) that provides a height signal that represents the height of the air quality sensor 212 at times at which it acquires the air-quality-signalling 215. In this way, the height signal can be provided to the controller 213 such that it can be processed along with the air-quality-signalling 215 and a 3-dimensional representation of air quality in a warehouse can be generated. Such a height sensor could determine height based on barometric pressure, for example.
In this example, the mobile sensor system 209 also includes a controller 213. Although, it will be appreciated that in other examples the functionality of the controller 213 can be entirely or partially provided by one or more processors that are separate from the mobile sensor system 209, and potentially remote from the FLT 210.
The controller 213 processes the RFID-signalling 214 to determine an antenna-location that represents the location of the RFID antenna 211 in the warehouse when the RFIDsignalling 214 was acquired. Since the mobile sensor system 209 is expected to be in motion when in use (because it is associated with the FLT 210), the controller 213 can periodically determine the antenna-location for subsequently received RFID-signalling 214. Example implementations of how the controller 213 can determine the antenna-location will be provided below. The controller 213 can then associate the air-qualitysignalling 215 with the antenna-location that is determined for RFID-signalling 214 that was acquired at substantially the same time as the air-quality-signalling 215. For instance, the controller 213 can store the sensed air quality values in a databases in computer memory along with the associated determined antenna-location.
In this example, the determined antenna-location can be assumed to correspond to the location of the air quality sensor 212 when it acquired the air-quality-signalling.
This is on the basis that the RFID antenna 211 and the air quality sensor 212 are considered close enough together such that any physical offset between the components is considered insignificant. Alternatively, if the RFID antenna 211 and the air quality sensor 212 are spaced apart by what is considered to be a significant distance for a particular application, for example because particularly accurate measurements are required, then the controller 213 can apply an offset to the determined antenna-location to provide an air-quality-sensor-location that more accurately reflects the location of the air quality sensor 212 when the air-qualitysignalling 215 was acquired. Such an offset can be based on a known distance between the RFID antenna 211 and the air quality sensor 212, and also based on a direction of travel (or at least an orientation) of the FLT 210.
The controller 213 can then provide an air-quality-output-signal (not shown) based on the association between the air-quality-signalling 215 and the determined antenna-location. Advantageously, the air monitoring system of Figure 2 can be used to determine the air quality at a variety of locations in the warehouse without requiring the installation of multiple air quality sensors. Furthermore, the location of the air quality sensor 212 when it acquires the air-quality-signalling 215 can be sufficiently well determined without requiring any permanently installed location determining components that require a power source. The use of RFID tags 218, that can easily be associated with the infrastructure in the warehouse, beneficially enables the mobile sensor system 209 to efficiently determine the location of the mobile sensor system 209 for the controller to be able to provide the air-quality-output-signal. This is especially the case when passive RFID tags are used.
Figure 3 shows schematically an example illustration of data that can be provided as the air-quality-output-signal. As discussed above, the air-quality-output-signal is based on the association between the air-quality-signalling and the corresponding determined antenna-location.
In this example, the air-quality-output-signal represents a map of the warehouse with indicators of the air quality values (as represented by the air-quality-signalling) at different locations on the map (as represented by the corresponding determined antenna-locations). In Figure 3, the air quality is graphically represented to reflect one of three different values: "Excellent -good air" 330; "Lightly -moderately polluted air" 331; and "Heavily -extremely polluted air" 332. By way of non-limiting example: * "Excellent -good air" 330 can be considered as an air quality value that is less than 100 ppm (parts per million), and can be associated with a message that no ventilation is required; * "Lightly -moderately polluted air" 331 can be considered as an air quality value that is between 100 and 200, and can be associated with a message that ventilation should be considered; and * "Heavily -extremely polluted air" 332 can be considered as an air quality value that is greater than 200, and can be associated with a message that ventilation should be performed.
In some examples, the air-quality-output-signal can include an air-quality-warning-signal if the air quality value exceeds one or more thresholds. For instance, if any of the air quality values are greater or less than a threshold (depending upon whether a high value or a low value represents good quality air), then an air-quality-warningsignal can be generated. Such an air-quality-warning-signal can cause an alarm to be provided. The alarm could be audio or visual (for example) and can be provided to any suitable person, such as an operator of the vehicle / FLT, a warehouse manager, and / or it could cause an alarm entry to be stored in computer memory such that a log of poor air quality events and locations can be kept.
In a further still example, the air-quality-output-signal can include an air-qualitywarning-signal if the air quality value associated with a predetermined location in the warehouse (for example areas through which a large number of pedestrians pass -such as next to a pedestrian walkway) exceeds a threshold. Optionally, this can involve comparing the air quality values at different locations in the warehouse to different thresholds such that different regions in the warehouse can be designated as more or less sensitive to poor air quality.
In a yet further example, the controller of the system can provide a remedial-action- signal if the air quality value associated with a predetermined location in the warehouse exceeds a threshold. Such a remedial-action-signal can control an actuator such remedial action is automatically taken to try and improve the air quality in a region of the warehouse where it is considered unacceptable. For instance, the remedial-action-signal can control an actuator associated with a ventilation fan or opening a window.
As above, this can involve comparing the air quality values at different locations in the warehouse to different thresholds such that different regions in the warehouse can be designated as more or less sensitive to poor air quality.
In a yet further still example, the controller of the system can provide a route-planning-signal based on the air quality values associated with different locations in the warehouse. Such a route-planning-signal can provide instructions to an operator of the vehicle / FLT such that they drive the vehicle around areas of poor air quality for certain periods of time. This is in order to continue to monitor the quality of air in what are identified as potentially problematic areas of the warehouse such that further remedial action can be taken. For driverless vehicles, such a route-planning-signal can provide instructions that automatically control the vehicle such that it drives itself around areas of poor air quality for certain periods of time.
In another example, the RFID antenna of the mobile sensor system can provide RFID-signalling that is representative of an RFID tag that is associated with a driver of the vehicle / FLT. For instance, an RFID tag with a unique identifier may be associated with each user's identity badge. In such an example, the controller of the mobile sensor system can associate an identifier of the driver with the air-quality-signalling that is provided by the air quality sensor. Then, the controller can accumulate (or otherwise) combine the air-quality-signalling that is associated with the driver throughout a shift of the driver in order to calculate a measure of the total exposure to poor quality air (which may include potentially harmful compounds). The controller can then compare the calculate a measure of the total exposure to poor quality air to one or more threshold values and trigger an alarm if a threshold is not met or if a threshold is exceeded (depending upon how the threshold is implemented).
Returning to Figure 2, we will now describe an implementation of how the controller 213 can processes the RFID-signalling 214 to determine an antenna-location that represents the location of the RFID antenna 211 in the warehouse.
The controller 213 can identify RFID-tag-signals 216 from RFID tags 218 that are associated with items of infrastructure in the warehouse. In Figure 2 the items of infrastructure are posts. In Figure 2, four RFID tags 218 associated with different items of infrastructure are shown. Each of the four RFID tags 218 can be excited by the first RFID antenna 211 such that they each provide an RFID-tag-signal 216 that is received at the first RFID antenna 211. Therefore, each of the four RFID-tag-signals 216 is present in the RFID-signalling 214.
The controller 213 can then determine the antenna-location with reference to the warehouse based on the RFID-tag-signals in the RFID-signalling 214. The antenna-location can be determined in a number of ways. In one example, the determination of a signal strength of the RFID-tag-signals 216 in the RFID-signalling 214 can be used to determine the distance from the RFID antenna 211 to each of the corresponding RFID tags 218. Then, the controller 213 can compare the determined distances to a map of the infrastructure that is stored in memory in order to identify where in the warehouse the RFID antenna 211 is. Such a map of the infrastructure can include a table of coordinates that represent known locations of infrastructure in the warehouse, along with an associated unique identifier for each RFID tag in the warehouse. The controller 213 can: determine the unique identifier for each RFID tag 218 from which RFID-tag-signals 216 are received; look up the locations for the associated items of infrastructure in computer memory based on the determined unique identifiers; determine the distance from the RFID antenna to each of the items of infrastructure; and then determine the antenna-location of the RFID antenna 211 by applying an appropriate algorithm (that can be a function of received signal strength) to the determined distances to the locations of the associated items of infrastructure. An example of an appropriate algorithm is one that minimises a loss function between: the determined antenna-location; and each of the determined distances to each of the identified items of infrastructure.
As discussed above, the controller 213 can then associate the air-quality-signalling 215 with the antenna-location that is determined for RFID-signalling 214 that was acquired at substantially the same time as the air-quality-signalling 215. This can be implemented very simply because the antenna-location and the air-quality-signalling 215 are recorded at the same time. In some instances, it may be implemented by: associating a timestamp with air quality values in the air-quality-signalling 215, such that the timestamp reflects that time that the associated air quality values were acquired; associating a timestamp with the antenna-location, which can be derived from timestamps that reflect the time that the corresponding RFID-tag-signals 216 were received; and then associating the air quality values in the air-quality-signalling 215 with the antenna-locations that have sufficiently similar timestamps (e.g. they are less than a threshold time period apart).
Figure 4 shows another example embodiment of a system for monitoring air quality in a warehouse. Features of Figure 4 that are also shown in Figure 2 will be given corresponding reference numbers in the 400 series, and will not necessarily be described again here.
In Figure 4, the mobile sensor system 409 includes two RFID antennas: a first RFID antenna 411 and a second RFID antenna 440. The first RFID antenna 411 and the second RFID antenna 440 can be implemented as separate RFID antennas that share a single RFID module / chip, such that the single RFID module / chip can multiplex between the signals provided by the multiple RFID antennas. Alternatively, the first RFID antenna 411 and the second RFID antenna 440 can be implemented as separate RFID scanners/ A field of view of the first RFID antenna 411 is spaced apart from a field of view of the second RFID antenna 440 in a first dimension. In this example, the first dimension is a longitudinal dimension of the FLT 410. In another example, the first dimension is a lateral dimension of the FLT 410. As a further example still, the system may include more than two RFID antennas.
The fields of view of the RFID antennas can be spaced apart or offset from each other by mounting them in different physical locations, such as on different parts of the FLT 410 as shown in Figure 4. The RFID antennas can be substantially omnidirectional such that their fields of view overlap, yet are still considered spaced apart.
Alternatively, the RFID antennas can be directional such that their fields of view are spaced apart due to the directionality of the RFID antennas. In which case, the RFID scanners / antennas need not necessarily be physically offset from each other to achieve a spacing apart of their fields of view.
The controller 413 can identify an RFID-tag-signal 416 from an RFID tag 418 that is associated with an item of infrastructure in the first-RFID-signalling 414. In this example, four RFID tags 418 associated with respective items of infrastructure are shown, although RFID-tag-signals associated with only one of the RFID tags 418 are identified in order to assist with the clarity of the illustration. As discussed above, each of the four RFID tags 418 can be excited by the first RFID antenna 411 such that they each provide an RFID-tag-signal 416 that is received at the first RFID antenna 411. Therefore, each of the four RFID-tag-signals 416 is present in the first-RFID-signalling 414.
Similarly, the controller 413 can also identify RFID-tag-signals 217 from the four RFID tags 418 in second-RFID-signalling 441 that is provided by the second RFID antenna 440. As shown in Figure 4, the controller 413 identifies RFID-tag-signals 416, 417 from the same RFID tags 418 in both the first-RFID-signalling 414 and the second-RFID-signalling 415.
The controller 413 can then determine the antenna-location (by combining the locations of the two RFID antennas 411, 440 in any appropriate way, such as by averaging a determined distance to each RFID tag 418) in the warehouse. An advantage of using more than one RFID antenna is that the controller 413 can readily determine a relative direction to the RFID tags 418 (at least along the first dimension) by comparing the signal strength of the RFID-tag-signal 416 in the first-RFID-signalling 414 with the signal strength of the RFID-tag-signal 417 in the second-RFID-signalling 415.
In this way, the controller 413 can process the first-RFID-signalling 414 and the second-RFID-signalling 441 to determine the antenna-location that represents the location of the first and second RFID antennas 411, 440 in the warehouse when the first-RFID-signalling 414 and the second-RFID-signalling 441 was acquired.
In any of the examples disclosed herein, the mobile sensor system can also include an environmental sensor. Such an environmental sensor provides environmental-signalling that represents one or more sensed environmental characteristics. Non-limiting examples of suitable environmental sensors include one or more of: a temperature sensor; a humidity sensor; a noise / sound sensor; and a light sensor.
The controller can then associate the environmental-signalling with the determined antenna-location for RFID-signalling that was acquired at substantially the same time in a similar way to that described above with reference to the air-quality-signalling. Again, similarly, the controller can provide an environmental-output-signal based on the association between the air-environmental-signalling and the determined antenna- location. Providing such air-environmental-signalling alongside the air-quality-output-signal can advantageously provide a more complete overview of the environmental conditions in the warehouse. For instance, if a noise / sound sensor indicates that there is excessive noise in an area that has poor air quality, then this could be an indicator that the source of the excessive noise is also the source of the poor air quality.
Also, use of a light sensor can conveniently be used to identify any broken lights (for example broken light bulbs that are fitted in the ceiling), and optionally log them by providing appropriate environmental-signalling.
In some examples, the environmental-output-signal can comprises a map of the warehouse with indicators of the one or more sensed environmental characteristics at different locations on the map. This can be similar to the example illustration of data that can be provided as the air-quality-output-signal that is shown in Figure 3. Alternatively or additionally, the environmental-output-signal can include an environmental-warning-signal if the one or more sensed environmental characteristics exceeds one or more thresholds. Yet further, the environmental-output-signal may comprise an air-quality-warning-signal if the one or more sensed environmental characteristics associated with a predetermined location in the warehouse exceeds a threshold.
Returning now to Figure 1, the air quality monitoring system can also include one or more static sensor systems 145 at known locations in the warehouse. For example, static sensors 145 can be located at regions of the warehouse that are infrequently visited by the FLT 108. As represented in Figure 1, the corners of the warehouse may experience less traffic than the aisles 102, for example. A static sensor system 145 includes an air quality sensor that is configured to provide static-sensor-air-quality-signalling that represents an air quality value. Advantageously, the static sensor system 145 can be used to monitor the air quality in regions of the warehouse that would only be occasionally monitored by a mobile sensor system that is attached to the FLT 108.
The controller of the air quality monitoring system can then provide the air-quality-output-signal based on: (i) the static-sensor-air-quality-signalling and the known locations of the associated one or more static sensor systems; and (ii) the association between the air-quality-signalling and the determined antenna-location. That is, the air-quality-output-signal that is described with reference to Figure 2 can be supplemented with the static-sensor-air-quality-signalling such that more complete and accurate air quality monitoring can be performed.
The locations of the one or more static sensor systems 145 can be known because they are stored in memory. For example, the static sensor systems 145 can be installed at predetermined locations in the warehouse, or their locations can be determined and then stored in memory when they are installed in the warehouse.
As an alternative, the locations of the one or more static sensor systems 145 can be known because they are determinable based on signals received by the static sensor system 145. For example, a static sensor system 145 can include one or more RFID antennas that provide RFID-signalling in a similar wat to the RFID antennas of the mobile sensor systems that are described above. That is, the RFID-signalling that is received at the static sensor system 145 is representative of one or more RFID tags that are at fixed locations in the warehouse. The controller of the air quality monitoring system can then determine the location of the static sensor system in the same way as that is described above for the mobile sensor systems. It will be appreciated that the controller will not need to determine the location of the static sensor systems 145 as frequently as for a mobile sensor system.
Figure 5 illustrates an example embodiment of a method of monitoring air quality in a warehouse.
At step 550, the method involves processing RFID-signalling that is provided by an RFID antenna to determine an antenna-location that represents the location of the RFID antenna in the warehouse when the RFID-signalling was acquired. As discussed in detail above, the RFID antenna is attached to a vehicle that moves around the warehouse, and the RFID-signalling is representative of one or more RFID tags that are at fixed locations in the warehouse.
At step 551, the method includes associating air-quality-signalling provided by an air quality sensor with the determined antenna-location for RFID-signalling that was acquired at substantially the same time. Again, the air quality sensor is also attached to the vehicle that moves around the warehouse.
At step 552, the method involves providing an air-quality-output-signal based on the association between the air-quality-signalling and the determined antenna-location. As illustrated in Figure 3, this can include providing data that enables a map to be presented to a user that represents the air quality at different locations in the warehouse.
Example air monitoring systems and methods disclosed herein can advantageously monitor air quality and environmental parameters throughout a warehouse without requiring battery powered devices fitted throughout the warehouse, and with only minimal fixed mains-powered infrastructure in some examples. Furthermore, beneficially there can be no reliance on any communication or corporate networks in a radio frequency (RF) band that is used by, for example, WiFi, Bluetooth, or Zigbee (2.4GHz, 5GHz).

Claims (18)

  1. CLAIMS1. A system for monitoring air quality in a warehouse, the system comprising: a mobile sensor system for attaching to a vehicle that moves around the warehouse, the mobile sensor system comprising: an RFID antenna configured to provide RFID-signalling that is representative of one or more RFID tags that are at fixed locations in the warehouse; and an air quality sensor configured to provide air-quality-signalling that represents a sensed air quality value; and the system for monitoring air quality in a warehouse further comprising a controller configured to: process the RFID-signalling to determine an antenna-location that represents the location of the RFID antenna in the warehouse when the RFID-signalling was acquired; associate the air-quality-signalling with the determined antenna-location for RFID-signalling that was acquired at substantially the same time; and provide an air-quality-output-signal based on the association between the air-quality-signalling and the determined antenna-location.
  2. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the air-quality-output-signal represents a map of the warehouse with indicators of the air quality values at different locations on the map.
  3. 3. The system of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the air-quality-output-signal comprises an air-quality-warning-signal if the air quality value exceeds a threshold.
  4. 4. The system of any preceding claim, wherein the air-quality-output-signal comprises an air-quality-warning-signal if the air quality value associated with a predetermined location in the warehouse exceeds a threshold.
  5. 5. The system of any preceding claim, wherein the one or more RFID tags are associated with fixed items of infrastructure in the warehouse.
  6. 6. The system of any preceding claim, wherein the one or more RFID tags are passive RFID tags.
  7. 7 The system of any preceding claim, wherein the air quality sensor comprises one or more of: a particulate matter sensor; a carbon monoxide or carbon dioxide sensor; a sulphur dioxide sensor; an NOx sensor; and a VOC, Volatile Organic Compounds, sensor.
  8. 8. The system of any preceding claim, wherein the controller is configured to process the RFID-signalling to determine the antenna-location by: determining an identifier for one or more of the RFID tags that are represented by the RFID signalling; looking up the locations of the RFID tags based on the determined identifiers in computer memory; determining the distance from the RFID antenna to each of the RFID tags; and determining the antenna-location based on the determined distances to the locations of each of RFID tags.
  9. 9. The system of any preceding claim, wherein the mobile sensor system comprises: a first RFID antenna configured to provide first-RFID-signalling that is representative of the one or more RFID tags that are at the fixed locations in the warehouse; and a second RFID antenna configured to provide second-RFID-signalling that is representative of the one or more RFID tags that are at the fixed locations in the warehouse; and wherein the controller is configured to: process the first-RFID-signalling and the second-RFID-signalling to determine the antenna-location that represents the location of the first and second RFID antennas in the warehouse when the first-RFID-signalling and the second-RFID-signalling was acquired.
  10. 10. The system of any preceding claim, wherein the air quality sensor is configured to be located at a lower region of the vehicle.
  11. 11. The system of any preceding claim, wherein, the mobile sensor system further comprises: an environmental sensor configured to provide environmental-signalling that represents one or more sensed environmental characteristics; and the controller is configured to: associate the environmental-signalling with the determined antenna-location for RFID-signalling that was acquired at substantially the same time; and provide an environmental-output-signal based on the association between the air-environmental-signalling and the determined antenna-location.
  12. 12. The system of claim 11, wherein the environmental sensor comprises one or more of: a temperature sensor; a humidity sensor; a noise / sound sensor; and a light sensor.
  13. 13. The system of claim 11 or claim 12, wherein the environmental-output-signal comprises a map of the warehouse with indicators of the one or more sensed environmental characteristics at different locations on the map.
  14. 14. The system of any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein the environmental-output-signal comprises an environmental-warning-signal if the one or more sensed environmental characteristics exceeds a threshold.
  15. 15. The system of any one of claims 11 to 14, wherein the environmental-output-signal comprises an air-quality-warning-signal if the one or more sensed environmental characteristics associated with a predetermined location in the warehouse exceeds a threshold.
  16. 16. The system of any preceding claim, further comprising: one or more static sensor systems at known locations in the warehouse, the static sensor system comprising an air quality sensor configured to provide staticsensor-air-quality-signalling that represents an air quality value; and wherein the controller is configured to: provide the air-quality-output-signal based on: the static-sensor-air-quality-signalling and the known locations of the associated one or more static sensor systems; and the association between the air-quality-signalling and the determined antenna-location.
  17. 17. A vehicle comprising the system of any one of claims 1 to 15.
  18. 18. A method for monitoring air quality in a warehouse, the method comprising: processing RFID-signalling that is provided by an RFID antenna to determine an antenna-location that represents the location of the RFID antenna in the warehouse when the RFID-signalling was acquired, wherein the RFID antenna is attached to a vehicle that moves around the warehouse, and wherein the RFID-signalling is representative of one or more RFID tags that are at fixed locations in the warehouse; associating air-quality-signalling provided by an air quality sensor with the determined antenna-location for RFID-signalling that was acquired at substantially the same time, wherein the air quality sensor is also attached to the vehicle that moves around the warehouse; and providing an air-quality-output-signal based on the association between the airquality-signalling and the determined antenna-location.
GB2216251.5A 2022-11-02 2022-11-02 A system for a warehouse Pending GB2623982A (en)

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Citations (4)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20030203730A1 (en) * 2002-04-11 2003-10-30 Dadong Wan Location-based remote monitoring
US20080191845A1 (en) * 2007-02-09 2008-08-14 Symbol Technologies, Inc. Location-Based Power Management in RFID Applications
US20090085741A1 (en) * 2007-09-27 2009-04-02 Symbol Technologies, Inc. Methods and apparatus for locating an rfid reader using rfid tags
US20140074667A1 (en) * 2012-09-11 2014-03-13 Michael D. Smith System and Method for Inventory Control of Mobile Assets

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20030203730A1 (en) * 2002-04-11 2003-10-30 Dadong Wan Location-based remote monitoring
US20080191845A1 (en) * 2007-02-09 2008-08-14 Symbol Technologies, Inc. Location-Based Power Management in RFID Applications
US20090085741A1 (en) * 2007-09-27 2009-04-02 Symbol Technologies, Inc. Methods and apparatus for locating an rfid reader using rfid tags
US20140074667A1 (en) * 2012-09-11 2014-03-13 Michael D. Smith System and Method for Inventory Control of Mobile Assets

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