Self-powered smart inventory monitoring system
Lead Participant:
CODEGATE LIMITED
Abstract
In this project, Codegate and Lightricity will jointly develop an automated and self-powered smart inventory monitoring system (LuxBase) that can detect the weight and quantity of any product/item in picking bins, covering logistics, manufacturing and retail use-cases.
This project will build on a previous feasibility study carried out by Codegate on smart bins based on passive RFID technology. The study highlighted some key drawbacks of RFID for such inventory applications:
* the prohibitive cost and high number of required RFID readers
* the limited range and accuracy of the RFID chip sensors
* the regular replacement of batteries when using active RFID tags to increase device performance
* the lack of compatibility/interoperability between competing inventory systems.
This project aims to address the above costs and functional limitations of RFID by switching to a BLE-based wireless protocol and by using indoor and/or ambient light as a renewable source of energy to avoid the maintenance costs related to battery replacements.
The consortium will focus on a retrofittable and interoperable solution that can be deployed at scale and at much lower cost than existing systems. The LuxBase system will combine high accuracy ultra-low power weight sensors and RF electronics, and Lightricity's unique indoor PV technology that can provide up to 6 times more power per area than commercially available alternatives. Up to hundreds of LuxBase will be able to connect to Codegate proprietary middleware and cloud platform. System calibration will be enabled by a dedicated Android-app that can operate on most smart phones. The system will be demonstrated in real use case situations at participating end users.
This project will build on a previous feasibility study carried out by Codegate on smart bins based on passive RFID technology. The study highlighted some key drawbacks of RFID for such inventory applications:
* the prohibitive cost and high number of required RFID readers
* the limited range and accuracy of the RFID chip sensors
* the regular replacement of batteries when using active RFID tags to increase device performance
* the lack of compatibility/interoperability between competing inventory systems.
This project aims to address the above costs and functional limitations of RFID by switching to a BLE-based wireless protocol and by using indoor and/or ambient light as a renewable source of energy to avoid the maintenance costs related to battery replacements.
The consortium will focus on a retrofittable and interoperable solution that can be deployed at scale and at much lower cost than existing systems. The LuxBase system will combine high accuracy ultra-low power weight sensors and RF electronics, and Lightricity's unique indoor PV technology that can provide up to 6 times more power per area than commercially available alternatives. Up to hundreds of LuxBase will be able to connect to Codegate proprietary middleware and cloud platform. System calibration will be enabled by a dedicated Android-app that can operate on most smart phones. The system will be demonstrated in real use case situations at participating end users.
Lead Participant | Project Cost | Grant Offer |
|---|---|---|
| CODEGATE LIMITED | £91,019 | £ 63,714 |
Participant |
||
| LIGHTRICITY LIMITED | £171,632 | £ 120,142 |
| INNOVATE UK |
People |
ORCID iD |
| Graham Fenton (Project Manager) |