Radio frequency identification (RFID) stock control and geo-location data system from a moving vehicle

Purpose The purpose of the research has been the primary consideration and evaluation of a cost effective, reliable, robust and simple process of radio frequency identification (RFID)-based stock control, asset management and monitoring of concrete safety bollards used in the road environment. Likewise, the consideration of the use of the same system and technology to other items in and around the general road infrastructure. Design/methodology/approach The research approach undertaken has been an evaluation of the use of currently available RFID technology, with a key emphasis on low cost, ease of use, reliability and convenience. Practical field exercises completed in considering the relevant RFID tags and readers and associated software and apps and necessary software integration and development have been undertaken. At the same time, evaluating the specific limits created in the specific environment is being applied. Of particular interest has been the use of a moving scan in a vehicle drive-through or pass-bye, type reading system. This has been determined to be viable and completely practical, drastically reducing the key issue of time-taken. Practical application of the system from idea to real life application has been undertaken. The integration of the use of the RFID tag and reader system with necessary and related software to database upload and storage has been established. The creation of an online facility to allow the appropriate use of the data and to include the convenient output of an asset report has been undertaken. Findings The findings have provided the necessary insight confirming the use of RFID technology as a simple yet reliable, cost effective and adaptable stock control, asset management and geo-locating system in the road environment. The use of such systems in this particular environment is in its infancy, and is perhaps novel and original in the specific aspect of using the system to stock control, manage and monitor road safety concrete bollards and other roadside objects in the road environment. Originality/value To establish if in fact, stock control geo-locating can be reliably undertaken with the use of RFID tags and readers in the specific road and road construction environment, particularly with the use of moving RFID reading of passive tags. To establish the minimum requirements of a field usable RFID tag and reader, specifically applicable to the concrete safety bollards, however to other roadside furniture. To identify the minimum requirements of a function, simple app to minimise general requirements of the overall stock control and monitoring of the RFID-tagged objects. To establish the possibility of reading the tag data, global positioning system (GPS) location and video imaging footage as a single operation function. To determine the basic parameters or limits of the GPS geo-locating, on the proposed products selected and overall system. To determine the current best practice in respect of reasonable accuracy and detail in relation to price considerations to a fully function stock control and monitoring system. To identify the minimum requirements of an online database to receive, house and provide ongoing access to and report on the data. To identify the key differences and benefits between traditional stock control and monitoring systems, against that of proposed RFID tag, read and geo-locating system.

Changes in Motor Behavior Predict Falls and Identify Acute Events

This study aimed to examine how changes in motor behavior are associated with falls, delirium, and urinary tract infections (UTIs). Twenty-three (128 observations) skilled nursing residents were examined for up to 18 months. In multilevel models, motor behaviors (e.g., time and distance traveled, gait speed), measured by a real-time locating system, were used to predict falls, UTIs, and delirium. Falls were associated with decreased gait speed ( OR = 0.01; p ≤ 0.001) and path distance ( OR = 0.99; p ≤ 0.05); delirium was associated with increased distance traveled ( OR = 1.01; p ≤ 0.001), path distance ( OR = 1.02; p ≤ 0.001), and decreased time traveled ( OR = 0.99; p ≤ 0.001) and path time ( OR = 0.99; p ≤ 0.001); UTIs were associated with increased distance traveled ( OR = 1.01; p ≤ 0.001), decreased time traveled ( OR = 0.99; p ≤ 0.001), and the number of paths ( OR = 0.91; p ≤ 0.01). Subtle changes in motor behavior may be an early warning sign of falls and acute events. Continuous monitoring may enable clinical staff to prevent, identify early, and/or delay these poor health outcomes.

Behavior Modeling for a Beacon-Based Indoor Location System

In this work we performed a comparison between two different approaches to track a person in indoor environments using a locating system based on BLE technology with a smartphone and a smartwatch as monitoring devices. To do so, we provide the system architecture we designed and describe how the different elements of the proposed system interact with each other. Moreover, we have evaluated the system’s performance by computing the mean percentage error in the detection of the indoor position. Finally, we present a novel location prediction system based on neural embeddings, and a soft-attention mechanism, which is able to predict user’s next location with 67% accuracy.

Real-time RSS-based positioning system using neural network algorithm

Locating services have come under the spotlight in recent years in various applications. However, locating methods that use received signal strength have low accuracy due to signal fluctuations. For this purpose, we present a Wi-Fi based locating system using artificial neural network to enhance the positioning process performances. We optimized the Levenberg Marquardt algorithm to propose the better configuration of the multi-layer time-delay perception neural network. We achieved an average error of 10.3 centimeters with a grid of 0.4 meter in four tests. Yet, due to the instability of the received signal strength RSS-based locating systems present a limitation in the resolution finesse that depends on the grid size.

Research on Ultrasonic Transducers to Accurately Determine Distances in a Coal Mine Conditions

Determining the location of objects, for example roadheader in a hard coal mine, is a task that should be automated in the conditions of state-of-the-art mining. Current solutions do not meet the user’s expectations due to the lack of the possibility of automation, maladjustment to the environment of a hard coal mine or not meeting the legal requirements. The article describes the initial stage of work on an automatic system for determining the position of machines in difficult underground conditions, including the analysis of requirements and constraints, an overview of available solutions, technologies and algorithms, as a result of which devices were selected for further tests. To determine the location, it is necessary to take distance measurements with high accuracy, despite the disturbances resulting from the working environment. Ultrasonic devices were selected and then tested under various operating conditions, including different distances between the transmitter and receiver as well as different directions and intensities of air movement that could distort the measurement results. During tests, sufficient accuracy, as well as other parameters, of the ultrasonic transducers were confirmed, allowing for distance measurements in the required range, suitable for use in the real-time locating system (RTLS) being developed.