SubscribeIt is now a technological fact of life that no organisation can justify not knowing exactly where its assets are located at any time of the day or night.
The definition of an “asset” can be very broad but with the launch of the new Tracs SR system from the Security Division of Thales Telematics and Solutions Ltd, it can be applied to anything from a baggage trolley to a dredger.
The breakthrough has come through the development of an intelligent low cost tracking transponder that enables users to escape the heavy financial investment typically demanded by such systems. Low cost transponders are nothing new, of course, but their price is invariably due to their technical simplicity.
When a GPS receiver is linked to a transmitter it can be used for tracking but the technical limitations of such a device can make it impractical for all but a handful of applications. With many years of tracking technology experience behind it, Thales Telematics and Solutions has now developed a new product aimed at meeting the needs and expectations of users in some key applications. The most notable of these is an organisation’s requirement to know what is happening within its specific area of responsibility.
This might be a harbour, an airport or a large commercial operation such as an open-cast mine. The principle of “out of sight, out of mind,” is rarely more apparent than when applied to items such as airport baggage dollies, small work boats or fork lift trucks. Apart from the financial implications associated with misplacing an asset that may have cost several thousand pounds, the inefficiencies that can result from their loss and recovery can have a significant impact upon an organisation’s ability to function effectively.
To appreciate the benefits now available from Tracs SR it is helpful to first understand how it operates. Unlike many other tracking systems, it has been developed specifically for providing coverage of a designated area. It is based on low power, low cost, Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) radio devices that can transmit the mobile unit’s GPS position and identity over ranges up to 5 km. Because all Tracs SR transponders have the ability to relay messages from other mobile units it becomes relatively easy and inexpensive to establish a reliable network. This capability dramatically extends the coverage of the network as mobiles can act as stepping stones for each other if they are at the limit of the coverage area or if their signals are blocked by buildings or local topography.
A problem encountered by many organisations considering the introduction of an asset tracking system is that the transponder can often cost almost as much as the item to be monitored. This is unlikely to apply to a Tracs SR transponder which is entirely contained within its own an antenna housing and only requires a power supply. The housing can offer a variety of interfaces if required and contains a 12 channel GPS receiver, an AVR micro controller and an 868 MHz or 915 MHz transceiver plus antennas.
The Tracs SR mobile unit is based on the recently introduced IEEE Std 802.15.4 standard which is designated for simple, low cost and low power wireless connectivity for fixed and mobile devices. It is designed for applications requiring low data rates and relaxed latency and Tracs SR typically operates at 4.8 Kb/s.
The low data rates make Tracs SR ideal for applications where mobiles are only required to transmit position reports at intervals that may range from several minutes to many hours. The frequency of the updates would depend upon the number of mobiles being served by the network but it is possible for updates to be transmitted at a higher rate, say every ten seconds, if an external event occurs or if an exclusion zone is infringed.
For an airline or an airport operator, the use of a Tracs SR network can have a more direct benefit upon its balance sheet. The transponders can be fitted to a wide range of mobile assets that are used within the airport perimeter. The most obvious candidates are the tracking dollies that can become dispersed, accidentally or deliberately, to the farthest corners of an airport and demand considerable time and effort in their recovery. Apart from the man hours wasted in their search and retrieval, the airline may find it necessary to own more dollies than it actually needs for its purposes due to their frequent disappearance. When they are fitted with Tracs SR their location is known at all times and their recovery can become immediate. When the airline has its full complement of dollies income can be generated by selling those that are found surplus to its requirements.
Although an airport bus or truck may be easier to find, collisions with aircraft or other vehicles are a persistent problem that can cause considerable expense. The owners of vehicles fitted with Tracs SR will automatically enjoy the ability to deploy their assets more efficiently as they will be able to assign the nearest available vehicle to a task. By maintaining a permanent record of the vehicle’s movements they will also be able to identify any involved with an incident.
This might be achieved by studying the record of its movements or, if preferred, by fitting the vehicle with a sensor that detects any sudden impact. By linking the sensor to the Tracs SR unit an immediate alarm message can be sent to the controller who will be able to identify the driver involved and the location of the impact. The knowledge that such monitoring is in place can have a marked effect upon the performance and work output of a driver. It is similarly possible to designate areas within the airport that will activate an alarm if the vehicle enters them without authorisation and thereby reduce the risk of costly accidents occurring in the first place.
The loss or misplacement of vehicles can also have cost implications if a vehicle cannot be found in time for its scheduled maintenance. Many man hours can be wasted when employees roam the airport searching for assets and this can ultimately have an impact upon airline staffing levels as a workforce is likely to become larger than is needed to compensate for their absence. Because the whereabouts of vehicles fitted with Tracs SR transponders are known at all times, efficiency improves significantly.
This increased level of control can also extend to vehicle availability as the Tracs SR unit can be connected to a wide range of sensors on board. Even if, for example, individual drivers neglect to refuel their vehicle at the end of their shift it can be possible for the controller to monitor the vehicle’s fuel level remotely and ensure that it is ready for use when required.
The cost savings achievable through more efficient working practices or the better use and control of assets, whether on water or on land, can have a significant impact on any organisation. Those that cannot confidently vouch for the location of their assets at all times would therefore be advised to calculate for itself the cost and security benefits that such knowledge would bring. The advent of Tracs SR now makes the creation of affordable tracking networks a realistic option.
