Smart container monitoring using custom-made WSN technology: from business case to prototype

Peter Ruckebusch,Ingrid Moerman,Jeroen Hoebeke,Eli De Poorter

doi:10.1186/s13638-018-1024-6

Peter Ruckebusch, Ingrid Moerman + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/s13638-018-1024-6

Copy DOI

Abstract

This paper reports on the development of a prototype solution for tracking and monitoring shipping containers. Deploying wireless sensor networks (WSNs) in an operational environment remains a challenging task. We strongly believe that standardized methodologies and tools could enhance future WSN deployments and enable rapid prototype development. Therefore, we choose to use a step-by-step approach where each step gives us more insight in the problem at hand while shielding some of the complexity of the final solution. We observed that environment emulation is of the utmost importance, especially for harsh wireless conditions inside a container stacking. This lead us to extend our test lab with wireless link emulation capabilities. It is also essential to assess feasibility of concepts and design choices after every stage during prototype development. This enabled us to create innovative WSN solutions, including a multi-MAC framework and a robust gateway selection algorithm.

Highlights

Over the last few years, several research aspects of wireless sensor networks (WSNs) have been explored
We observed that device 4 had the lowest RSSI values. This can be explained by considering that device 4 is on the edge of the stack and it is not surrounded with other containers
8 Conclusions In this work, we have presented a prototype for container monitoring

Summary

Introduction

Over the last few years, several research aspects of wireless sensor networks (WSNs) have been explored. The device can directly send the data by turning on and using its UMTS/GPRS radio or can forward it over IEEE-802.15.4 to a nearby router, thereby saving energy This way, neighboring containers will all transmit around the same time and communication between containers can be more optimized: a single tracking device can turn on its UMTS/GPRS radio and share it with other devices It is important to know how the tracking device will behave in the worst-case scenario: no inter-container communication, no UMTS/GPRS sharing, and never in the more energy-efficient SVE mode. In this scenario, the tracking device always uses its own UMTS/GPRS and GPS module every x-hour.

GPS module

MCU LPM

Conclusions