Project Proposal

ABSTRACT

This project is an attempt to use a wireless protocol to design a system that will monitor and track objects within a specified, confined area. The object (or robot) will be monitored using sensors, a radar device, and a computer that will communicate to the robot the location of the object.

There are two main problems that must be addressed in order to successfully complete this project. The first problem involves choosing the appropriate wireless protocol. Many such protocols exist and include, but are not limited to: Global Positioning System (GPS), Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), Infrared, and Micropower Impulse Radar (MIR). The technology that will be used in this project is RFID.

The group expects that the project can eventually be expanded to serve a larger scale purpose. For example, the technology could be used by correctional facilities to keep track of where their patients are located within the facility. Therefore, it is important to choose a technology that will serve on both a smaller and larger scale.

The second problem involves writing the necessary software so that the radar and the sensor(s) can communicate the necessary information to the main computer. In the case of the project, the main computer would be a PC. On a larger scale such as the correctional facility, the main computer might be a computer accessible by security and staff, which would keep track of where all the patients are located. Also, the computer would need to able to support information sent by multiple sensors to multiple radar devices at once.

While the group intends to solve the two main problems, there are additional problems that the group will encounter. Such problems include getting sponsorship and/or funding to purchase the necessary parts. The group intends to address all such problems in an attempt to successfully develop a method by which objects can be tracked using wireless protocols.

INTRODUCTION

Over the last few decades, the use of robots to model real-life scenarios has become an increasing tactic used by companies worldwide. Robots have been used to navigate unfamiliar environments, carry out a wide variety of tasks at once, and perform several other duties. In the case of the Multiple-Robot Network, robots will be used to model a large-scale facility which requires the tracking of patients or objects using wireless protocols.

The idea of tracking objects has become increasingly important in this market, and extensive research and background information is necessary for a more efficient and faster system. RAdio Detection And Ranging, more commonly known as RADAR, is the method of using radio waves to detect the existence of an object and then to find its position in relation to a known point. Stationary or moving objects can be detected by means of a radar. In fact, the precise position, speed, and course of the object can also be obtained.

There have been many technological advances made using radar detectors. Our objective is to seek and improve upon the present technology by creating a tracking system for a network of robots that is efficient, high-speed, and exceptionally reliable. The following technologies including infrared beacon, radio triangulation, and micropower impulse radiation have been considered.

INFRARED BEACON TECHNOLOGY

Infrared (IR) light, which is primarily thermal radiation, is a measure of temperature. In infrared communication, an LED transmits the infrared signals as a burst of non-visible light. At the receiving end a photodiode or photoreceptor detects and captures the light pulses, which are then processed to retrieve the information they contain.

Some of the advantages of IR are that it has low power requirements, low circuitry costs, simple circuitry, higher security, portability, and high noise immunity. The major disadvantage of the IR is line of sight, that is, transmitters and receivers must be almost directly aligned to communicate. Another major disadvantage is that transmission is blocked by common material like people, walls, plants, etc. It has short range, sensitivity to light and weather, and has lower speed than a typical wired transmission. Infrared imaging equipment is expensive and ranges from 1000 to 100,000 dollars.

The senior design project is required to track an object in a confined area. This might require the detection of an object across a wall and/or a person. Infrared beacon technology will not be able to perform this type of function. The receiver and transmitter will most likely not be in a straight line, and therefore will not be able to detect the object. The use of IR beacon technology is very limited in terms of range and reliability. Therefore, IR beacon technology will not be used because it does not suit the specified purpose.

RADIO TRIANGULATION

Radio Triangulation technology works as a coordination between two or more receivers and a transmitter. The location of the transmitter can be determined by calculating the propagation time of the radio signals between the transmitters and the receivers. A very common example of radio triangulation is the global positioning system (GPS).

Radio Triangulation consists of two parts: a transmitter, and multiple receivers. Advantages of the technology include reliability, expandability, and the fact that it is capable of covering a huge area. However, the disadvantages are greater. They include large error margin, expensive, and it cannot be used in confined areas.

MICROPOWER IMPULSE RADAR

Micropower Impulse Radar (MIR) is a recent technology developed in 1993 by Tom McEwan at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL). It is generally labeled the '$10 genie on a chip.' MIR uses off-the-shelf components to outperform conventional radar and sensor equipment costing as much as $40,000. MIR, which is based on the radiation of short voltage impulses that are reflected off nearby objects and detected by MIR's extremely high-speed sampling receiver, can detect both stationary and moving objects. In fact, MIR can infiltrate materials such as rubber, plastic, wood, concrete, glass, ice, and mud.

MIR has become increasingly popular because unlike other competitors it radiates much shorter wavelengths and is constructed using a smaller number of components. In addition, it provides an unprecedented combination of features, including sharply defined maximum operating range, several year battery life, randomized spread-spectrum emissions, and low cost.

This technology will require a radar device, sensors, and a central computer. The central computer, which would be quite fast, would be required to perform several tasks including determining location and course. The software for the system would be programmed in C++ or Visual Basic.

Due to its cost, range, and expandability MIR seems to be a promising choice for the objective of monitoring and tracking objects in a confined area with precision and reliability.

DESIGN REQUIREMENTS

Design objectives and functional requirements

This project will require two main things: something to monitor and some way to monitor it. In designing this system, the team has considered different technologies, all discussed below, and decided to use MIR to implement the system.

Human tracking

The main application would be to track people inside a confined area. Some uses include tracking patients inside a nursing home to make sure the patients do not try to leave and tracking prisoners inside a prison to make sure that they are always in an area that they are authorized to be in. The best way to implement such a system would be to detect the transition between rooms using a radio frequency identification system. Such a system would have several requirements enumerated in the Design Approaches section below.

Design Objectives

The design must include:
" Sensors would need to be worn by all persons being tracked.
" Radars would need to be placed strategically to minimize the number of radars necessary.
" A central computer would be needed to process all transactions between the radars and the sensors.

Functional Requirements

" The sensors would need to be encoded with unique identifiers in order to distinguish between all persons.
" A sufficient number of radars would have to be placed to cover the entire area since the MIR radars have a range of only 20 feet, each.
" The radars must be able to read and identify the identification code sent back by the sensors.
" The radars must be networked to some central computer informing it of which sensors are in which locations.
" The computer must be able to accept signals from all radars.
" The computer must be able to display location information upon demand.
The computer must be able to set off an alarm in case of a perimeter breach.