The digital supply chain requires visibility across 100% of the route

Real-time cargo monitoring is only possible with a good tracking product.

Real Time Intelligent Cargo Monitoring

OHB Digital Services is developing an innovative container tracking system in collaboration with its sister companies LuxSpace and OHB Teledata, as well as its partner arviem. The wireless sensor network is designed to enable the location and status tracking of cargo on ships, trains, and trucks. A contract worth €2.5 million was signed between ESA and LuxSpace for this project. This was preceded by a testing and analysis phase with potential customers, during which the specific requirements for a smart system to track particularly high-value cargo were identified. In addition to software design, OHB Digital Services is also responsible for project management.

Topic:

Software Development

Customer:

OHB Teledata GmbH
arviem AG
Luxspace S.a.r.l

Links:

https://www.ohb-teledata.de/

https://arviem.com/

https://luxspace.lu/

Monitoring unit

At the heart of the system is a box that can be easily attached to the container and contains the technology for monitoring it. The prototype was developed by arviem, OHB Teledata, and OHB Digital Services. It includes GPS positioning, GPRS communication, temperature and humidity monitoring, door sensors, and other basic functions. These are supplemented by the requirements identified during the test phase:

Over-the-air software updates
Communication via the Iridium satellite communication system
Wireless communication with sensors attached to the goods
Processing and Storing Geofences

Over-the-air software updates

Time and cost savings for customers through secure over-the-air software updates at any time, regardless of the units’ location: Previously, the units had to be returned in order to update the software. The new wireless transmission is made possible by enhancements to the communication server and the unit’s software.

Reliable communication

Alert messages must reach customers as quickly as possible so that appropriate countermeasures can be taken. To ensure this even at sea, both the communication server and the unit are capable of maintaining communication via GSM and the Iridium satellite communication system.

Sensors attached to or embedded in products can also transmit data wirelessly to the unit, enabling, for example, more precise temperature control.

Geofencing improves security

The customer can define one or more areas within which certain actions are permitted or where entering those areas triggers alarm notifications. For example, opening a container may be permitted only in predefined port areas, or stopping within certain zones may trigger alarm notifications.

Positioning

Navigation and other vessel data are provided by LuxSpace’s AIS data service, transmitted to the service provider’s container monitoring portal, and displayed there. The positions of the units are tracked using a GPS/GPRS dual-core processor chip.

Project partners

OHB Teledata GmbH was founded in 1993 by the Fuchs Group and is a medium-sized telematics systems provider headquartered in Bremen. Among other things, the company develops industry-specific telematics systems for commercial vehicle fleets. In this project, Teledata is responsible for systems engineering and series production.

arviem AG, headquartered in Baar, Switzerland, provides real-time monitoring services and hardware and software technologies to logistics service providers worldwide. arviem is responsible for requirements analysis, testing, and pilot runs with customers.

LuxSpace S.à.r.l.has been a subsidiary of OHB SE since 2004 and is headquartered in Betzdorf, Luxembourg. The company provides systems and services in the aerospace and defense sectors, with a focus on small satellites for science, communications, navigation, and Earth observation. LuxSpace is responsible for integrating the AIS data into the project.