The digital supply chain needs visibility on 100% of the route

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

Real Time Intelligent Cargo Monitoring

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

Description:

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

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

Software updates over-the-air
Communication via Iridium satellite communication system
Wireless communication with sensors on the goods
Processing and saving geofences

Software updates over-the-air

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

Reliable communication

Alarm messages must reach the customer in the shortest possible time so that appropriate countermeasures can be taken. To ensure this also at sea, both the communication server and the unit are enabled to maintain communication via GSM and the Iridium satellite communication system.

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

Geofencing increases security

The customer has the option of defining one or more areas within which certain actions are permitted or which trigger alarm messages when reached. For example, opening a container can only be permitted in predefined port areas or stopping within certain zones triggers alarm messages.

Positioning

Position determination

Navigation and other vessel data is 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 recorded using a GPS/GPRS/dual-core processor chip.

Project partners

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

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

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