Non-contact, non-powered RFID ... at 30 MPH covered in snow.
stamptrol
Posts: 1,731
Looking for ideas for our highway department.
On our highways, there are sections of guard-rail in various places which also have energy dissipating end units to increase survivability when a motorist hits them at speed. They work well and cost about $5K to replace after being hit.
We also get huge amounts of snow which can completely cover the guard rail ends for months at a time. Traditionally, the end of the guard rail is marked by a stake or other marker to warn the plow driver to either lift the wing plow or veer away in guarded sections. The stakes are easily damaged or otherwise obscured thus increasing the likelihood of the plow hitting the end of the guard rail. Hitting the ends can damage the wing plow or the plow truck or can force it into the other lane of traffic. It can also cause the driver to have to change his shorts!
The ideal solution is to put some kind of static RFID tag down the road ahead of the guard rail end so the driver is warned well in advance. The RFID detector would be on the truck. Realistically, the RFID tag has to be read as the truck goes by about 10 feet away at 30 - 40 MPH.(50 - 70 KPH). So far the RFID systems we've seen operate at much shorter distances. The tag would be down the road about 100 feet to give 2 or 3 secs to get the wing plow up.
Any thoughts on novel approaches or perhaps an RFID system that has long range?
Thanks,
Tom
On our highways, there are sections of guard-rail in various places which also have energy dissipating end units to increase survivability when a motorist hits them at speed. They work well and cost about $5K to replace after being hit.
We also get huge amounts of snow which can completely cover the guard rail ends for months at a time. Traditionally, the end of the guard rail is marked by a stake or other marker to warn the plow driver to either lift the wing plow or veer away in guarded sections. The stakes are easily damaged or otherwise obscured thus increasing the likelihood of the plow hitting the end of the guard rail. Hitting the ends can damage the wing plow or the plow truck or can force it into the other lane of traffic. It can also cause the driver to have to change his shorts!
The ideal solution is to put some kind of static RFID tag down the road ahead of the guard rail end so the driver is warned well in advance. The RFID detector would be on the truck. Realistically, the RFID tag has to be read as the truck goes by about 10 feet away at 30 - 40 MPH.(50 - 70 KPH). So far the RFID systems we've seen operate at much shorter distances. The tag would be down the road about 100 feet to give 2 or 3 secs to get the wing plow up.
Any thoughts on novel approaches or perhaps an RFID system that has long range?
Thanks,
Tom
Comments
Here is a UHF device which claims to read 1 to 25 meters, but through a snow bank is is getting a bit too much. Can you listen to a radio station while scuba diving?
http://www.robotshop.com/en/long-range-adjustable-1m-25m-uhf-rfid-reader.html
That reader looks interesting. Haven't quite sorted out their reference to 902-928 MHz when the tags operate at 125Khz.
Cheers,
This system looks like the receiving transponder needs to be powered, which would not work in your case.
http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php/155199-Active-RFID-tag-small-light-and-long-range
You'll have to supply the bee and battery.
Jim
Yes we have the EZ-Pass here as well for toll control on bridges and hiways.
But, you're quite right that both ends are powered.
Cheers,
Cheers,
You could use your GPS based heading to determine the side of the road that you're on. Guard would have 3 values: lat, long, and heading. You have to be +- for each of those before it warns you.
Edit: I get it. You're talking about a divided highway, where rails may be on either my left or my right side. Correct? In which case the heading option wouldn't work. But you could just add an extra value to each point: left side of road, right side of road.
-Phil
The RFID tags that we use in WA (Good to Go) for toll collection are not powered.
You don't happen to know the manufacturer of the Washington system, do you?
Thanks,