Process digitalization technology

Abstract

A system and method for tracking actions of mobile assets used to perform a process within a facility includes a plurality of object trackers positioned throughout the facility to monitor, detect and digitize actions, including movement, of a mobile asset within the facility. The mobile asset includes an identifier which is detectable by each object tracker to track the movement and location of the detected asset in real time. Each object tracker includes at least one sensor for monitoring and detecting the asset and its identifier, where the input sensed by the sensor is transmitted to a computer within the object tracker for time stamping with a detected time, and processing of the sensor input using one or more algorithms to identify the asset ID and the asset type associated with the detected identifier, and the asset's location in the facility and interactions at the detected time.

1 . A method for tracking actions of mobile assets used to perform a process within a facility, the method comprising:
 positioning an object tracker at a tracker location within the facility;   providing a plurality of mobile assets to the facility;   wherein each mobile asset includes an identifier which is unique to the mobile asset;   wherein the mobile asset is associated in a database with the identifier, an asset ID and an asset type;   wherein the object tracker defines a detection zone relative to the tracker location;   wherein the object tracker comprises:
 a sensor configured to collect sensor input within the detection zone; 
 a tracker computer in communication with the sensor to receive the sensor input; 
 at least one algorithm for:
 time stamping the sensor input with a detection time; 
 processing the sensor input to identify the identifier; 
 processing the identifier to identify the asset ID and the asset type associated with the identifier; and 
 generating an asset entry including the asset ID, the asset type, and the detection time; 
 
   the method further comprising:
 collecting, via the sensor, the sensor input wherein collecting the sensor input includes detecting the identifier when the mobile asset is located in the detection zone; 
 receiving, via the tracker computer, the sensor input; 
 time stamping, via the tracker computer, the sensor input with a detection time; 
 processing, via the tracker computer, the sensor input to identify the identifier; 
 processing, via the tracker computer, the identifier to identify the asset ID and the asset type associated with the identifier; and 
 generating, via the tracker computer, the asset entry. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the tracker computer is in communication with a central data broker via a network, the method further comprising:
 digitizing the asset entry using the object tracker;   transmitting the asset entry to the central data broker via the network;   mapping the asset entry to an asset action list using the central data broker; and   storing the asset action list to the database;   wherein the asset entry and the asset action list are each associated with the asset ID and the asset type associated with the identifier.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 analyzing, via an analyst in communication with the database, the asset action list;   wherein analyzing the asset action list comprises:
 determining an action event defined by the asset action list; and 
 determining an action event duration of the action event. 
   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 generating, via the analyst, a tracking map defined by the asset action list;   wherein the tracking map visually displays at least one action performed by the mobile asset associated via the asset ID and asset type with the asset action list.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 generating, via the analyst, a heartbeat defined by the asset action list;   wherein the heartbeat visually displays the action event duration and the action event.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein analyzing the asset action list comprises:
 determining a plurality of action events defined by the asset action list; and   determining a respective action event duration for each action event of the plurality of action events;   ordering the plurality of action events in a sequence according to time of occurrence;   generating, via the analyst, the heartbeat;   wherein the heartbeat visually displays the respective action event duration and the action event of each of the plurality of action events in the sequence.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises a camera; and
 wherein the sensor input is an image of the detection zone collected by the camera.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the camera is an infrared sensitive camera. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the camera is a thermographic infrared sensitive camera. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises an RFID reader;
 wherein the identifier includes an RFID tag; and   wherein the sensor input is RFID data read from the RFID tag by the RFID reader.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mobile asset includes a plurality of labels arranged in a pattern;
 wherein the pattern defines the identifier.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the object tracker is affixed to a structure of the facility, such that the object tracker is fixed in position. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the object tracker is affixed to one of the mobile assets, such that the object tracker is mobile. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the object tracker comprises at least one algorithm for processing the sensor input to identify an interaction of the mobile asset at the detection time;
 the method further comprising:
 processing, via the tracker computer, the sensor input to identify the interaction; and 
 inputting the interaction to the asset entry. 
   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the object tracker comprises at least one algorithm for processing the sensor input to identify a location of the mobile asset at the detection time;
 the method further comprising:
 processing, via the tracker computer, the sensor input to identify the location; and 
 inputting the location to the asset entry. 
   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the object tracker is one of a plurality of object trackers; and   each one of the object trackers defines a detection zone relative to the tracker location;   the method further comprising:   positioning each of the object trackers at a respective tracker location within the facility;   wherein the detection zone of each one of the object trackers overlaps the detection zone of at least one other of the object trackers.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of mobile assets comprises:
 at least one component part; and   at least one part carrier.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mobile asset is a part carrier configured to carry at least one component part; and
 wherein the object tracker comprises at least one algorithm for processing the sensor input to determine a quantity of component parts carried by the at least one part carrier;   the method further comprising:
 processing, via the tracker computer, the sensor input to determine the quantity of component parts; and 
 inputting the quantity to the asset entry. 
   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mobile asset is a component part; and
 wherein the object tracker comprises at least one algorithm for processing the sensor input to determine an inspection result for the component part using the sensor input;   the method further comprising:
 processing, via the tracker computer, the sensor input to determine the inspection result; and 
 inputting the inspection result to the asset entry. 
   
     
     
         20 . A system for tracking actions of mobile assets used to perform a process within a facility, the system comprising:
 an object tracker positioned at a tracker location within a facility;   a plurality of mobile assets located within the facility;   wherein each mobile asset includes an identifier which is unique to the mobile asset;   wherein the mobile asset is associated in a database with the identifier, an asset ID and an asset type;   wherein the object tracker defines a detection zone relative to the tracker location;   wherein the object tracker comprises:
 a sensor configured to collect sensor input within the detection zone; 
 wherein collecting the sensor input includes detecting the identifier when the mobile asset is located in the detection zone; 
 a tracker computer in communication with the sensor to receive the sensor input; 
 at least one algorithm for:
 time stamping the sensor input with a detection time; 
 processing the sensor input to identify the identifier; 
 processing the identifier to identify the asset ID and the asset type associated with the identifier; and 
 generating an asset entry including the asset ID, the asset type, and the detection time.