Systems and methods for welding asset movement tracking
Systems and methods for welding asset movement tracking are disclosed. In some examples, a welding asset tracking system may comprise an asset tracking network of tags, hubs, and/or gateways retained by welding assets within a welding area. Directions of travel of monitored assets may be determined by comparing the order in which assets are identified by the asset tracking network. The travel directions, travel paths, and/or ingress and egress of tracked assets from welding areas are stored for subsequent analysis and/or retrieval. Additionally or alternatively, functionality of tracked assets may be disabled and/or enabled based on whether the assets are authorized to be removed from a designated area.
1 . A welding asset tracking system, comprising:
a first detector positioned at a first detector location proximate a portal or boundary of a welding area, the first detector configured to:
obtain a tag identifier of a tag, or an asset identifier of a welding asset comprising the tag, at a first time when the welding asset is in proximity of the first detector, and
transmit one or more first signals representative of (i) a first detector identifier of the first detector, or the first detector location of the first detector, (ii) the asset identifier, or the tag identifier, and (iii) the first time;
a second detector positioned at a second detector location that is closer to, or farther from, the portal or boundary than the first detector location, the second detector configured to:
obtain the tag identifier or the asset identifier at a second time when the welding asset is in proximity of the second detector, and
transmit one or more second signals representative of (i) a second detector identifier of the second detector, or the second detector location of the second detector, (ii) the asset identifier, or the tag identifier, and (iii) the second time; and
a welding asset tracking server configured to:
receive the one or more first signals and the one or more second signals,
determine a travel direction of the welding asset based on the first detector location of the first detector, the first time, the second detector location of the second detector, and the second time, and
in response to determining the travel direction is towards or away from the portal or boundary of the welding area, update a welding asset tracking database to indicate the welding asset has entered into, or departed from, the welding area.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first detector comprises first communication circuitry configured to obtain the tag identifier or the asset identifier from the tag of the welding asset, and the second detector comprises second communication circuitry configured to obtain the tag identifier or the asset identifier from the tag of the welding asset.
3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the welding asset tracking server is configured to send an enable signal to the welding asset through the first detector or second detector in response to determining the welding asset has entered into the welding area.
4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the welding asset tracking server is configured to send a disable signal to the welding asset via the first detector or the second detector in response to determining the welding asset has departed from the welding area.
5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the welding asset comprises a wire feeder, welding power supply, operator badge, welding helmet, air-purifying respirator, wire spool, wire barrel, work order, workpiece, welding gun, grinder, fume extractor, foot pedal, gas bottle regulator, power supply pendant, weld cable, or sensor module.
6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the welding asset comprises a first welding asset, and the first detector or second detector is retained by a second welding asset.
7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first detector or second detector comprises a gateway.
8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first detector comprises a first portion of a gateway and the second detector comprise a second portion of the gateway.
9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first detector or second detector comprises a hub, or the first detector comprises a first portion of the hub and the second detector comprises a second portion of the hub.
10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first detector is configured to obtain the tag identifier wirelessly.
11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the welding asset comprises a wire feeder, welding power supply, operator badge, welding helmet, air-purifying respirator, wire spool, wire barrel, work order, workpiece, welding gun, grinder, fume extractor, foot pedal, gas bottle regulator, power supply pendant, weld cable, or sensor module.
12 . A method of determining a travel direction of a welding asset moving through a welding area, comprising:
receiving, at a welding asset tracking server, one or more first signals from a first detector, the one or more first signals being representative of (i) a tag identifier of a tag, or an asset identifier of a welding asset comprising the tag, (ii) a first detector position of the first detector, or a first detector identifier of the first detector, and (iii) a first time when the first detector obtained the tag identifier or the asset identifier;
receiving, at the welding asset tracking server, one or more second signals from a second detector, the one or more second signals being representative of (i) the tag identifier of the tag, or the asset identifier of the welding asset comprising the tag, (ii) a second detector position of the second detector, or a second detector identifier of the second detector, and (iii) a second time when the second detector obtained the tag identifier or the asset identifier;
determining, via processing circuitry of the welding asset tracking server, a travel direction of the welding asset based on the first detector position, the first time, the second detector position, and the second time; and
in response to determining the travel direction is towards or away from a portal or boundary of the welding area, updating a welding asset tracking database to indicate the welding asset has entered into or departed from the welding area.
13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the first detector is positioned at the first detector position proximate a portal or boundary of a welding area and the second detector is positioned at the second detector position that is closer to, or farther from, the portal or boundary than the first detector position.
14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the tag comprises an RFID tag.
15 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the one or more second signals are representative of the second detector identifier, the method further comprising determining, via the processing circuitry, the second detector position based on the second detector identifier.
16 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the one or more first signals are representative of the first detector identifier of the first detector, wherein the method further comprises determining the first detector position based on the first detector identifier.
17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein determining the first detector position comprises looking up a stored detector position corresponding to the first detector identifier.
18 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising sending an enable signal to the welding asset through the first detector or second detector in response to determining the welding asset has entered into the welding area.
19 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising sending a disable signal to the welding asset through the first detector or the second detector in response to determining the welding asset has departed from the welding area.
20 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the welding asset comprises a first welding asset, and the first detector or second detector is retained by a second welding asset.