An automated gate system based on RFID technology. HYUNG RIM ... information system and operating equipments ... diverse jobs of container terminal gates.
Proceedings of the 10th WSEAS International Conference on SYSTEMS, Vouliagmeni, Athens, Greece, July 10-12, 2006 (pp251-257)
An automated gate system based on RFID technology HYUNG RIM CHOI Department of MIS, Dong-A University, 840 Hadan-dong, Saha-gu, Busan 604-714, KOREA NAM KYU PARK Department of Distribution Management, Tongmyoung University, Busan, KOREA BYUNG JOO PARK Department of MIS, Dong-A University, Busan, KOREA DONG HO YOO Department of MIS, Dong-A University, Busan, KOREA HAE KYOUNG KWON Department of port and logistics systems, Dong-A University, Busan, KOREA JOONG JO SHIN Department of MIS, Dong-A University, Busan, KOREA
Abstract: - Many container terminals all over the world strive to be mega-hub port through improving efficiency of terminal operation with high technology. Not only operating equipments in container terminal, but also container terminal gates are introducing state-of-the-art technologies in order to develop an effective gate system. This study focuses on an automation of identification task at gate. We develop an automated gate system based on RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology. It can make gate operations more effective. Key-words:- Container terminal gate, RFID (Radio Frequency Identification), Automated gate system
1 Introduction By reviewing many advanced container terminals at home and abroad, we can find out that their technologies mainly have concentrated on their information system and operating equipments (including CC, YT, TC, etc.), but recently, thanks to the appearance of RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology, major container terminals are stepping up the automation of truck and container identification at the container terminal gate system. However, these attempts are at the beginning stage, not yet in the practical application. Among diverse functions of a container terminal gate, i.e. identification of truck number and container number, inspection of container damage, confirmation of truck position in the container yard and security related to container seal, this study focuses on developing an automated identification
system using RFID technology that comes into the spotlight. We expect this study will make a great contribution to improving the efficiency and security of a gate system. The remainder of this paper is as follows: section 2 surveys the current environment of the gate systems of major container terminals and introduces required technology for the automated gate system. Section 3 deals with RFID concept, performing many tests along with diverse device configurations for an automated gate system based on RFID. Section 4 explains in detail automated gate system developed on the suggested framework at previous section. The final section concludes with expectations, limits, and directions for future research of this study.
Proceedings of the 10th WSEAS International Conference on SYSTEMS, Vouliagmeni, Athens, Greece, July 10-12, 2006 (pp251-257)
2 Current environment of container terminal gate systems This section arranges the technologies applied to the diverse jobs of container terminal gates.
2.1 Current environment of gate systems at home and abroad The gate of container terminal is a structure that gives access of container cargoes to inside container terminal and plays the role of physical interface with a checking system between a container terminal and outside [1]. This definition is given in terms of hardware aspect including physical fixtures. In fact, however, a terminal gate not only plays the role of physical fixtures, but also performs the software functions of recording and keeping the input and output information of trucks and containers, and additionally playing the role of operational aspect, i.e. checking container damage and providing loading/unloading location to the external trucks. Therefore, the gate of container terminal can be defined as the gateway of performing the tasks of identification, confirmation and security such as approving and checking the input/output of trucks and containers, physical check of containers and providing loading/unloading location to the external trucks. Based on the related preceding literature and our benchmarking survey of container terminal gate all over the world, the current environment of the gates is illustrated in Table 1. As shown in Table 1, most domestic container terminal gates are using a bar code system for the identification of both truck number and container number, but a few gates are using a video identification system together with a bar code system. Owing to low reliability on the video identification system, however, its usage level is very low. In foreign cases, gate jobs are divided into two stages. Each gate performs a different function. For identification task, they introduced, in part or in whole, the video identification technologies such as OCR (Optical Character Reader) and ACDI (Automated Container Damage Inspection). 2.2 Concept and applicable technologies of automated gate system The current technologies for an automated gate system are the bar code and video identification technology (identification technology through OCR). The bar code system has replaced the work of existing gate that has to be done by eyes, thus
bringing in speed and accuracy in information handling. But its cards are apt to be damaged, possibly causing difficulty in reading information. The video identification technologies like OCR have brought much more reliability for gate work than the bar code system or eyes. The OCR technology widely used for an automated gate has additional functions such as image storage, confirmation, and security job, which have been impossible in the bar code system. But, this system needs more initial costs for installation, also being liable to be affected by external environments. Recent environments surrounding the container terminals are demanding higher operational efficiency and tighter global security like SST (Smart & Secure Tradelanes) project supported from a group of American companies [2]. Because of this, the demand on RFID technology is rapidly increasing, and more efforts are being made for the introduction of an RFID technology. Table 1 Current situation of container terminal gate systems
Proceedings of the 10th WSEAS International Conference on SYSTEMS, Vouliagmeni, Athens, Greece, July 10-12, 2006 (pp251-257)
Confirmation Confirmation Confirmation Confirmation Confirmation of movement of truck of container of container of container position number number damage seal at CY
Section
Bar code system + On-Dock alone naked eye (On-dock)
SLIP
Eye
Bar code + Bar code + Video Hutchison Video ID On-Dock alone Jasungdae identification system system
SLIP
No confirmation
Bar code + Bar code + video Hutchison Video ID Gamman identification system system
SLIP
No confirmation
SLIP
Eye
Shinsundae
Domestic (Korea)
Bar code system
Response
RFID Communication Channel
Fig. 1 RFID communication structure No confirmation
Uam
Bar code system
Gate worker On-Dock alone
Dongbu
Bar code system
Gate worker
Confirmation by eye
SLIP
Eye (On-Dock)
Hanjin Gamcheon
Gate staff
Gate worker
-
SLIP
Eye
Hanjin Gamman
Gate staff
Gate worker
-
SLIP
Eye
Sebang Gamman
Bar code system
Gate worker
No confirmation
SLIP
Eye
Korea Express
Gate staff
Gate worker
-
SLIP
Eye
Busan New Port
Video ID system
Video ID system
SLIP
Eye
CTA
Optical ID system
Optical ID system
Prenotification Magnetic card
-
SSA
Optical ID system
Optical ID system
Prenotification
-
TMP
Optical ID system
Optical ID system
Prenotification Magnetic card
HIT
Optical ID system
Optical ID system
Video ID system
-
-
OI
Video ID system
Video ID system
-
-
-
Overseas
Command
-
-
3 The design of an automated gate system based on RFID 3.1 Concept of RFID RFID with the communication structure in Fig. 1 is a very useful tool for business [3]. RFID enables us to read added information via wireless communication media for identification of various objects such as people, cars, cargoes, and cattle. It makes various kinds of manual jobs to be automated [4]. Table 2 shows diverse fields of RFID application.
The international standardization for RFID technology applicable to packing, palette, and container are in progress by the joint working group of TC 104 (container) and TC 122 (packing) of ISO (International Standards Organization). FCC (Federal Communications Commission) of United States has adopted the 433 MHz bandwidth for an active RFID tag attached to the containers. And the attachment of RFID tag plans to be enforced for all inbound containers to United States. Europe also has adopted a 433 MHz-active tag as an RFID standard for containers. The global standard of the RFID for trucks is 860 MHz – 960 MHz, which has being used in the United States, European nations, and Japan. In Korea, 908.5 – 914 MHz was adopted as the bandwidth for logistics and distribution [5]. In this study, we used 433 MHz and 900 MHz RFID tag respectively for containers and trucks according to the RFID international standards [6].
3.2 The structure of an automated gate system based on RFID An automated gate system based on RFID is a system automated by applying RFID technology for identification of truck and container numbers. The system is to automatically identify the external trucks and containers passing through the terminal gate. Table 2 Fields of RFID application
Proceedings of the 10th WSEAS International Conference on SYSTEMS, Vouliagmeni, Athens, Greece, July 10-12, 2006 (pp251-257)
Fields
Purpose of usage
Functional traits
Military, medical
Military supplies/ medical devices management
Specified positioning, diagnostic function, security
Traffic (automatic payment)
Automatic payment on the move
Payment certificate and security for cars on the move
Target price level of RFID tag
About 1
About $10
Linkage control, distribution (container, palette)
Linkage control, and tracking of Prevention against container, palettes, theft and losses and cattle
Aviation, laundry, furniture, arts
Management of air luggage, laundry, luxurious furniture, and arts
High speed reading, counterfeit prevention
10 ~ $1
Manufacture (factory), retail (high-priced items)
Products management, tracking of products and timber
Counterfeit prevention, tracking function
About 5
Retail (low-priced items), traffic (ticketing)
Tracking of retail products, tracking of traffic tickets (paper-based)
Tracking at a low-priced basis
Below 1
$1 ~ $5
In order to develop the system in Fig. 2, we first selected appropriate devices for identification of trucks and containers, and conducted diverse tests to select optimal installation position of antenna and tag for high identification rate. We had tests about various positions of a tag and antenna to check the identification rate of each tag under diverse experiment methods such as truck access patterns and truck speed. First, in order to select attachment position of the tag for truck identification, we attached the tags at 6 positions on the front side and 2 positions on the side of a truck, and put each antenna at different positions as shown in Fig. 3.
Fig. 2 The structure of an automated gate system based on RFID
In case of inbound container, the tests were conducted according to the five access patterns of trucks: a) one truck access on a lane, b) successive trucks access on a lane, c) one truck access respectively on each of two lanes, d) successive trucks access on each of two lanes, e) simultaneous passage of both inbound and outbound trucks. As for truck speed, three kinds of speed – 10 km/h, 20 km/h, and 30 km/h – were tested. The readers, individual identification system (for truck and container), and integrated identification system for identification were installed in an office room near the gate.
Fig. 3 Installation position of the tag and antenna for truck identification
The test results of each tag’s identification ratio are shown in Table 3. Table 3 Test results of tag and antenna installation position for truck identification Installation position of RFID antenna
ID ratio by tag position (%)
Left side of gate entrance (Toward the windshield: 100 100 100 100 50°)
60
50
100 100
Upper side of gate entrance (left), 100 (Toward the windshield: 70°)
90
100
80
40
30
60
60
Upper side of gate entrance (right), 40 (Toward the windshield: 70°)
30
100
70
100
80
50
60
Right side of entrance(Toward windshield: 50°)
20
100
90
100 100
30
20
gate the 40
The test was conducted 10 times per each access pattern of trucks at speed of 10 km/h. 10 km/h is average speed in real gate that has usually speed limit of 20 km/h. The tests of totally 50 times were performed. As a result of these tests, which consider the distance of tag and antenna, driver’s visibility, and convenience of sticking and removal, the antenna at
Proceedings of the 10th WSEAS International Conference on SYSTEMS, Vouliagmeni, Athens, Greece, July 10-12, 2006 (pp251-257)
the position 1 and the tag at the position 2 were selected as the most optimal position. At the position of a tag and antenna, additional tests were conducted for speed. The tests also were conducted 10 times per each access pattern of trucks at the speed of 20 km/h and 30 km/h. The results of these tests were 100% identification ratio at all cases. The test results show that the devices for truck identification are more sensitive to the distance between a tag and antenna than truck’s speed. Also, the tag and antenna were installed as shown in Fig. 4 in order to find out the optimal position of tag and antenna for container identification. The tag can be installed in various positions. But the risk of damage in handling a container and the possibility of obstruction while opening and closing the door of container are considered. We selected five positions for installation. And the position of an antenna should be taken into consideration if the gate gives SLIP for storage position at the CY to truck drivers after comparing and checking identification information of a truck and container with COPINO (Container pre-notification). In case of Korean container terminal gates, the bar code identification and SLIP issuing are taking place at the same position. The position 3 suggested in Fig. 4 is not proper position when considering the width of gate, identification distance of antenna and length of external trucks. The reason is that the truck passes the position for SLIP issuing when identifying both a truck and container. Therefore, the tests were conducted for position 1 and position 2. The tests were conducted 10 times for each of five access patterns of trucks as the tests done for truck identification. The test results of each tag’s identification ratio are shown in Table 4.
Gate Upper Point
Speed bump
Inner Measure Point Outside Measure Point
Fig. 4 Installation position of tag and antenna for container identification
Table 4 Test results of tag and antenna installation position for container identification ID ratio by tag position (%) Installation position of RFID antenna
Left side of gate entrance (Toward the truck: 70°)
60
70
100
100 100
Left side of gate entrance (Toward the truck: 70°)
40
50
90
100 100
4 Development of an automated gate system based on RFID This session presents the development environments of an automated gate system based on RFID and explains their sub-systems.
4.1 Development environment and design of an automated gate system The gate system developed in this study includes diverse hardware, software, test environments, and scenarios. Hardware is composed of the tag, antenna, reader, computer server for information management, printer for SLIP, and signal lamp for driver. Software was developed with Visual C# on Window 2000 server and SQL 2000 server under consideration of the features of identification devices, user interface, and management of security devices. We chose the #2 and #3 gate of P terminal in Busan port and conducted a lot of tests in order to select the optimal position of hardware. Finally the optimal positions for hardware were determined. In case of gate in and out of a truck and container, the trucking company should send COPINO information to the terminal via EDI, e-mail, or fax machine in advance. The truck and container which have 900 MHz tag and 433 MHz tag respectively pass through the terminal gate, and the antenna and reader read each tag information of the truck and container. And then identification system sends the received information of each identification system to the integrated identification system. The integrated identification system compares the information of each identification system with COPINO. If their information is coincided, it sends the confirmed information to the gate management system of TOS (Terminal Operating System). Additionally, the job for checking out container damage and container seal should be performed simultaneously.
Proceedings of the 10th WSEAS International Conference on SYSTEMS, Vouliagmeni, Athens, Greece, July 10-12, 2006 (pp251-257)
The automated gate system developed in this study can be applied to efficiency enhancement of truck and container identification and to technology (e.g. e-seal) related to security.
4.2 The identification system of truck and container The identification system of truck and container contains the function of condition management of each device, information process, and information transmission. The definition and function of detailed modules of truck and container identification system are illustrated in Table 5. Among the functions in Table 5, the key module is the data manager. The data manager is to extract effective data from tag data obtained for a certain period. This extraction should be done on the features of identification tasks of the gate including the exceptional cases. Table 5 Definition and function of detailed modules of truck and container identification system Section
Definition
Contents - Collect tag data from the reader, and send related information to the data manager
Device manger
- Control and manage the reader as end part of middleware
Data manager
- Control the device manager - Filter and process the and check the maintenance delivered tag data and management. generate an effective event - Extract effective tag data through filtering
- Control and check the data manager - Connect the event data to - Collect the events from data Information the integrated identification server manager system. - Exchange communications with manager interface. - Perform middleware - Manage the modules such management, system Manager as device manager, data monitoring, and event interface manager, and information monitoring through server. GUI-based manager interface.
4.3 Integrated identification system Integrated identification system manages information acquired from the devices for truck and container identification, and also performs the function of checking and comparing the information with COPINO. The integrated identification system can be divided into two modules: basic information management and gate in/out management.
4.3.1 The system of basic information management The system of basic information management is composed of user management, pre-information (COPINO) management, and devices management (truck and container identification devices). The user management handles user ID, names, and other related information, and if necessary, correction can be made and new user can be added. The pre-information management keeps COPINO, which is to be compared with the information acquired from truck and container identification system. According to the results of comparison and confirmation, the pre-information can be corrected or deleted. The devices management is in charge of maintaining the devices (e.g. antenna, reader) connected to a truck and container identification system and the server that performs the operation of truck and container identification system. 4.3.2 Gate In/Out management system The gate in/out management system is composed of information management in terms of trucks and containers of gate in/out, management of error information that can occur at gate in/out of trucks and containers, and monitoring of gate in/out. Gate in/out management of a truck and container have the function for registering of new truck’s information, searching real-time information of gate in/out of a truck, and correcting or deleting information. If error occurs, it can be linked to the error information management. The error information management checks error information of gate in/out. It also can confirm and correct the errors and register error information. Monitoring of gate in/out enables all the information received from a truck and container identification system to be displayed on the screen. It may be compared with the COPINO on the screen. If the information is already included in the COPINO, it will be displayed in blue, but if not, it will appear in red. COPINO list also will be displayed in blue on the screen, if it coincides with the information from the truck and container identification system.
5 Conclusion This study tried to develop an automated gate system based on RFID through analyzing existing technologies and advantage of RFID technology to increase efficiency and productivity of a container
Proceedings of the 10th WSEAS International Conference on SYSTEMS, Vouliagmeni, Athens, Greece, July 10-12, 2006 (pp251-257)
terminal gate. The newly developed system is under various tests at the gates of P container terminal in Busan port. The gate passage time of a truck under the bar code system usually takes about 20 seconds, but under the new system, it takes 5-10 seconds. We could reduce more than 10 seconds. Unfortunately, field application and evaluation have not yet performed owing to time and environmental problems. This problem is expected to be solved soon. Furthermore, the technologies applicable to security and confirmation should be developed soon and also practicable researches as well as diverse evaluation methods about newly developed technologies need to be followed.
Acknowledgements This study was supported by Korean Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries. The study was accomplished as a part of the development project of an automated gate system, which is included in the development project of intelligent port logistics system for next generation.
References: [1] Korean Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Port Technologies for Ultra-large Container Ship, Volume 3, 2006 [2] Bhuptani, M. and Moradpour, S., RFID Field Guide: Deploying Radio Frequency Identification Systems, Prentice Hall, 2005 [3] Sweeney, P. J., RFID for Dummies, Wiley Publishing, Inc., 2005 [4] Pyo C.S., Chae J.S. and Kim C.J., RFID System Technology, Korea Radio Research Society Journal, Vol. 15, No. 2, 2004, pp.21-31 [5] Korean Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Strategy of Port Logistics digitalization based on RFID, 2005 [6] Lee E.J., Sung N.S., Choi G.Y. and Pyo C.S., RFID Technology for Port Logistics, Korea Radio Research Society Journal, Vol. 16, No. 3, 2005, pp.26-32.
