T4 - Monitoring Technologies for Food Transports (new)

Motivation

High qualities of fresh foods can only be maintained when correct temperatures are preserved throughout the entire supply chain.
First field tests with 40 temperature recorders in different trailers and containers produced two results. First, many sensors are required to capture all local deviations. Second, temperature deviations of several degrees Celsius exist in almost any transport situation, even if the best and most up-to-date cooling equipment is used.


Objectives

The intelligent container already has the ability to evaluate in transit the effects of temperature deviations on the quality of the goods. The time-consuming manual evaluation of temperature charts would no longer be necessary. Instead, the warehouse manager should receive alarm messages.
Furthermore, the project should show to the possibility of transmitting large amounts of data by using both free WLAN and networks that are subject to usage fees (such as GPRS, UMTS, and Satellite). Permanent access to alarm notifications should be guaranteed and messages with lower priority should be transmitted with time delay.

Approach

The temperature of bananas will be monitored during a shipment from South America to Europe. These tests are supported by Dole Fresh Fruit Europe. Before arrival, the receiving warehouse will be informed if an unwanted ripening of the fruits has occurred during transport.
This system can also be used to monitor road transports. Related experiments with Rungis Express, the second partner involved with the project, should show that the system is suitable for daily use. Rungis Express AG is the biggest trading company for luxury and exclusive food products in Germany. The installation effort is minimal because all sensors work wirelessly.

Results

The concept for transport supervision by the Intelligent Container, developed in the first phase of the Collaborative Research Center, was scaled up from a demonstration model to its real size by the transfer project T4. In 10 field tests conducted together with CCG Cool Chain Group Holding AG, Dole Germany OHG and Cargobull Telematics GmbH the application of the concept of the Intelligent Container has been tested successfully during sea and road transportation. Furthermore, typical transport conditions were recording during the tests.

The system architecture was adapted to real-world transports conditions.
System components such as wireless sensor network, communication gateway, telematics, satellite system, and server were modified to resolve technical obstacles. Especially the rather young technology of Wireless Sensor Networks was adapted to the challenging environment of a fully-loaded container.

A follow-up project has been granted by the BMBF. The cooperation with the initial industry partners is continued because of their high interested in the further development of the technologies.