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Boeing NFC Part and Process Tracking System. Team 41 Alper Olcay – Vigneshwar Karthikeyan – Jinjoo Nam. Overview. Objectives & Goals Information about NFC Features Revisions Results & Challenges Future considerations Acknowledgements. Objectives & Goals.
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Boeing NFC Part and Process Tracking System Team 41 Alper Olcay – Vigneshwar Karthikeyan – Jinjoo Nam
Overview • Objectives & Goals • Information about NFC • Features • Revisions • Results & Challenges • Future considerations • Acknowledgements
Objectives & Goals • Our main objective was to demonstrate the effectiveness of NFC (Near Field Communication) technologies within Boeing’s manufacturing processes through two vignettes. • Case Study 1 simulates a heat treatment facility within a manufacturing plant in order to show NFC’s applicability to creating a smarter furnace. • Case Study 2 demonstrates the usefulness of NFC in logistics operations and part verification after transportation of supplies and parts.
What is NFC? • NFC is a short range wireless technology that is comparable to Bluetooth, but with very short range (typically around 4cm’s) • Operates at 13.56 MHz. • Works with inductive coupling between a reader and a tag, with the reader initiating the magnetic field.
Features • 13.56 MHz is the operating frequency of the system • Expected operating range to be between 2cm ~ 6 cm. • Able to detect temperature range between -40 to 120 °C for both case studies • 2-axis Accelerometer measures ±3G • SD Card provides storage capabilities for Case Study 2.
Flow Chart of All Case Studies Backend Server (Cosm) -Resembles actual server that Boeing would use -Uses http put/pull requests -Sends notifications via Twitter
Requirements: Part Tracking • Arduino runs on 9V battery • Able to measure temperatures in the range of -40 to 120 degrees Celcius • Able to measure accelerations in the range of ±3G • Badges and tags should be accessible in the range of 2 to 6 cm’s. • SD card should store 2 GB’s of data.
Testing: Part Tracking • Tested the temperature sensor and the accelerometer on a breadboard. • Ran Arduino on battery for multiple hours. • Stored placeholder data on a SD card to make sure that it actually has the required storage capabilities.
Revisions: Part Tracking • Due to PCB being damaged, switched to a breadboard sensor bundle using a digital temperature sensor and a 2 axis accelerometer. • As Arduino memory was not large enough to possibly store data during a week long transportation case, switched to an Arduino SD shield and a SD card for storage.
Part Tracking: Sensor Logging • Acquires data from the both sensors with sensorLogging method. • Filters out the data that is in the desired range for storage considerations. • Stores information on SD card by adding the logged values to a string.
Part Tracking: NFC Read &Write • readBadge() function confirms that a badge is scanned and that employee has access to the facility. • readPartTag() function confirms that a part tag is scanned and writes a QA check mark on the tag.
Results Summary: Part Tracking • Accelerometer successfully logs data in mG’s to SD Card when greater than ±.5G for Case Study 2. • Temperature Sensor successfully logs data to SD Card when greater than 25°C or less than 20°C. • A QA check mark is successfully placed on the part at the end of the process.
Challenges: Part Tracking • Were not able to get the SD card slot on the Arduino WIFI shield working which led to not being able to send data to server. • Had to use a 9V battery to power up Arduino (size considerations) • SD card shield and NFC shield were not compatible.
Future Considerations: Part Tracking • Use a dedicated memory chip in the place of the SD card. • Streamline the process of getting the data out of the SD card, or any other means of storage. • Implement means to prevent employees from taking the SD card or the memory out without scanning their badge.
Next step in the part’s lifetime:The Heat Treatment Facility.
Requirements: Heat Treatment • Able to measure temperatures in the range of -40 to 120 degrees Celcius with an accuracy of ±1 degree Celcius. • Able to access tags in the range of 2-6 cm’s. • Able to connect to a WIFI hotspot. • Able to display states of process on LCD.
Testing: Heat Treatment • Tested thermistors on breadboard. • Tested LCD using Arduino. • Used Arduino to read and write tags, as well as initializing employee badges and tags. • Connected to the WIFI hotspot of a Samsung Galaxy SIII with password.
Revisions: Heat Treatment • Visual aid with LCD screen rather than a control circuit. • Streaming data onto Cosm rather than using a Google spreadsheet to store the data.
Heat Treatment: Server Connection and Data Transmit • Connects to WIFI hotspot on a smartphone • Sends a PUT request to the server with the information provided by Cosm.
Heat Treatment: NFC Read & Write Capabilities • 3 NFC Related functions • Read_NFC_Badge() confirms access to the facility • Read_PartTag() gets the serial number of part • Write_To_PartTag() places a QA check mark on the part.
Heat Treatment: Overall Control Method • Displays visual aid to show either success or failure of process. • Interacts with NFC functions to go on with the process.
Results Summary: Heat Treatment • Arduino successfully aids the employee visually with the help of LCD. • Arduino can successfully determine if a particular employee has access to the facility. • A QA check mark is put on the heat treated part at the end of the process.
Challenges: Heat Treatment • Accuracy of temperature sensing. • Arduino SRAM not large enough to handle all the code that was written, so had to dismiss some possible features in order to get the code running. • Implementing a time out for the case of temperature never reaching 50 degrees Celcius
Future Considerations: Heat Treatment • Use an actual backend server instead of a cloud storage system like Cosm • Increase the overall accuracy of measurements. • Fix the latency issue and frequent dropping of connection between Arduino and the WIFI hotspot.
Acknowlegements • Special thanks to: • Bryan Wilcox • Prof. Carney • Kevin Bassett • Eric Nicks • Dallas Scholes • Mark Smart