RFID, allowing you to sleep easier.

The Nürburgring Motorsport Complex has been a famous German raceway for years. In fact it opened in 1927, way before many of its new neighbors came to town. The course now runs through several residential areas. Because of this, noise restrictions were put in order in 2001. However, up till now there has been no real way of ensuring the noise level throughout the track.

BeSB created a solution to this problem using RFID. They have computerized units at points throughout the course. These units have both a sound-level reader as well as a RFID reader. Whenever a racecar equipped with Identec’s i-B2L active UHF RFID tag passes by (identifying which car is emitting the sound currently heard) the reader forwards the sound information to the BeSB server. If the sound exceeds the prescribed levels, an email or text message is sent to the management team of the offending racer letting them know they are too loud and the accompanying sound data. In addition, the management team can monitor the racer’s sound output throughout the race through a secure website.

One of the best features of the system is the fact that the readers are completely mobile. They can be switched to different areas of the course to ensure that drivers are not anticipating them. This way, a racer cannot merely let off on the gas around the sound monitoring stations, just to zoom off again, loud as can be, once out of range.

Why is this important? Well let me ask you this. Have you ever lived near an interstate or train station? These locations can be extremely noisy even with the noise barriers you sometimes will see on either side of the interstate. They can cause great anxiety and even disturb the sleep of local residents.

With this technology, however, sensors could be wirelessly set up at particularly noisy locations. They could then monitor the sound levels and allow local officials to decide if changes need to be made (such as adding sound deflecting walls). The mobile sound monitors could then be moved to new locations, starting the whole process over again.

This could be very helpful to local residents and government officials alike. It would provide real evidence of decibel (sound) levels. No longer would it just be the word of local residents saying the sounds are too loud. There would be measurable data to be used and presented. A wise man once said, “You can only change what you can measure.” With this technology, the sound can now be measured, allowing residents to move towards a quieter existence.

Do you have a use for RFID in your business? Can it be useful in a way not previously thought of before? If you need a RFID expert to help you implement these ideas contact Ron Pulvermacher of Matrix Product Development. With over 20 years of experience with RFID, his abilities will bring your idea to fruition. Call him today at (608) 834-1661.

Many thanks to Milan Jurek for the photo