Summary

Project idea proposes smart security device for identifying passengers and crew members if they fall off of the boat into the water, based on pervasive computing with application for maritime environment using long range RFID technology. As a result, with the new smart device it would be possible to immediately identify Man overboard event (MOBs) and inform ship’s control centre, significantly successfully raise rescue survival rate, increase safety by using wearable and readable RFID tags, reduce the costs of safety detection MOB systems.

Technology Description

Man overboard events (MOB) can happen at any time during the day or night, in all types of weather and sea conditions, and from almost any location on the ship. On average, 22 people fall off a cruise ship every year, 86% of those victims do not survive, or are never found.

Project idea proposes smart security device for identifying passengers and crew members if they fall off of the boat into the water, based on pervasive computing with application for maritime environment using long range RFID technology.

Passengers and crew members may carry one of the following wearables with embedded RFID passive tag as security bracelet, necklace, sticker attached to shirt, other wearable means. On the other hand, a smart ship needs to have installed an active RFID antenna on the ship’s stern.

Long-range RFID reader antenna is waterproof and resistant to sunlight. It has stable reading distance of 0-30 m and it can read multiple RFID tags at once. The reader size is 45x45x5 cm.

Main advantages

Proposed system, based on RFID technology, can identify passengers and crew members in Man overboard events (MOB) occurred in harsh environments, i.e. foamy water, fog and other low visibility events.

Other competative tech like MOB Video Analytics and machine vision-based systems have difficulties with distorted images and insufficient level of daylight and may introduce high installation costs.

As a result, with the new smart device it would be possible to immediately identify Man overboard event (MOBs) and inform ship’s control centre, significantly successfully raise rescue survival rate, increase safety by using wearable and readable RFID tags, reduce the costs of safety detection MOB systems.

Stage of development

Technology is validated in relevant environment (TRL-5).

Further development of smart device would require calculating optimal area coverage using multiple antennas with overlapping scanning areas, creating resilient electronic device to harsh sea-water conditions and testing the device in operational environment.

Challenge and needs

Main challenge is to creating a compact wearable device capable of long range scanning for passengers and crew members which needs to be working in wet conditions.

Intellectual property

The technology is not yet protected by a patent.

Potential markets and targets

Smart device would find its application in maritime and inland waterway transport of people.

Proposed solution may find its application in several specific global markets such as:

• RFID Market (global market is valued at USD 16.95 Billion in 2016 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.7% between 2017 and 2023),
• Maritime Safety Market(global market is expected to USD 23.67 Billion by 2021, at a CAGR of 7.2%),

Smart Ports Market (global market is projected to reach USD 5.3 billion by 2024, at a CAGR of 25.0%).

Potential partners

Potential partners for the project partnership are the small and medium-sized enterprises involved in maritime and inland waterway transport of people, shipbuilders and ticket agencies.