Smart Sticker Ultra-Low-Power Shock Detection in the Supply Chain

Abstract

This paper presents a shock detection device for packages in the supply chain. The primary purpose is to identify package damage during storage, delivery, and handling. Additionally, products are likely to be damaged if dropped from a certain height, which sometimes does not appear on the package. By continuously measuring package vibrations and detecting shocks in the supply chain, consumers can gain an insight into the state of the product upon delivery. This paper presents the Smart Sticker implementation for ultra-low-power shock detection in the supply chain. The overall energy consumption must be kept as low as possible while continuously sensing the presence of shock to ensure that the Smart Sticker’s battery lasts as long as possible. The Smart Sticker functions in three modes to meet the established constraints: low-power, active, and data transfer mode. While detecting the shock, the low-power mode uses the least amount of energy needed. If the shock exceeds the threshold, the Smart Sticker enters active mode, stores the detected g force value in memory, and then switches back to low-power mode. Finally, employing Near Field Communication (NFC) and energy harvesting, the data transfer mode allows the consumer to read the recorded data. The results show that the Smart Sticker for shock detection performs according to set requirements and successfully monitors and detects shock for packages in the supply chain.