German carmaker Porsche has recently enabled RFID solution for better managing the laboratory prototype and component development and testing prototype cars on the road. The RFID system is provided by noFilis, let carmakers to determine when the pilot installation components, engine testing and prototype in a warehouse, parking and development centers in operation. In addition, the company also uses a sensor system that can track the prototype car at any time position, to achieve better management.
Porsche manufacturing processes and IT consulting services subsidiary MHP's RFID expert Thomas Grabscheit said: "Porsche needs an innovative software solutions to improve the production and application management processes."
Porsche's future vehicle development center in Weissach, Germany. After assembling the prototype car, you need to go through a series of tests to meet the requirements of the company's speed, performance, and other functions. Some tests it conducted in the laboratory, while others will need to be tested on the road.
Porsche prototype using RFID technology to track test and improve security
Grabscheit that any one new model development and testing is a very complex process, Porsche is even worse. He explained that every new car will need to test various combinations of elements. In each test, performance test element needs to be installed in an automobile. The company will replace the various components in the car to get the best performance products. In the beginning, the company recorded using pen and paper components required for each test and manually entered into the database. Sometimes, if the staff member in the car can not be confirmed, they will need to remove the device ID number to view the components of the component model to confirm.
Patrick Hartmann NoFilis global sales director, said, noFilis parent company VW Porsche developed a similar solution, the Porsche company would find on noFilis, looking for an automated system to track the course of testing components, reducing the error rate. This system is named Gl? SernerPROTOTYP, the 200 elements using the EPC UHF RFID tags, you can query component details. These items will be installed to mark the car, after installation, the car door will be opened to confirm the installation RFID components. RFID door contains a Kathrein RRU4-ELC-E6 reader antenna and a Wide Range CrossTalk software is stored on the reader. Hartmann said the software will upload the data to be read on the Porsche back-end server.
If unable to use the fixed reader to read, the company also uses Nordic ID Merlin Cross Dipole handheld reader reads the tag ID number.
Because marking element (such as: intake manifold, air filters, airbags and catalytic converters) diversity, the company uses a variety of types of RFID tags.
The system is also used to track the prototype. After the prototype car left the factory, the company confirmed that the prototype vehicle running position is a very important thing. In this way, Porsche wants to reduce other people outside the company an opportunity to see the prototype. In the past, the staff need to sign a piece of paper to write for permission to run on public roads. Now, this process is automated. A tag has a unique ID number on each vehicle's windshield installed. When the car close to the door, mounted on the door Kathrein reader will read the tag ID number. Then, CrossTalk software copies the data on the back-end server to the Porsche on the company's own management software. If the vehicle is authorized to leave, CrossTalk departure time will be recorded. When the car came back, the software will record the appropriate time. In this way, the company will know the car out of their stay.
Both inside and outside the factory, security is a very important thing. Therefore, the company needs to know when the car left the parking area, when out tests. Each parking area are equipped with Kathrein reader for reading the prototype car windshield tag ID, and then can be stored in the time CrossTalk parking area.
Testing process needs to be careful to protect the engine. Therefore, Porsche test bed area using RFID technology. Installed in the engine and the RFID tag is installed on a test bench Kathrein reader. In addition, the company is also attached to the other components of the engine a series of labels.
The engine will perform a series of tests on the test bench, test results will be stored on the company's software. CrossTalk software testing will confirm the status of the engine. Thus, the staff will be able to know the exact location of any one time for a particular engine.
