Tive trackers are equipped with a high-frequency motion sensor that measures changes in acceleration, also known as G-force, across multiple directions (up, down, left, right, forward, and backward). This sensor captures movement data 400 times per second and detects the force of acceleration acting on the tracker, expressed in units of gravity (g). This capability is currently supported only on our Tive Solo 5G model and is used to monitor sudden shocks, drops, or any abrupt changes in motion during transit.
What Happens When There's a Sudden Movement?
If the tracker experiences a sudden movement, like if it’s dropped, kicked, or if it crashes, it records this as a "shock." This shock is measured based on how intense the movement is. The tracker can tell exactly how strong the shock was and reports this data immediately to the platform, where these events will be colored red for visibility in the acceleration sensor chart. Shock adds value by providing real-time visibility into potential product damage, allowing immediate action to prevent rejected loads, reduce product loss, and improve supply chain responsiveness.
Note: To ensure shock events are detected and visible in the shipment sensor data and charts, make sure Shock Alerts are configured.
Pausing After Detecting a Shock
After detecting a shock, the tracker takes a short break of three minutes before it can register another one. This pause ensures that it doesn’t overload with information and can reset itself to be ready for the next potential shock. While additional shocks may occur, capturing the first impact helps pinpoint when and where the issue took place, allowing for a timely investigation.
What Does the Tracker Do with This Information?
The tracker measures how strong each shock is using what we call "G-units," which are units of gravity. Typically, when the tracker is still, it will report a steady value of 1 G, similar to the normal gravity we feel every day. If the tracker is moving, these values change according to how fast and in what direction it is moving.
Saving Battery Life
Because constantly checking for movement can drain the battery quickly, the tracker's settings should be adjusted strategically, based on needs. If it’s set to be highly sensitive, it will use up more battery because it’s working harder to detect even the smallest movements. For long-term tracking, it's better to set it to a less sensitive mode to conserve battery. Shock shouldn’t be configured on ocean shipments, as it can result in battery drainage before the tracker has arrived at the final destination.
In summary, Tive trackers are smart devices that help monitor the movements and positions of items during transport. They can detect both the intensity and direction of movements and are smart enough to know when to take a break to save energy.
Shock Examples:
Tilt Detection Example
It is possible to detect the tilt angle for stationary trackers by using the gravity force reported with the x/y/z acceleration. Below is a demonstration of the x/y/z acceleration values reported when the device is tilted front-to-back and left-to-right. In this example, we were interested in detecting when the device tilted more than 50 degrees front-to-back and left-to-right. The x/y/z acceleration data is available from the Tive API in real-time to implement your own detection threshold.
In case you have any additional questions, you can reach out to support@tive.com for help!