Titulo Estágio
Can Machine Learning maintain RFID Inventory Zone integrity through Digital Shielding in Retail environments?
Áreas de especialidade
Sistemas Inteligentes
Engenharia de Software
Local do Estágio
São João da Madeira
Enquadramento
Sensormatic Solutions designs and implements RFID solutions across the world. RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) is a technology widely used across many areas to uniquely identify a specific item.
The Retail business has been implementing this technology across their Supply Chain with huge benefits in Inventory Managements and Sales Increase. Stores across the world are using this technology in a daily basis to improve their Stock Accuracy.
RFID-based inventory visibility solutions provide retailers accurate item availability information used to optimize labor costs, ensure sales floor and stock room levels, improve customer shopping experience and streamline supply chain logistics. One of the keys to accurate availability information is continuous and reliable zone location maintenance for each item. At any given time, each item should be associated with one, and only one zone.
Zones can be large or small areas within a site or store floor plan. Typically, a site is comprised of a sales floor and a stock room.
Because UHF radio signals penetrate barriers such as the walls and floors separating inventory zones, retailers are forced to install costly and time-consuming metallic shielding to ensure that RFID-tagged items are read and associated with one and only one zone.
Radio signals do experience some attenuation when penetrating physical barriers. But the level of attenuation varies sporadically depending on factors such as, differences in handheld reader properties (model, battery strength, etc.), the user’s walk path, reflective surfaces, human presence, wall composition, metal wall studs, plumbing, wiring, tag orientation, tag density and tag proximity and other factors.
Sensormatic Solutions wants to explore improvements on the current inventory process that allow the retailers to have high stock accuracy without the need to physically shield the walls. The approach that is envisioned to achieve this is using Machine Learning to let the system accurately decide where each of the items read during inventory process really are.
Objetivo
Understand RFID technology by analyzing RFID readers and tags characteristics to determine whether digital separation of adjacent zones during scans can be ascertained with very high reliability (98%);
Analyze state of art and identify digital shielding possible solutions;
Develop a prototype, including mobile (Android/iOS) and server side;
Experiment and fine tune the prototype in a replicated environment;
Explain whether Machine Learning can be used for RFID Digital Shielding, enumerating any conditions that might affect reliability such as barrier materials (glass, metal, …), RFID Reader Settings, RFID Tag Quality, etc..
Plano de Trabalhos - Semestre 1
You will lead this research with the help of our senior engineers.
Phase 1)
- State of the Art and Technological Survey
- Approach analysis and selection
- Specification and Design
- Thesis Proposal Writing
Plano de Trabalhos - Semestre 2
Phase 2)
- Build data pool for prototyping
- Prototype Development
- Prototype experimentation
- Thesis writing
Condições
At Sensormatic Solutions, we’re shaping the future to create a world that’s safe, comfortable and sustainable.
We are a leading global provider of retail performance and security solutions. Over the last years, our team in Portugal has become the Development Center of Expertise for our Inventory Intelligence Software worldwide. Our software provides retailers with real-time visibility to their inventory and assets to improve operations, optimize profitability and create memorable shopper experiences.
We continuously seek ambitious, creative, dynamic candidates, who value team-work, have the right skills and attitudes and are thrilled for challenging and stimulating projects in an ever-changing world, either on national as well as international level.
We provide meaningful opportunities to learn from the best in the industry and work on innovative solutions. Besides a very pleasant and international work environment Sensormatic Solutions offers Foods & Drinks, Massages, Transport, Events and Leisure Spaces. You will be based on of our modern offices in São João da Madeira with daily transport from Vila Nova da Gaia and Aveiro (+ surroundings) bringing you to the São João da Madeira office in the blink of an eye!
Observações
If feasible, the prototype will be further developed to be incorporated in our current product for Retailers around the world.
During the internship, progress and growth of the intern will be evaluated. If the goals are met, the company will evaluate the possibility of him/her joining our team!
Orientador
Catarina Martins
catarina.martins@jci.com 📩