For many people, the term ‘unmanned’ may immediately conjure up images of ‘cameras and automatic barriers’, but this is actually just the tip of the iceberg. Behind a mature, efficient and secure unmanned weighbridge system lies a comprehensive integration of Internet of Things, automation and data processing technologies.

Put simply, its core objective is to use technological means to fully replicate and optimise all processes involved in manual weighing, whilst eliminating any loopholes or errors that may arise from human operation.

Fujian Fangda Weighing Instruments, a manufacturer of weighbridges, summarises its core technology across the following key areas:

1. Intelligent Recognition Technology: Verifying ‘Who You Are’

This marks the starting point of the entire unmanned process. The system must accurately identify every vehicle entering the weighbridge, along with its associated information (such as cargo, orders, customers, etc.). There are currently two mainstream technologies:

Licence Plate Recognition (LPR): This captures vehicle number plates via high-definition cameras and uses AI image recognition algorithms to read them. The advantage is that it is convenient and quick, with vehicles requiring neither to stop nor to have additional equipment installed. The disadvantage is that recognition accuracy may decline in adverse weather conditions (rain, snow, heavy fog) or when number plates are dirty or damaged.

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID): An RFID tag (similar to an ETC tag) is installed on the vehicle, with readers deployed before and after the weighbridge. When the vehicle enters the detection zone, the system can instantly and accurately read the vehicle’s information. The advantages include fast recognition speed, extremely high accuracy, and immunity to weather conditions. The disadvantage is that tags must be installed and information linked for all associated vehicles, resulting in slightly higher initial investment.

In many large industrial sites, to ensure absolute reliability, a dual-recognition model combining ‘licence plate recognition and RFID’ is often adopted, with the two systems complementing one another.

2. Positioning and Anti-Cheating Technology: Ensuring Accurate Weighing

This is the ‘heart and soul’ of the unmanned system, and the key to its value. How can we ensure that vehicles are positioned fully and correctly on the weighbridge, without any attempts at cheating? This requires a comprehensive approach:

Infrared Beam Sensors/Light Barriers: Infrared sensors are installed at both ends and on both sides of the weighbridge. These form an invisible “frame”. The system will only initiate weighing once the vehicle has fully entered this frame, with no part of the vehicle touching the edges and all wheels on the weighbridge. Should the infrared beam be obstructed (indicating the vehicle is incorrectly positioned), the system will immediately issue a voice warning and refuse to weigh the vehicle.

Video surveillance and image capture: Continuous video recording not only serves as evidence for post-event verification but, more importantly, enables the system to automatically capture multiple images (such as the front, rear and cargo area) at the moment of weighing, which are then linked to the weighbridge ticket data. This provides irrefutable evidence to eliminate fraudulent practices such as ‘large vehicles being weighed whilst small vehicles are used to adjust the tare weight’.

Inductive Loops: Inductive loops buried beneath the weighbridge are used to detect whether a vehicle is on the scales and serve as an auxiliary means of triggering the entire weighing process.

3. Automation Control Technology: Achieving ‘Process Automation’

This technology is responsible for controlling the on-site hardware equipment, guiding vehicles to complete the entire weighing process in an orderly and safe manner.

Intelligent barrier gates: These operate in conjunction with the vehicle recognition system and the infrared positioning system. The barrier gate at the front will only rise to allow passage once the vehicle has been successfully identified and its position accurately determined.

LED Display and Voice Announcement System: Displays the vehicle registration number, weight and operational instructions (such as “Please drive onto the weighbridge”, “Please stop” and “Weighing complete, please drive off the weighbridge”) in real time. Clear voice and text prompts guide the driver through the process, ensuring it can be completed smoothly even in unmanned environments.

Traffic lights: Red and green signals effectively manage the order of vehicle entry and exit, preventing multiple vehicles from entering the weighbridge simultaneously or causing congestion.

4. Software Platform and Data Integration: Building the ‘Smart Brain’

If the above elements constitute the system’s ‘senses’ and ‘limbs’, then the software platform is its ‘brain’.

Central Control System: This is the core of the entire unmanned system. It is responsible for receiving data transmitted from all front-end hardware (cameras, RFID, infrared sensors, weighbridge indicators), making judgements and processing the data according to pre-set logic rules, and issuing instructions to the automated control equipment.

Data Management and Reporting: All weighing data (gross weight, tare weight, net weight, time, snapshot images, etc.) is automatically recorded in the database and used to generate detailed reports. Management personnel can view this data remotely at any time; the data is tamper-proof, ensuring impartiality.

System Integration (API Integration): A superior unmanned system is by no means an information silo. It must be capable of seamless integration with the enterprise’s ERP, MES (Manufacturing Execution System), warehouse management and other systems. Weighing data can be fed directly into finance, production, sales and other departments, achieving end-to-end data automation across the entire enterprise management process; this is the ultimate manifestation of ‘intelligence’.

In summary, the core technology of unmanned weighbridge weighing is, in essence, a comprehensive solution that integrates IoT sensing, AI recognition, automated control and big data management. It is not merely a collection of hardware components, but rather a deep understanding of traditional business processes and their intelligent re-engineering, ultimately achieving the fundamental objectives of reducing costs, improving efficiency, plugging loopholes and enhancing management standards. Should you require further information or have any queries, please feel free to discuss these matters with Fujian Fangda Weighbridge Manufacturers.

Fujian Fangda Weighing Instruments provides a full range of electronic weighbridge from 30 tons to 200 tons