See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.

net/publication/327136959

RFID based logistic Management System using IoT( Pre-print Copyright IEEE
ICECA-2018-471)

Preprint · August 2018

DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.11612.23686

CITATIONS READS
0 1,575

2 authors:

Ayaskanta Mishra Aishwarya Raj Laxmi

KIIT University KIIT University
33 PUBLICATIONS 268 CITATIONS 4 PUBLICATIONS 36 CITATIONS

SEE PROFILE SEE PROFILE

All content following this page was uploaded by Ayaskanta Mishra on 21 August 2018.

The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file.

 2nd IEEE International conference on Electronics, Communication and Aerospace Technology (ICECA 2018)
Coimbatore, Tamilnadu, India: 29th -31st March 2018 Acknowledgement Number/Paper ID: ICECA 2018–471

2018This paper is a preprint (IEEE “accepted” status). IEEE

copyright notice. IEEE. Personal use of this material is
permitted. Permission from IEEE must be obtained for all other
uses, in any current or future media, including
reprinting/republishing this material for advertising or
promotional purposes, creating new collective works, for resale
or redistribution to servers or lists, or reuse of any
copyrighted
 2nd IEEE International conference on Electronics, Communication and Aerospace Technology (ICECA 2018)
Coimbatore, Tamilnadu, India: 29th -31st March 2018 Acknowledgement Number/Paper ID: ICECA 2018–471
RFID based Logistic Management System using
Internet of Things (IoT)
Aishwarya Raj Laxmi
M. Tech Student
School of Electronics Engineering
KIIT Deemed University
Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India.
E-mail: aishwaryaagr2594@gmail.com
Abstract: In the era of IoT and data analytics this paper has
proposed system architecture for RFID based shipment tracking
using Raspberry Pi equipped with RFID RC522 module. Light
weight MQTT protocol is used for publishing real-time passive
RFID tag data to CloudMQTT broker from Raspberry Pi.
Further the logistics management and monitoring can be done
using web based multiple platform GUI using MQTT subscribe
message from MQTT broker. Using data analytics tool various
logistic related data can be automated for better logistic
management. Raspberry Pi uses python based Mosquitto MQTT
client program to publish data to CloudMQTT broker using an
IEEE 802.11 Wireless LAN NIC.
Keyword: IoT, Logistic Management, Raspberry Pi, MQTT,
CloudMQTT, Mosquitto, python, GUI, RFID, RC522
I. INTRODUCTION
In this modern era, technology is important for success of an
industry, as the market is more volatile, understanding the
customer base and forecasting of demand has become more
complex. This has pushed the companies to address the gap
through various software applications and a review has been
done to evaluate the feasibility of IoT in area of Logistic
Management. IoT is a network of physical objects to exchange
data with the manufacturer or the user [3],[12] which can also
integrate identification, sensing and communication in that
technology that has been used [4].Here things refer to unique
identity of remote sensing, monitoring and self configuring
[11].IoT technology and business strategy have influences on
process of business and selected IoT application as it implies
the interaction between digital and real world[8],[10]. Before
reaching the customer, products should cross the multiple
business partners to have right information about the identity,
location, and other tracking information. This study helped us
to bring the need of it in Transportation [9]. Also there should
balance of time and money.
Ayaskanta Mishra
Assistant Professor
School of Electronics Engineering
KIIT Deemed University
Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India.
E-mail: ayaskanta.mishrafet@kiit.ac.in
This is done by RFID in which make the company aware of,
where is the product. The main intention to develop a
multimodality system is that it can be used for various
applications.
II. SYSTEM OVERVIEW
It is evident that shipment tracking as well as visibility is very
much required for logistic and financial interests of anyone
included in the system. That is why the importance of
shipment tracking comes into picture as it enables shippers to
control the transportation system and location of freight also
becomes easier at any point in its journey. The main aim is to
increase product sales to end user and reducing both inventory
and operating expenses [6].
This has helped for the performance of carrier, transportation
costs and market trends so as to manage the logistics. It not
only reduces costs but the process improves, gaining visibility
and enhancing the overall performance. Also there is a better
customer experience by minimizing delays.
Another important module for our study is RFID. Radio
frequency identification (RFID) uses electromagnetic field to
automatically identify and track tags attached to objects which
contains electronically stored information. Here we have used
passive tag, collecting energy from readers near to it. The tag
information is stored in a non-volatile memory. RFID is
important to solve many business needs. For examples
tracking pallets, cases, indication of products [5].With RFID
in place which let the company know at what time exactly
where a product is located physically within the logistic chain.
Here each tag enables communication which is contact less
with a valid reader device through a radio link by sending its
corresponding unique ID[2],[5].RFID tags are mounted on
locomotives to identify origin, destination of the commodities
being carried. Hence RFID offers advantage over manual
 2nd IEEE International conference on Electronics, Communication and Aerospace Technology (ICECA 2018)
Coimbatore, Tamilnadu, India: 29th -31
31st March 2018 Acknowledgement Number/Paper ID: ICECA 2018–471
2018

system allowing more efficient and reliable in

inventory and
tracking of items [5].
The main protocol used here is MQTT protocol. MQTT stand
for message queue telemetry and transport is a light weight
protocol to publish and subscribe system which is use to
publish and receive message as a client. MQTT is a light
weight application layer protocol most suitable for reduced
power low data sensor networks. It also works on AWS cloud
[7].All publish and subscribe control messages es aare sent to
broker which get the data from publishing ddevices and
forward it to subscribing devices. The mosquito broke
broker is used
in RPi [6].Fromom the prospective of this work the MQTT
protocols is implemented using two network technology. In
the MQTT application layer protocol, message in
encapsulated in TCP segments. The IEEE 802.11 is more
complex suitable for high data-rate
rate bandwidth longer ra
range
wireless communication, hence suitable for tracking at places
where power requirement is more. Using the above modules
the overall architecture
re has been planned such that, after
various shipments the topic is published to the cloud MQTT
and subscribed by the monitoring system of the office. The
overall system architecture has been shown in Fig
ig.1.
important. In shipment tracking the tracking is done in the
warehouse, of when, the goods come in and out of the
warehouse at a particular time stamp. The process of shipment
in, shipment out is carried for a particular shipment id, scanner
id of the product. Basically the average transit time is
calculated to find the optimum route. Further the records can
be maintained with least human interventions for transparency
in logistic management and minimize operational
operati cost.
With reference to Fig.2 the basic model of shipment tracking
has been explained. Here the RFID reader reads the
information from the tag attached to the product and the t
information is sent to Raspberry Pi module where the
processing occurs. Then n the data is sent through WLAN
which is MQTT publish unit where the information is
published to MQTT broker which receives all messages and
filters it and publish it to all subscribed clients. The
information could be seen at front end GUI which can be
android, mobile phone etc. The front end is interlinked with
database as information can be stored and used in future also.

Fig.2:: Model for shipment tracking

Fig.1: Overall system architecture

III. LOGISTIC MANAGEMENT: SHIPMENT

TRACKING

The proposed hetnet architecture is designed for generic IoT

based application platform suitable for most of the real world
IoT application with minor modification. The deployment of
proposed architecture is done by designing a PytPython based
gateway device using Raspberry Pi. The gateway way module is
subscribed to the same topic and whenever the user sends a
command the information will be published to reply to the
topic to which the gateway device is subscribed. Thus the
command will be fetched by the gateway device. IEEE802.11
WLAN network is having higher transmission power and a
higher data rate making it a good solution for the backbone
backbone,
for the mentioned IoT deployment scenario [11]. In order to
maintain transparency in the logistic between the customers,
middle man and organizer the tracking of goods become Fig3.Algorithm
.Algorithm for shipment tracking
 2nd IEEE International conference on Electronics, Communication and Aerospace Technology (ICECA 2018)
Coimbatore, Tamilnadu, India: 29th -31
31st March 2018 Acknowledgement Number/Paper ID: ICECA 2018–471
Fig.3 shows the proposed algorithm for the RFID based
shipment tracking done using RC522 passive RFID Reader
and the Raspberry Pi implemented using python. For shipment
tracking the MQTT client is published/subscribe
published/subscribed to MQTT
broker using the RPi and it has been explained in F Fig 4, such
that when the IEEE 802.11 WLAN network using the MQTT
broker publish and subscribe the topic, it is made available to
the front end GUI. In MQTT terminology the server for
MQTT protocol is broker or the channel bet between the two
modules such that data can be published and subscribed at any
point of time. The topic here is the tracking of goods such tha
that
the subscribed client will get the data immediately when then
data is published. There can be multiple clients subsc
subscribing
the same topic so that they can get a copy of received data
from the MQTT broker. The process continues both way and
tracking could be done easily.
Fig4: MQTT Protocol-MQTT_publish
MQTT_publish and MQTT_Subscribe for
shipment tracking
Also the schematic diagram as in Fig.5 shows the basic
connection between RaspberryPi and RFID reader done for
shipment tracking in this paper.
Fig 5:: Schematic diagram of modules for shipment tracking
2018
IV.
V. RESULTS
The scope of the paper includes an a implementation of
proposed architecturee as discussed in prior chapter.
chapter
A. RFID RC522 based Shipment tracking with Raspberry Pi
The proposed module for shipment tracking is an integral part
of smart logistic management system. The module includes a
RFID RC522 interfaced with Raspberry Pi using SPI protocol.
The Raspberry Pi is equipped with a IEEE 802.11 WLAN
adaptor to connect to CloudMQTT broker. The Raspberry Pi
is running a mosquito MQTT client integrated using a python
code.
Fig.6:: Shipment tracking module using Raspberry Pi & RFID RC522
The python code is used to extract the UID of the passive RF
Tag which is attached to the shipment as shown in Fig.6.
Fig.6 The
RC522 will read the card and pass the UID and other
shipment related information to Raspberry Pi.
B. Mosquito Client and CloudMQTT broker:
broker
The python code will do system call()
call( and using mosquito
MQTT client command publish the UID and timestamp to the
CloudMQTT broker. Fig.7 shows a CloudMQTT Console
Instant Information. Using this user authentication, Server
Address, port number the Raspberry Pi can publish the UID
and timestamp
amp to the CloudMQTT broker. The major
advantage of using CloudMQTT broker is it is being global
and can be accessed from anywhere across the globe using
simple internet connection.
To retrieve the data from the CloudMQTT broker a simple
cross platform (Linux,
nux, Windows) mosquito MQTT client can
be installed at logistic company end. This mosquito MQTT
client will subscribe the RFID topic which is created in the
CloudMQTT instance. The RFID tag information which is
published to the broker are forwarded to the company MQTT
client. The data can be stored in a database and the company
end. Various data analytics tools can be used to get mission
View publication stats

2nd IEEE International conference on Electronics, Communication and Aerospace Technology (ICECA 2018)
Coimbatore, Tamilnadu, India: 29th -31
31st March 2018 Acknowledgement Number/Paper ID: ICECA 2018–471
2018

critical information for the automated data generated by these software for full implementation of automation in logistic
MQTT based shipment tracking system. management for real-world
world use. Further work can be done on
development of data analytics engine for the data sets
available in this scope of the paper.

VI. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
WLEDGEMENT

The prototypes are developed in Wireless Communication &

Networking Lab, School of Electronics Engineering, KIIT
Deemed University. The schematic diagram of Raspberry Pi is
designed using Fritzing.

REFERENCES
Fig.7: CloudMQTT Console
nsole and Instant Information
[1] Ayaskanta Mishra "Design and deployment of MQTT based HeTNeT
using
sing IEEE 802.15.4 and IEEE 802.11 for Internet of Things”
Things IJRASET,
The logistic company can implement such MQTT based RFID Volume 5, November-2017.
reader at the entry and exit point of their warehouse. The [2] VS Reddy, “Smart Livee Tracking Garbage Collection usingRFID”,
passive RFID tags are attached with the shipment, when a IJRASET, Volume5, October2017.
shipment passes the entry gate or exit gate the UID of the [3] Narayan Sharma, Nirman an Singha, Tanmoy Dutta “Smart bin
implementation for smart cities”
ities” International Journal of Scientific &
shipment can be scanned by RC522 and using MQTT publish Engineering Research, Volume 6, November-2016.
November
it can be sent to CloudMQTT broker. The logistic company
company's [4] Joon-Soo
Soo Jeong, Oakyoung Han, Yen-You You “A design
central monitoring system is connected
ected to CloudMQTT broker characteristics of smart healthcare system as the IoT application,” Indian
as a subscribed
ubscribed client to the particular topic. The topic names Journal of Science and Technology,
echnology, Vol.9, ISSN 0974-5645, October
2016.
can be a warehouse
house location. What all shipments enter or exit [5] C.Balasubramaniyam,
ubramaniyam, D.Manivannan, “loT enabled air quality
a particular warehouse location can be updated to the logistic monitoring system (AQMS) using RaspberryRa Pi,” Indian Journal of
company monitoring centre database using MQTT publish Science and Technology, Vol. 9, ISSN 0974 -5645, October 2016.
and subscribed messages via CloudMQTT broker. [6] Burra Karuna Kumar, S.Narayanan, Dega Nagaraju” Supply chain
coordination models: A literature review,”
eview,” Indian Journal of Science and
Technology, Vol. 9, ISSN 0974 -56455645, October 2016.
Table.1: Automated Real-time data available for Smart Logistic
[7] T. Manjula, U. Sreenivasulu S.Jaweed Hussain, "A dynamic d Raspberry
Management using real-time shipment tracking
Pi sense HAT multimodality alerting system
s by using AWS IoT,” Indian
Journal of Science and Technology,
echnology, Vol. 9, 9 ISSN 0974 -5645,October
Parameters Values 2016.
Average time in transit from 2 Days 3 hrs. 23 Mins [8] Hyun- GiHong, “Analysis of business framework f for Internet of
Warehouse ‘X’ to ‘Y’: Things", Indian Journal of Science and Technology,
T Vol.9, ISSN 0974 -
Availability of TYPE-A shipment 100 Numbers 5645 October 2016.
at Warehouse ‘X’: [9] Venkatesan Ganesan, U.S Lavanya,G.
Lavanya, Maragatham “A study of loT in
Shortest transit path for TYPE-A Nearest next available Warehouse SCM and its nodes in multimodal business process,”
p Indian Journal of
shipment: ‘Z’ in terms of average transit time Science and Technology, Vol. 9, ISSN 0974 -5645, June 2016.
Fast moving transit path: Warehouse ‘X’ to ‘Z’ [10] S. Chen, H. Xu, D. Liu, B. Hu and H. Wang, "A vision of IoT:
Most demand shipment type: TYPE: D applications, challenges, and opportunities with China perspective,"
Average waiting time in warehouse 3 months 11 days 2 hrs. in IEEE Internet of Things Journal,
Journal Vol. 1, no. 4, pp. 349-359, Aug.
for a TYPE-B shipment 2014.
[11] Gandeva Bayu Satrya ,Haftu Tasew Reda,Kim Jin Woo,Philip Tobianto
Daely,Soo Young Shin and Seog Chae, "IoT and Public Weather Data
Table.1 give an example of set of automated data that can be
Based Monitoring & Controll Software Development for Variable Color
generated using different data analytics tools to extract more Temperature LED Street Lights," International Journal on Advanced
mission critical information for real-time
time shipment tracking. Science, Engineering and Information Technology,
Technology Vol. 7, no. 2, pp
366-372, 2017.
This automation can help the logistic company to track its [12] Amit Joshi, Gurpreet Singh,, Gagandeep Singh. Internet of Things: A
shipments at its various warehouse locations without much Beginners’ Précis and Future Scope. Indian Journal of Science and
Technology, dec. 2016. ISSN 0974 -5645.
-
human intervention which can cut down the operational cost
and the reliability and availability of real-time
time data about their
logistics by use of RFID based shipment tracking system.

V. CONCLUSION

The proposed system architecture of an automated logistic

management systemm is at the prototyping level for proof of
concept. This can be further taken forwarded to product
development level by using industry standard tools and