Reefer container monitoring system using PLC-based communication technology for maritime edge computing

Most of the container transports by sea and land from the Republic of Korea to other countries or continents take more than a week. Under such environment, cargoes in the reefer containers must be kept at the required temperatures. To prevent any spoilage of cargoes during the long period of navigation, these containers need to be inspected daily, but it is often difficult to check and maintain them regularly with limited manpower on a ship as they are scattered around the individual cargo holding area. To deal with such situation, a reefer container monitoring system that utilizes the existing onboard power line(s) and can acquire data from the device sensors is proposed. As the advantage of this system, no additional wiring is necessary, so shipping companies can install the system on their ships at low cost. The system is applicable to the railway system in the future. Expected effects include the reduction in logistics/operation costs and accidents while abiding by the safety guidelines set by the International Maritime Organization.