Real-Time Location Systems
Whether you wish to track people or assets, Real Time Location Systems (RTLS) are Wi-Fi-based location tracking solutions that can operate over any brand or generation of Wi-Fi network while offering sub room-, room-, floor- and building-level accuracy.
As a Wi-Fi standards-based software solution, RTLS requires no readers, new cabling, choke-points or exciters and operates over your existing Wi-Fi infrastructure. The systems compute the location of tracked objects and can easily scale to support tens of thousands of tags. Compatible with all standard 802.11 a/b/g/n Wi-Fi (wireless LAN) network technologies including autonomous and lightweight AP networks, your RTLS solution can be up and running in a matter of days or a few weeks, not months.
Wi-Fi tag battery life has come a long way from the early days. Today smart Wi-Fi tags use motion sensors, so that they actively track only when moving, enabling a tag battery life to last for up to 5 years. Rechargeable batteries are also available.
Wi-Fi tags do not disrupt other Wi-Fi network functions like data and voice due to very small data sizes of each location update. There is also no evidence of Wi-Fi tags interfering with other critical wireless devices.
A pre-deployment site survey will tell you the expected accuracy of the RTLS performance and whether additional access points are required.
You have complete control of your system, including how many tags are deployed, their status and precise location. Tags can report in at timed intervals, when a tracked object moves or stops moving, in response to a button press or when triggered by a tamper sensor or help switch. Tags can be associated with asset ID information such as name, serial number, department as well as application-specific operational parameters. This association makes it simple to find and manage specific objects within a particular geographical area.
Click to learn more on the Ekahau wireless tagging solution.
Click to read more on RTLS Myths vs Facts.
Last Updated: 05/07/2011