Ultra-Wideband RTLS for Warehouse Operations and Asset Tracking

About the Client

An IoT sensor network for warehouse management, designed to enhance operational efficiency and inventory tracking.

Customer

Confidential

Location

USA

Industry

Warehouse and Inventory Management

Company’s Request

Our client had implemented a Bluetooth-based tracking system for inventory and personnel within their IoT ecosystem. Seeking improved accuracy in item localization, they decided to transition to a solution using Ultra-Wideband (UWB) technology. The primary challenge was to replace the existing Bluetooth system with UWB technology, ensuring the new system maintained high levels of efficiency and reliability.

Technology Set

AWS Services
Amazon S3	Utilized for scalable storage solutions, especially for storing logs and application data. Utilized for scalable storage solutions, especially for storing logs and application data.
EC2 (Elastic Compute Cloud)	Provided the adjustable computing resources, pivotal for handling varying loads and scaling as per demand.
ECS (Elastic Container Service) & Fargate	Facilitated the management of containerized applications. Fargate, being a serverless option, eliminated server management overhead.
Lambda	Enabled serverless computing, allowing us to run code responding to events without managing servers.

ECS (Elastic Container Service) & Fargate	Enabled serverless computing, allowing us to run code responding to events without managing servers.
Lambda	Enabled serverless computing, allowing us to run code responding to events without managing servers.

Our team developed a UWB-based real-time location system (RTLS) using a multi-antenna approach, combining hardware and software into an integrated platform. This solution caters to a variety of indoor tracking applications, including asset tracking, material flow management, and employee location monitoring within a warehouse environment.

In our RTLS implementation, Tags emit UWB signals which are picked up by devices known as anchors. The tags are designed to operate in a low power mode and initiate updates to system parameters, achieved through occasional communications with the anchors. Communication between a tag and an anchor is established when a tag sends a packet containing a data frame, setting a ‘systemRequest’ flag. This signals the tag’s readiness to receive a configuration packet from the anchor, which then times its transmission to ensure the tag’s receipt.

Anchors send UDP packets to a specified server address and are also configured to receive UDP packets from the server. Gathering multiple reports from different anchors enables the server to determine the location of the originating tag.

Value Delivered

Improved Accuracy

The adoption of UWB technology markedly enhanced the accuracy of locating objects compared to the previously used Bluetooth system.

Efficient Power Usage

Thanks to its low power mode, the system now allows tags to operate for extended periods (approximately 1-2 years) on a single battery charge, minimizing the frequency of battery replacements.

Versatile Indoor Tracking

The new solution is more versatile, supporting various indoor tracking needs within a warehouse setting, from asset tracking to employee location monitoring for operational efficiency.

Real-Time Location Data

The new system provides enhanced real-time location data, making tracking and managing assets and people more efficient.

Scalable Solution

The solution is expandable to support more devices and cover larger areas, offering long-term value to the client.