Real Time Locating Systems (RTLS)

A Proposal for a New NCITS TCPrepared by: Craig K. Harmon

Presented by: Dr. Donald R. Deutsch

IT/01-0623

What is RTLS?• Item Management includes both the

identification of an item and its location

• RFID provides a means of radio identification

• RTLS provides a means of radio location

A Description• Some Quotes

– “It’s Like GPS on a Local Level”

– “It’s RFID on Steroids”

– “It’s a Local Location Network”

• Fully Automated Systems That Continually Monitor the Locations of Assets and Personnel

• Utilizes Battery-operated Radio Tags and a Cellular Locating System to Detect the Presence and Location of the Tags

• Ubiquitous Coverage for a Campus or Facility

Locating vs. Positioning• Positioning

– Where Am I?

– Provides Your Current Position

– e.g., GPS (Global Positioning System)

• Locating– Where is ____?– Provides the

Location of Something Else to You

– e.g., ULD Locating System

Local Area Wireless Locating Technologies

• RFID Localizers

• RTLS– Time of Flight Ranging Systems– Amplitude Triangulation Systems– Differential Time Of Arrival (DTOA)

Reader2

server

RS-232

Reader3

Reader1

Reader6

Reader7

Reader5

RS-232

RS-232

RS-232

Reader4

Reader8

Reader9

Concentrator

• Tag Blinks: High Power, Low Power

TagTag

• Reader Within Range Localizes Tag

• Tag is Within Range of Reader #5

How Do RFID Localizer Systems Work?

CellController

1. Controller sends 2.4 GHz ping to tags & starts clock

2. Tag that is awake encodes identifier on reflected signal at 5.8 GHz

3. Cell Controller receives signal from tag, stops clock

4. Cell Controller determines distance to tag based on elapsed time between send and receive

Antenna0. Tags Awaken Pseudo-Randomly – Turn On Transverter

Tag

TagTag

Tag

TagTag

How Does a Ranging System Work?

Transceiver1

Transceiver2

Transceiver3

Transceiver4

Transceiver5

Transceiver6

Transceiver7

Transceiver8

Transceiver9

How Do Amplitude Triangulation Systems Work?

• Tags Blink• Transceivers Receiving Strongest Signal

Approximate Position Based on Relative Signal Strength

server

MasterTransceiver

RS-232

Tag

Transceiver2

Transceiver3

Transceiver6

Tag

Transceiver2

Transceiver3

Transceiver5

Tag

Transceiver1

Transceiver2

Transceiver5

Tag

Transceiver1

Transceiver2

Transceiver4

Tag

Transceiver2

Transceiver4

Transceiver5Tag

Transceiver4

Transceiver5

Transceiver6

Tag

Transceiver2

Transceiver5

Transceiver6

Tag

Transceiver5

Transceiver6

Transceiver9

Tag

Transceiver5

Transceiver6

Transceiver9

Tag

Transceiver5

Transceiver6

Transceiver8

Tag

Transceiver4

Transceiver5

Transceiver8

RS-485

1. Tag Transmits ID

Tag

Server

LocationAntenna

LocationAntenna

LocationAntenna

LocationAntenna

LocationProcessor

2. Each Antenna Receives ID and Sends to LP Over Cable3. LP Determines First Arrival Time for Each Antenna and Computes Location DifferenceBetween Arrival Time at Each Antenna (DTOA)

4. Database Server Receives Tag ID and Location Data From LP

How Does DTOA Locating Work?

Vehicle Inventory Management• Newly Assembled Vehicles Stored in

Yard– Thousands of Vehicles must be Shipped

per Day by Various Conveyances• Assembling Shipments is Complex

Operation• Unfound Vehicles Cause Significant

Delays• Delays Cost Manufacturer

$5-$10/Day/Vehicle

– Vehicles Shipped with Quality Problems Cost Thousands of Dollars to Repair After Shipment

– Incomplete Loads Require Additional Transports

• RTLS – 802.11 Empower Mobile Real Time Decisions

– RTLS Speeds Finding Vehicles– Vehicles are Checked Real Time for

ship/hold status Using 802.11 Wireless Network

– RTLS Identifies Vehicles in Overflow Yards

– Loaded Vehicles Status is Verified

Manufacturing Management

• Features– Real-time Visibility of All

W-I-P on Site

– Current Location

– Location History and Trace-ability

– Automate Receive, Put-away, Pick and Ship

– Status Information

• Benefits– Reduced Material Handling

Costs

– Reduced Expediting Costs

– Reduced Obsolete Inventory

– No Line Switchovers

ULD Tracking at Airports

fmcGround Support Equipment Tracking

• Locate GSE Instantly• Monitor Utilization and Status Via Telemetry

– “On Time”

– Oil Pressure, Battery Level, etc…

Yard Management• Distribution, Manufacturing and

Shipping Yards

• Features – Real-time visibility of all trailers on

site

– Current location

– Location history and trace-ability

– Visual client alerts

– Trailer status information

• Benefits– Eliminate Yard Checks

– Improved yard operations• Throughput - Utilization

– Reduced spoilage

– Reduced demurrage fees

• Payback– Less than 12 months

Location Networks• Providing New Levels of Visibility

• Creating Mobile Decision Support Networks– Empowering Mobile Management

• Increasing Material Flow Velocity

• Providing New Levels Of Personal Security and Convenience

Potential Members

• General Motors• Ford• Boeing• FMC• Defense Logistics

Agency• American Airlines• United States Postal

Service• Q.E.D. Systems

• United Airlines

• U.S. Air Force

• United Parcel Service

• U.S. Army

• Federal Express

• U.S. Navy

• U.S. Marine Corps

• Port of Tacoma

• Port of Oakland

Thank You!