Ekahau Inc., a provider of WiFi-based real-time location systems (RTLS), has added a family of small, mobile, battery-powered transmitters to bridge gaps in WiFi coverage in order to enable RFID tracking in critical areas.
Called Ekahau location beacons, the devices are said to increase the accuracy of the company’s RTLS product, which uses location algorithms to pinpoint tagged objects using existing enterprise WiFi networks. Previously, in order to expand coverage, manufacturers had to either install additional WiFi access points or install expensive, proprietary, non-WiFi systems, according to a statement from the company.
RTLS technology is giving RFID a boost by meeting the growing need for real-time visibility as assets move through manufacturing and logistics processes, often through different facilities or areas. The real-time technology relies on a variety of communications between tags and readers. Some systems run on proprietary networks while others use WiFi, and still others use ultrawide-band communications. For WiFi-based systems, however, the sticking points have been blind spots or tracking range limits.
Ekahau said it has addressed these problems with its location beacons. The $50 units, which don’t require cabling, are typically mounted on a wall and can be moved as needed or installed permanently in specific locations. The company’s WiFi-based RFID tags, which are attached to specific pieces of equipment, recognize the location beacon signals and transmit the signal data to the RTLS server, which calculates the location of the tags.