Active RFID And RTLS In Manufacturing By Dr. Peter Harrop, IDTechEx

The ultimate supply chain and the ideal control of parts, materials, work in progress, and finished goods in manufacturing will be provided by Real Time Locating Systems (RTLS), ultimately with sensing as well. These are a form of active RFID and there are various types available from Ultra Wide Band (UWB) which uses a broad range of frequencies in the microwave region, to systems in the megahertz region, though 2.45 GHz is now very popular for RTLS. One form radio fingerprints existing WiFi emissions and another measures Time Delay of Arrival (TDOA) of several emitted beams. The WiFi approach usually calls for more nodes to be installed but infrastructure is usually still low in system cost. G2 Microsystems has provided the most advanced chip for these tags, gaining considerable improvements in cost and power economy. For 3D location of staff and valuable assets in oil refineries, supply depots etc., BP finds RTLS from companies such as Time Domain and Ubisense to be best. Ubisense is delivering value in automotive manufacturing as well with its unusually accurate UWB RTLS.

However, Belgian startup Green Peak favors active RFID on 2.45 GHz ZigBee protocols in indoor locations whereas Axcess International has an alternative approach. Ford has widely used RTLS in manufacturing, including the location and stocktaking of finished vehicles in huge yards, where long range is needed. Indeed, PINC Solutions has an impressive RTLS offering specifically for yard management.