How to choose the height of stationary beacons
What factors affect the optimal height selection for stationary beacons
A customer of ours asked: “I can influence height of installation, what is the ideal height for beacon with horn if forklift has 2m height? Now there is plan of 6m green height”.
We expand the answer wider: what the optimal height of stationary beacons is and why.
Selection process of the proper height of stationary beacons
Usually, the optimal height comes from the weighted intersection of several factors/requirements/constrains:
- If you use IA and Omni-Microphones on mobile beacons, then placing the stationary beacons just 1-2 meters above the Omni-Microphone installed on the roof of the forklift is the best option
- If you are using a Super-Beacon or Industrial Super-Beacon with a single embedded microphone facing up, then, ideally, the lowest angle towards the stationary beacons from the horizon shall be 20-30 degrees, i.e., the required height of the stationary beacons will depend on the largest horizontal distance from the mobile beacon to the serving it stationary. Thus, the required height can be pretty big. But the larger the height, the larger the distance, i.e., the range of the system is eating out, whereas the maximum recommended distance is 30 meters. See more:
Pay attention to basic geometry
- If the height is too big, you may start experiencing a loss of accuracy due to unfavorable geometry. See more:
- For NIA and MF NIA, the mobile beacon is emitting ultrasound. The total diagram is about 270v to 360h, i.e., you can place the stationary beacon (receiving ultrasound) just above the roof of the forklift. Usually, it is best if the beacon on the roof is 30-50 cm above the roof. Otherwise, the roof may mirror the signal and cancel it – like mirage.
- Also, there are practical limitations that usually prevail: safety, permits, etc. Often, unauthorized personnel are not allowed to climb stairs or beyond a small particular height, for example, 3m or 5m. There are basic stairs that can be up to 4.5m, for example. Or there could be a layer in the shelves that is suitable for placing the beacon – not higher and not lower
For the particular case when the Horn as used along with the stationary beacon, there is a minimum distance from the Horn where the mobile beacon can be tracked and that depends on the height of the Horn. Thus, you may need to put the stationary beacon not too high above the mobile beacons or you will create an artificial dead service zone.
Thus, for this particular case with Horns on stationary beacons for both IA and NIA, we recommend the height of the Horn 1-2 meters above the mobile beacons on the roof of the forklifts: it wouldn’t create the large dead service zone, on the one hand, and on the other hand, it would minimize chances of potential occlusions due to lamps of the forklift’s roof, etc.
Other frequently asked questions about height
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Can stationary beacons be on different heights? Yes
Yes, they can be on different heights. Typically, it is easier to install on the same height - ceiling or near the ceiling and there is a natural height equalizer. However, the height must be manually entered in the system anyway. It is valid for the stationary beacons in all modes - 1D, 2D, 3D tracking - and IA, NIA, MF NIA. Forgetting entering the height is one of the most typical mistakes.
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Can the drone fly above the plane connecting stationary beacons? No
In basic 3D tracking configuration, the drone must fly all the time either below the plane - the mobile beacons on the drone are facing up and the stationary beacons are facing down - indoor drone show scenario. Or they always fly above the plane of stationary beacons - mobile beacons are facing down and the stationary beacons are facing up - landing scenario, for example