RTLS implementation
For autonomous robots, drones, forklifts, cranes, VR/AR, people, and other industrial and special applications
After selecting the technology and the vendor, it is time to do the network planning and deploy the system.
Since indoor positioning systems are complex, our recommendation is always deploy the systems in small steps. Succeed on the current phase, then increase complexity only a bit and go to the next level. Wireless networks (from 1G to 5G) have had tremendous success with this gradual approach. RTLSs must do the same.
If any key explanations is missing or even incorrect, please email us at info@marvelmind.com, and we will address it.
Executive Summary:
This page explains how to plan, configure and deploy indoor positioning systems from basic starter sets to large warehouses covering tens and hundreds of thousands of square meters.
Typical initial steps
Usually, implementation of indoor positioning project goes this way:
– Potential users find us on the internet and like our RTLS accuracy
– Then, they want to see whether it is true in practice
– Often, we have short Zooms to answer their specific questions
– They get a starter set or two and play with them in their lab
– They use the Operating Manual and the unpacking video to deploy
– Then, they do small real PoC projects. Typically, with our remote help
– For small- mid-size projects, we do full remote deployment
– For large projects, we or our integrators do even onsite supervision
Unpacking Starter Set Super-MP
Starter Set Super-MP is the most versatile and the easiest to set up and deploy set available. Follow the video below and the step-by-step guide from the Operating Manual to learn how to set up and operate a basic indoor positioning system.
A basic 2D system can be unpacked and run in under 5 minutes. The system is ready in under 10 seconds when the firmware is updated and powered.
Avoid typical mistakes
Before implementing a sizeable indoor positioning system, we recommend watching the video below and avoiding the typical mistakes. It will save you tons of time.
Also, study and avoid a very long list of mistakes.
Understand the radio systems: Radio connectivity – essential hints.
Most recommendations are not directly linked to our technology, products, or solutions. They are equally applicable to other precise indoor positioning systems. Use the recommendations, avoid mistakes, and succeed with your projects.
Full remote planning
Usually, we plan everything remotely because it is faster and most cost-efficiently.
At this stage, we ask typical initial basic questions:
What shall be achieved in the project? Safety of people? Productivity? Overall, description of the existing problems. Or tracking of forklifts for productivity? Or autonomous robots or drones or AGVs?
We need it not only for the current PoC but for a future project to reuse the equipment supplied for the PoC. Also, for a deeper understanding of where the PoC is heading so that the PoC would prove everything for the future larger project.
It is important to mark on the floor plan with a yellow pen where the people/robots/drones/AGVs must be tracked. Because if just “everywhere,” it could result in too many beacons. For example, do you want to track people in WCs? Or on the stairs?
Setting incorrect goals and expectations for coverage may dramatically increase the required infrastructure and, as a result, the complexity and cost of the project.
As many photos and videos as allowed to share. If needed, we sign NDAs.
Walls, ceiling – to see where it is possible to place the stationary beacons.
Obstructions? Noise? Videos help to understand the level and type of noise on site and thus are valuable.
Very ideally is to walk through the site with a camera/mobile phone camera like a typical user whom we need to track would walk – to simulate their typical activity so that we would see the environment around the user and assess the complexity of the environment.
Tracking in 3D, 2D, vertical 2D, or1D or a combination? – this affects the number of beacons required and, sometimes, the tracking confidence. There are many variants and options available
How many mobile objects will be tracked? What type? People? Vehicles? Cranes? Robots? Drones? A combination of them?
Are they autonomous (robots, drones, AGVs) or just tracked – people, forklifts, assets?
Location update rate per mobile object? It is essential to understand not only the total number of mobile objects and the number of them simultaneously tracked.
Obviously, the higher update rate is the better. However, there are many other parameters affected by this requirements: architecture, beacons battery lifetime, overall capacity of the system, etc. Thus, we need to understand both a desired update rate and the minimum critical one.
Besides, it is not only about the update rate, but also about the latency of the location updates. Low latency is typically more challenging to achieve than higher update rate.
Types of geofencing zones? Static – safe zone or dangerous zones? Or mobile geo-fencing zones – large vehicles moving around or cranes moving?
How many zones and what overall description of the requirements? What shall trigger an alarm? For example, “entering to the zone by 0.5m for more than 2 seconds”? – something like that.
Ingress protection requirements (IPxx)? Tracking only inside or outside as well? Rain, dust, other environmental factors?
Working temperatures can be very critical. If below 0C, charging LiPol batteries is impossible, for example, without damaging the batteries.
Options and requirements for the power supply of the stationary beacons? – fixed power (~110/220V or +12V…+36V or +5V USB or Power over Ethernet, etc.? or external battery?
If external batteries are selected:
– How often is the customer ready to recharge them?
– The external battery can be virtually for any capacity you wish. It only affects the size/cost of the battery
– Charging takes 5-24h, depending on the type of chargers and size of batteries
– The battery lifetime is directly linked with the location update rate
– The battery lifetime may also be coupled with external temperatures, particularly negative ones
Read more about the planning process: Precise indoor positioning – planning phase.
Typically, we deploy everything remotely via TeamViewer, AnyDesk, or similar because it is faster and more cost-efficient. We fly in to oversee on-site deployment only for larger (and longer) cases.
Precise indoor positioning – implementation phase – steps we do together with customers from the start till the full implementation.
Here are examples of fully remotely deployed indoor positioning networks:
Since each case is unique, don’t hesitate to contact us with your specific questions and requests via info@marvelmind.com. We are very agile and flexible, and nearly anything is doable.
We provide extensive help on all stages of RTLS implementation – from initial discussion and consulting on the system and architecture selection to a post-deployment extended warranty or even managed services.
We can run and monitor your system remotely 24/7, if you wish so, for example.
Please, study our default warranty terms.
We are happy to offer extended warranty terms. Just send us an email via info@marvelmind.com to discuss your expectations in more details.
We recommend to have a pool of spare network elements for very quick – minutes – replacement, if needed.
A combination of on-site ZIP and extended warranty and signed managed service agreement gives the highest confidence to the end-users.
If you feel competent and experienced with the system, then a small ZIP of spares is the most cost-efficient option for swift fixes of any failures in the system. We recommend having at least one spare part for each network element – with the right frequency of beacons.