RC-DR² (Beijing) Technology Company, Limited recently launched its Red Point™ Ultra Wideband (UWB) Indoor Real Time Location Service (RTLS) platform in Beijing. Together with the Beidou Navigation System, the system will provide seamless navigation service coverage in outdoor and indoor areas. The RTLS system is capable of delivering 3D localization accuracy at subterranean levels while simultaneously performing automatic wireless networking. Compared with existing localization systems that offer similar position accuracy, the Red Point platform offers significant savings. According to the company, this localization platform is highly configurable and can be used for tracking and navigation applications. Other powerful features include support of bi-directional data transfers and sensor interfaces, which allows the platform to be used as wireless sensor network.

Rapid Growth of Indoor Localization Demand
Localization technologies have been developing rapidly in recent years, with outdoor localization products and applications becoming ubiquitous. In comparison, indoor localization is lagging behind. Given that 80 percent of human activities take place indoors, from finding parking spot in a parking garage to locating a seafood restaurant in a shopping mall, demand for localization in indoor space is growing rapidly.
 
Today, there are a lot of big names who are active in the indoor location market, such as Apple, Google, Nokia, Microsoft, Qualcomm and Broadcom. These companies are trying solutions based on various technologies, such as WiFi, Bluetooth, RFID and IMU. However, there is yet a solution that both offers accuracy and is cost-effective.

UWB technology has been considered one of the most promising technologies for high precision wireless localization, especially since the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) ruling that allows the license-free UWB spectrum. However, most users shy away from UWB because all the existing solutions are rigid and expensive.
 
The Red Point™ RTLS platform offered by RC-DR² is a UWB-based solution. Compared to WiFi, Bluetooth, and other UWB-based RTLS products, it also boasts the following features:

1. High localization accuracy: Offers highest class of accuracy among all available RTLS products, with 15 cm in 2D and 2-½D localization mode, and 30 cm in 3D localization mode.

2. Real time service: Supports location updates up to 30 times per second

3. Reliable wireless networking: A self-organizing, self-correcting infrastructure network offers robust performance in a complicated RF environment.

4. Fast installation and easy maintenance: No need for cumbersome site survey or footprint collection. It can be installed in minutes instead of days. Built-in self-calibration capability and powerful utility tools provided allow easy maintenance.

5. Simultaneous data communications: All fixed and mobile nodes are connected wirelessly and the system can serve simultaneously as wireless sensor networks. Sensor and control interface are provided on the fixed nodes.

6. Simple API: The platform offers transparent REST API for application development.

 
With solid engineering and smartly crafted protocols, solutions based on the Red Point™ platform are able to lower user costs up to 20 percent of traditional UWB products. The system's complete wireless network feature and insensitivity to the environment keep installation and maintenance costs very low, lowering the threshold of using UWB techniques to realize the location market. Meanwhile, due to the design restrictions of those previous UWB technical products, tracking is the only mode for applications. However, Red Point system adds mobile tags' real time monitoring, navigation and the two hybrid mode functions based on the traditional single tracking mode. Therefore, the application scope has been significantly extended in terms of high commercial marketing value.

Highlighted Applications and Business Opportunities

There are many real-world applications that would benefit from this high precision RTLS platform.

One such application is personnel tracking in underground mines. Widely accepted as the most precise (subterranean level) indoor localization technique, the UWB based RTLS would provide remarkable improvement in location precision. Not only can the accuracy real-time location save lives, immunity to complicated underground environments and fast set-up times are also essential to ensure mine safety. Red Point platform fits the requirements well.

Another potential application is for in-store or super-market location services. Red Point platform can enable a revolutionary shopping experience from "one-stop" service to "e-stop" service. When used for navigation, it offers convenience to consumers, while in tracking mode, it allows retailers to offer location based advertisement and consumer behaviour analysis. By combining the advantages of traditional business modes and e-business modes with location based services, retailers can gain a significant competitive advantage in the mobile internet era.

The Red Point system also can be used for self-guided museums tours, creating an innovative product based on visitor’s requirements and tastes.

The platform also provides data connectivity in its infrastructure network and abundant sensor and control interface on radio nodes to allow users to access the network as the underlining sensor network. The standard HTTP application program interface, simplified tool software and 3D visualization user interface for Windows and Android OS are also included in the offering to make the integration of location information into the user applications extremely easy.

For More Information, Please Contact:
Lucy Chen
Project Manager
RC-DR² (Beijing) Technology Company, Limited.
Tel: +86 010 65035177/65035377/65035677-1831
Email: lucy.chen@rcdr2.com