Construction Tool Positioning With Mesh Tags, RSSI, And ToF

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing real-time positioning systems for construction tools are costly due to expensive positioning beacons and suffer from inaccuracy due to environmental obstacles, leading to inefficient tool location.

Innovation Solution

A wireless real-time positioning system using a mesh network of mesh tags and a target tag, employing Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) and Time of Flight (ToF) measurements to determine the position of moveable objects, with a cost-effective and accurate method involving a mesh network of mesh tags and a target tag, utilizing a subset of proximity tags for ToF measurements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If positioning beacons (PBs) are deployed to cover the construction site area, then real-time positioning capability is achieved, but system cost increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning coverageVSAvoidsystem cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system divides the positioning function into two parts: simple electronic tags attached to tools (low cost) and infrastructure mesh tags deployed on the construction site (low cost). This segmentation replaces the expensive positioning beacons with a distributed mesh network of simple tags, achieving coverage while reducing overall system cost.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses inexpensive electronic tags and mesh tags instead of expensive positioning beacons. These tags are low-cost devices that can be easily deployed and replaced, reducing the overall system cost while maintaining positioning functionality across the construction site.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Productivity

If RSSI method is used for positioning, then real-time position can be calculated quickly, but positioning accuracy deteriorates due to environmental obstacles

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning speedVSAvoidpositioning accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses mesh tags as intermediary nodes in the positioning process. Instead of direct RSSI measurements between electronic tags and distant beacons, the mesh tags relay signals and provide intermediate positioning references, improving accuracy in environments with obstacles while maintaining real-time positioning capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs RSSI measurements with multiple mesh tags (excessive action) to compensate for environmental obstacles. By using more measurement points than the minimum required, the system can filter out errors caused by walls and obstacles, improving positioning accuracy while maintaining real-time performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The system provides a cost-effective and accurate real-time positioning of moveable tools on construction sites, reducing costs and improving location accuracy by using a mesh network with ToF measurements.

Implementation Method 1

perform a Time of Flight, ToF, measurement, in the target tag, with all the selected proximity tags

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTime of Flight: Time of Flight

Implementation Method 2

measure a Received Signal Strength Indicator, RSSI, of the received broadcast message in the at least three mesh tags

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectReceived Signal Strength Indicator:

Data Source

PatentUS12457475B2Wireless real time positioning system

Publication Date: 2025.10.28 NIDA TECH SWEDEN

AI summary

A wireless real time positioning method and system, the system comprises multiple mesh tags (314, 414) and a target tag (310, 410), the method comprises: sending a broadcast message from the target tag (310, 410); receiving the broadcast message in each mesh tag (314, 414); measure a Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) of the received broadcast message in each mesh tag (314, 414); transmitting the RSSI from each mesh tag (314, 414) to said target tag (310, 410); selecting, in the target tag (310, 410), one subset of mesh tags (314, 414) having the highest RSSI as proximity tags (314-2, 314-3, 314-5, 314-6); performing a Time of Flight (ToF) measurement, in the target tag (310, 410), with all the selected proximity tags (314-2, 314-3, 314-5, 314-6); calculating, in the target tag (310, 410), a real time position of the target tag (310, 410) based on the ToF measurements with all the selected proximity tags (314-2, 314-3, 314-5, 314-6).