Mobile Antenna Tag Positioning With Multi-Location RF Measurements
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional asset tracking systems in large facilities require a large number of fixed RF antennas, which are costly and cumbersome to install, and often provide location updates more frequently than necessary for relatively stationary assets.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing mobile antennas that move around the environment, performing distance measurements and angle-of-arrival calculations to determine the location of stationary tags, reducing the need for fixed antennas and enabling precise tracking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a large number of fixed RF antennas are distributed throughout the facility to precisely determine asset location, then location tracking accuracy is improved, but installation cost and system complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the static fixed antenna infrastructure into a dynamic mobile antenna system. Instead of deploying numerous fixed antennas throughout the facility, a single mobile antenna moves to different locations to perform distance measurements with tags. This dynamic approach allows the system to achieve accurate location tracking by collecting measurements from multiple positions without requiring a dense fixed antenna network.
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile antenna serves multiple functions: it acts as both the positioning reference and the measurement device. By moving to different known locations, the same antenna performs the role of multiple fixed antennas would play, enabling triangulation and trilateration calculations to determine tag positions without requiring physically separate antenna units at each measurement point.
2Reliability
If hundreds of RF antennas are installed to track assets in a large yard or warehouse, then location tracking capability is improved, but installation cost and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential function of multiple fixed antennas (performing distance measurements at different locations) and consolidates it into a single mobile antenna that moves to perform the same measurements. This extraction eliminates the need for expensive installation of hundreds of fixed antenna units while maintaining the capability to track asset locations through multi-position measurements.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of physically installing multiple fixed antennas at different locations, the system uses a mobile antenna that copies the measurement function by visiting different positions. The mobile antenna replicates what multiple fixed antennas would do simultaneously, achieving the same tracking capability through sequential measurements at known locations.
3Productivity
If fixed antennas are installed to provide continuous location updates, then real-time tracking is improved, but cost and complexity increase for assets that are not constantly monitored
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile antenna system performs periodic measurements at predetermined locations rather than continuous monitoring. The antenna moves to specific positions and performs distance measurements with tags at these locations, providing location updates on a periodic basis rather than continuously. This approach is well-suited for assets that are generally stationary and only need location tracking at intervals.
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
Reduces the number of fixed antennas required while maintaining accurate location tracking of stationary assets, offering cost-effective and efficient asset management.
Implementation Method 1
radio frequency (RF) technology to determine the location of assets within a facility
Implementation Method 2
messages including at least one of time of arrival, time of departure
Data Source
AI summary
Systems are provided for determining location of tags in an environment. The system includes at least one mobile antenna that moves around the environment. The absolute location associated with the mobile antenna is known and it sends and receives messages including at least one of time of arrival, time of departure, signal strength and angle of arrival. A measurement module performs distance measurement between the at least one mobile antenna and at least one tag in the environment to obtain at least. The distance measurements are associated with at least two locations of mobile antenna. A storage module records the distance measurements at the at least two locations and the at least two locations. A location module computes a location of each of the at least one tags based on the recorded distance measurements at the at least two locations and the recorded locations of the mobile antenna.