UWB Phased-Array Location Control for Low-Power Hazard Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing location determination systems in industrial settings, such as manufacturing floors, lack accuracy and require significant infrastructure, failing to prevent workplace injuries due to inadequate real-time location estimation of individuals and machinery.

Innovation Solution

An ultra wideband real-time location system using a phased antenna array and algorithms to estimate the location of mobile transmitters relative to fixed receivers, allowing for precise determination of impermissible locations and interrupting processes to prevent injuries, with battery-saving communication states based on motion and speed.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If ultra wideband communication is used for real-time location determination, then location accuracy is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocation accuracyVSAvoidbattery power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the ultra wideband communication rate based on motion detection. When the mobile transmitter is stationary, communication occurs at a reduced rate to conserve battery power. When motion is detected, the communication rate increases to maintain accurate location tracking, thus resolving the contradiction between continuous accurate location determination and battery power conservation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the communication parameter (communication rate) based on the operational state of the mobile transmitter. By transitioning between different communication rates (high rate when moving, low rate when stationary), the system optimizes both location accuracy and power consumption according to actual needs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Speed

If location estimation occurs at high rate to detect impermissible locations rapidly, then safety response time is improved, but power consumption and processing load increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection speedVSAvoidbattery power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements dynamic sampling rate adjustment where the location estimation frequency adapts to the motion state of the mobile transmitter. High-rate estimation is activated only when motion is detected or when approaching hazardous zones, while low-rate estimation is used during stationary periods, optimizing both detection speed and power consumption

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Measurement precision

If location determination requires external server communication, then calculation accuracy is improved, but system complexity and response time worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocation calculation accuracyVSAvoidsystem infrastructure requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the location calculation functionality from external servers and implements it locally within the fixed receiver system. The fixed receiver contains processing capabilities to determine location directly from ultra wideband signal measurements without requiring external server communication, thereby reducing system complexity while maintaining calculation accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The fixed receiver system performs self-service by incorporating local processing capabilities to calculate location determinations autonomously. This eliminates the need for external server infrastructure, reducing system complexity and improving response time while maintaining the required measurement precision

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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

Provides accurate and rapid detection of individuals or machinery in hazardous proximity, conserving battery life and preventing workplace injuries without external server communication.

Implementation Method 1

sending an ultra wideband communication from the mobile transmitter to the fixed receiver and acquiring the ultra wideband communication by a phased antenna array of the fixed receiver

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectUltra wideband communication: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentUS12440991B2Ultra wideband location determination with predicative and power saving capabilities

Publication Date: 2025.10.14 THE BOEING CO

AI summary

Techniques for controlling a process to prevent injury are presented. The techniques include obtaining a location estimation of a mobile transmitter affixed to an object, where the location estimation is relative to a location of a fixed receiver, and where the obtaining the location estimation includes sending an ultra wideband communication from the mobile transmitter to the fixed receiver and acquiring the ultra wideband communication by a phased antenna array of the fixed receiver; assessing, based on the location estimation, that the mobile transmitter is within an impermissible location; determining that the location estimation is sufficiently accurate based on a distance between the location estimation and the fixed receiver; and interrupting the process upon both assessing that the mobile transmitter is within an impermissible location and determining that the location estimation is sufficiently accurate.