Airbus tests low-cost RTLS RFID solution

European aircraft manufacturer Airbus is testing an RFID solution using active RTLS RFID technology that does not require the use of batteries. The French startup offers the system to provide 2D or 3D location information using low-cost passive ultra-high frequency (UHF) RFID tags, beacon readers and hosted or dedicated server software to manage the reads. data.

It is an indoor positioning system company that was established a year ago to solve factory and warehouse problems that existing RFID systems cannot correctly solve. The company's founders and CEOs all have decades of technology and innovation backgrounds. They started the company to develop a software that helps industrial, manufacturing, and logistics companies track Tools, equipment, raw materials, consumables, and finished goods.

Current automated positioning solutions are available in active RTLS scenarios that require battery-powered tags as well as in passive systems that only detect the location of a tag within an area or as the tag moves through a portal. In the latter case, the passive system cannot provide the enterprise with sufficient location information of tools and consumables. This type of system can only provide the most recently read data.

For most active RTLS solutions, tags must be battery powered, making them expensive, bulky, and requiring routine maintenance. For most manufacturers or warehouses that want to track thousands or even millions of tagged items, this type of system is not feasible.

The company holds four patents on the system. "Our solution is the first to track millions of tags in harsh metal environments," he said.

The tags are powered by the beacon, which transmits UHF RF signals to all tags within a range of 30 to 50 meters (98 to 164 feet). They only send energy, not unique identifiers or query messages. These tags are designed by us and manufactured by third-party manufacturers, with built-in chips provided by "leading IC manufacturers." The tags can draw energy from the beacon and only send a unique ID number when powered without specifically responding to queries. The operating power of the beacon is much lower than that of traditional passive RFID Readers, and it can work in metal environments. "Passive UHF signals emitted in metallic environments are less reliable because reflections can cause multipath radio signals," he points out.

In the system, the beacon simply sends energy, receives the RF signal from the tag and forwards that data back to the server via a Wi-Fi connection or using the transmission technology of the customer's choice. The beacon body is powered by an outlet. This data can be read from the customer site's server or SaaS server. In either case, the software uses a triangulation algorithm to analyze the tag's location, providing a real-time location dashboard and the reporting and analysis customers require. Tags can achieve longer read ranges due to the low energy required by the reader and the elimination of reflections.

Airbus and other undisclosed companies have conducted two pilot deployments of the system.

In a deployment project, the technology is used to track the location of tools used in manufacturing. Explained that RFID tags were attached to each tool and the tags were functioning well. Airbus uses the software not only to identify where tools are moved around the factory, but also to analyze how long they stay in specific locations, indicating that items are in use. The system monitors usage time and sends an alert to the administrator when the tool needs calibration.

If companies use a SaaS version of the system, they can also get Android or iOS-based apps. Users can view the location of the required tool on a map.

The technology is also used to manage spare parts and finished products. In this case, the supplies have RFID tags attached to them. Beacons in warehouse areas can receive tag transmissions, identify tag locations within the warehouse, and provide that information to company personnel. Using this technology, companies can see not only the real-time location of items, but also overuse. They can also use data to optimize picking plans to make warehouse operations more efficient. This solution can reduce the ineffective movement of materials.

For tool management, this technology saves users the cost of replacing tools and the cost of finding misplaced tools. The technology also improves the calibration tracking system to ensure tools are calibrated in a timely manner. In terms of parts and product management in warehouses, the technology also reduces labor costs where workers spend excessive time in the picking process.

The flexible label has a thickness of 4 mm (0.16 inches) and a length and width of 6 cm (2.4 inches). The Beacon is about half the size of a MacBook, but slightly thicker. The software provides an application programming interface (API) to provide users or installers with system integration of RFID location technology and enterprise resource planning (ERP).