Ubisense RFID tags, readers and software will make it easier for the French aircraft manufacturer to track production of key components for its A380 double-decker planes.
By Claire Swedberg
Feb. 19, 2010—Furthering its initiative to employ radio frequency identification technology to improve its efficiency in the manufacture and maintenance of its aircraft, Airbus is installing a real-time locating system (RTLS) provided by Ubisense at some of its assembly plants in Europe. The system, expected to go live by the end of this year's second quarter, will enable the company to track the production of large components for its A380 commercial passenger airliners, as the double-deck, wide-body, four-engine planes move from one zone to another within those facilities.
A Ubisense battery-powered RFID tag transmits a unique ID number via an ultra-wideband (UWB) RF band between 6 and 8.5 GHz. Readers (which Ubisense calls sensor units) capture that ID number and send it to a server via a cabled connection, along with location data. Software running on that server compares the tag signals as received from several readers, and then calculates the tag's location based on time difference of arrival (TDOA). Tags typically can be read at a distance of up to 160 meters (525 feet). The system can pinpoint each tag's location within 30 centimeters (12 inches), says Richard Green, Ubisense's CEO.
Currently, manual data entry is required to track the progress of a specific component in assembly. However, with the RFID system in place, the component's location would become automatically visible and in real time.
Once the system goes live, a tag will be affixed to the core of each large component before the assembly process begins. Within the facility, Ubisense sensor units will read the unique ID number of every tag as it moves through the plant. The Ubisense software creates zones based on locations within the assembly area in which each sensor unit is located, Green says, and can thereby determine when a given component has moved into a new zone, thus indicating it has begun a new procedure.
Internet-based Ubisense software can then send an alert if, for example, a component has remained too long in a specific location or zone, or issue a notification when a part passes from one process to the next. Once a component is fully constructed, its tag is removed for reuse on another item undergoing assembly.
Link to complete Article
Ubisense, the market leader of location solutions, delivers mission-critical enterprise asset tracking and geospatial systems. Ubisense has rapidly emerged as the vendor of choice for high resolution, scalable, reliable, real-time location sensing systems and has over 500 customers around the world.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Ubisense real-time location system tracks buses in Luzern, Switzerland
Cambridge/ Dortmund, 18 February 2010. Ubisense announces the completion of the system installation at the Verkehrsbetriebe Luzern (vbl) Bus Depot in Switzerland. The Ubisense RTLS has been installed in conjunction with the web based swissaxis AG BeDips® Depot Management system.
The real-time bus location system uses the Ubisense RTLS to achieve operational efficiency for dispatching vbl’s fleet of more than 150 buses. The system is deployed internally across a 12 000 sqm garage, and externally across outdoor areas.
The Ubisense sensor network, with its sub-meter accuracy, provides location information, allowing buses to be located in their correct lanes and parking spaces, both indoors and outside. The sensor network also alerts the BeDips® Depot Management system to buses arriving and leaving the bus-depot. The solution forms the central part of a scheduling application for workflow optimisation. Management of the workflow of buses within the depot is critical to ensuring efficient scheduling, timely cleaning, maintenance and reliable dispatch.
A real-time location, ultra-wideband radio system transmitter, known as an Ubisense Tag is attached to each bus. The tag emits small signals which are picked up by the network of Ubisense sensors located around the depot. The real-time location information is displayed within the yard management solution online-interface, enabling the dispatchers to schedule and process manage the depot efficiently.
The system has led to a faster, more efficient maintenance, cleaning and dispatch process. The swissaxis AG BeDips® Depot management system, in conjunction with the Ubisense RTLS system has provided the perfect solution for the mid-size bus depot at vbl.
“We are delighted to have worked with Ubisense on the project at Luzern.” said Mr. Altorfer, Managing Director of swissaxis. “The combination of AG BeDips® Depot and Ubisense RTLS has created an efficient, cost effective, robust system for the vbl bus depot, which has completely answered the client’s original brief.”
BeDips® utilises Ubisense-RTLS in order to provide the first completely web based Depot Management system which can fulfill the daily requirements of bus depots such as vbl.
Mr. Zumsteg of vbl commented “The solution implemented by swissaxis AG and Ubisense has provided us with an easy-to-use management system, which enables us to have complete 24/7 visibility of the buses independently from the location within the internal and external areas of the depot, and make significant efficiency improvements “
Ubisense Transit Solutions
The real-time bus location system uses the Ubisense RTLS to achieve operational efficiency for dispatching vbl’s fleet of more than 150 buses. The system is deployed internally across a 12 000 sqm garage, and externally across outdoor areas.
The Ubisense sensor network, with its sub-meter accuracy, provides location information, allowing buses to be located in their correct lanes and parking spaces, both indoors and outside. The sensor network also alerts the BeDips® Depot Management system to buses arriving and leaving the bus-depot. The solution forms the central part of a scheduling application for workflow optimisation. Management of the workflow of buses within the depot is critical to ensuring efficient scheduling, timely cleaning, maintenance and reliable dispatch.
A real-time location, ultra-wideband radio system transmitter, known as an Ubisense Tag is attached to each bus. The tag emits small signals which are picked up by the network of Ubisense sensors located around the depot. The real-time location information is displayed within the yard management solution online-interface, enabling the dispatchers to schedule and process manage the depot efficiently.
The system has led to a faster, more efficient maintenance, cleaning and dispatch process. The swissaxis AG BeDips® Depot management system, in conjunction with the Ubisense RTLS system has provided the perfect solution for the mid-size bus depot at vbl.
“We are delighted to have worked with Ubisense on the project at Luzern.” said Mr. Altorfer, Managing Director of swissaxis. “The combination of AG BeDips® Depot and Ubisense RTLS has created an efficient, cost effective, robust system for the vbl bus depot, which has completely answered the client’s original brief.”
BeDips® utilises Ubisense-RTLS in order to provide the first completely web based Depot Management system which can fulfill the daily requirements of bus depots such as vbl.
Mr. Zumsteg of vbl commented “The solution implemented by swissaxis AG and Ubisense has provided us with an easy-to-use management system, which enables us to have complete 24/7 visibility of the buses independently from the location within the internal and external areas of the depot, and make significant efficiency improvements “
Ubisense Transit Solutions
Monday, February 15, 2010
Airbus selects Ubisense as a strategic real-time location partner and awards first major contract
Toulouse and Cambridge 12 February 2010. Airbus selects Ubisense to extend the world’s largest radio-frequency identification (RFID) enabled manufacturing initiative, with the addition of the Ubisense precise real-time location (RTLS) system at multiple Airbus facilities.
The 10 year agreement will see Ubisense manufacturing solutions deployed for a variety of projects in order to help streamline business processes, reduce lead times and provide Airbus with increased visibility and control across multiple plants.
Ubisense location solutions will provide Airbus with a real-time view of business operations such as the tracking of components and assembly processes thus aiding communication, process improvement and planning activities.
The Ubisense suite of manufacturing solutions includes Visible Industrial Process, Process Tracker, Tool Tracker and Enterprise Browser. In addition, the Ubisense manufacturing solution has recently been announced as the RTLS system being deployed by Atlas Copco, a major tool supplier.
Ubisense is the leading British company specialising in precise RTLS, which accurately track the precise location of assets, within a specified geospatial area of any magnitude. The company has recently won the Best British Inside iaward, ranked 8th in the Sunday Times Microsoft Tech track 100 2009 and featured within the top twenty companies listed in the Deloitte Technology Fast 50 for the second successive year.
“We are delighted to have been selected by Airbus” said Richard Green, Ubisense CEO “Ubisense’s solution will help increase visibility and control across their facilities and aid the decision making and planning process. Airbus recognised the need to adopt a proven RFID solution, which will assist them in maintaining their competitive advantage and their world-renowned manufacturing process”
The 10 year agreement will see Ubisense manufacturing solutions deployed for a variety of projects in order to help streamline business processes, reduce lead times and provide Airbus with increased visibility and control across multiple plants.
Ubisense location solutions will provide Airbus with a real-time view of business operations such as the tracking of components and assembly processes thus aiding communication, process improvement and planning activities.
The Ubisense suite of manufacturing solutions includes Visible Industrial Process, Process Tracker, Tool Tracker and Enterprise Browser. In addition, the Ubisense manufacturing solution has recently been announced as the RTLS system being deployed by Atlas Copco, a major tool supplier.
Ubisense is the leading British company specialising in precise RTLS, which accurately track the precise location of assets, within a specified geospatial area of any magnitude. The company has recently won the Best British Inside iaward, ranked 8th in the Sunday Times Microsoft Tech track 100 2009 and featured within the top twenty companies listed in the Deloitte Technology Fast 50 for the second successive year.
“We are delighted to have been selected by Airbus” said Richard Green, Ubisense CEO “Ubisense’s solution will help increase visibility and control across their facilities and aid the decision making and planning process. Airbus recognised the need to adopt a proven RFID solution, which will assist them in maintaining their competitive advantage and their world-renowned manufacturing process”
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