Precise Real-time Location for Logistics

New Ubisense product provides transparency and high availability

Cambridge UK– 11th March 2008 - Ubisense, the world leading provider of precise real-time location systems (RTLS) using ultra-wideband (UWB) announces its focus on solutions for process optimisation within the logistics industry.

The Ubisense series 7000 product line launched last year is already enabling considerable improvements in security, transparency, quality and availability for many logistics operators. “We have multiple applications running in major logistics centres which are demonstrating real process improvements to a level that has not been seen before”, explains Ubisense executive Terry Phebey. “We are seeing Returns on Investment (ROIs) in less than 12 months for some of these applications”, Phebey added.

The system tracks items to a precision of 15cm in 3D and in real time. This provides transparency of material flow both by direct tracking of goods and by indirectly tracking the movement of equipment used in the transportation process, e.g. ground conveyors, tools, ID scanners or fork lifts, thus. By combining existing barcode or RFID scanning, the system can enable automated management of movements of goods in manual warehouses without the installation of further software. Within such applications the Fork Lift Trucks (FLTs) are continuously tracked as they move goods around the warehouse. The combination of conventional pallet ID scanning with FLT tracking enables automated storage of the goods’ locations on the floor and within three dimensional storage racks. ”The system can also be deployed in larger warehouses with full Warehouse Management Systems”, says Phebey. “We can integrate directly with these standard WMS to deliver storage location data and to analyse process flows and enable process optimisation.”

The Ubisense system consists of three key parts:

1. Battery-operated tags transmit UWB RF impulses (location signals) in the frequency range 6 to 8.5 Gigahertz. The very short, precisely timed radio pulses provide a reliable and accurate location measurement even in difficult environments such as those storing large amounts of liquids and metals. Radio multipath effects often disturb conventional radio communication systems in such environments, but have a lesser effect on the Ubisense technology which leads to a much more reliable location measurement when compared to alternative technologies.
   
2. Location sensors mounted around the facility receive and process the tag signals and communicate the results back to client software via industry standard IT networking.
3. The location data is recorded, edited and visualised by the Ubisense Location Platform software and presented via unique applications which, for example, can log automatically the insertion and removal of goods to and from the warehouse storage racking.

The Ubisense Series 7000 product line is CE and FCC certified for license exempt use in both the EU and North America.

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