Solutions for infralogistics
BLE Beacons
Bluetooth beacons are mainly used for indoor positioning and when precise positioning is required. Although our modern trackers switch the logic to radio cell location and WiFi sniffing for indoor detection in order to be able to continue to determine the location and compensate for the missing GPS signal, the accuracy suffers as a result.
Our trackers also have the option to switch to Bluetooth transmission as soon as they detect the building. If it is sufficient to detect the asset in the hall or on the premises, the BLE beacon offers a more economical solution than an asset tracker.
The use of Bluetooth localization is ideal for more precise localization of assets or, for example, targeted scanning of areas.
# Bluetooth requires receiver
In general, the use of Bluetooth differs in the fact that not only a transmitter (as with GPS tracking) is needed, but also a receiver.
The Bluetooth signal ranges from 30-50m indoors and up to 80m outdoors. Within this range, a so-called HUB must be present that can recognize the beacon. Smartphones canalso receive the signal from BLE beacons.
# Triangulation for exact position
To determine the exact position, the signals from the BLE beacon are measured at the HUBs and then triangulated.
Based on the signal strength that arrives at the HUB, the software can calculate the distance from the respective HUB to the beacon. By determining the overlap of the areas, the exact position of the beacon is determined.
Possible applications
Area detection
With the triangulation of the signal from a BLE beacon, it is possible to locate an asset with an accuracy of 3-7m.
This is mainly used in large storage areas with many goods carriers to narrow down the location of a storage area where the asset is located in order to reduce search times.
Indoor or outdoor area
To obtain the information as to whether an asset - which has a BLE beacon - is inside or outside a building, it is sufficient to place a HUB at each of the respective entrances/exits.
The software can use the beacon's detection logic to determine whether the asset is inside or outside.
Transport monitoring
The BLE beacons can also be recognized via our active trackers on the vehicle. This allows the active tracker to report what is in its vicinity.
This can be used, for example, to determine which trailer is attached to the vehicle or which racks the vehicle has loaded.
