u-blox, a global provider of leading positioning and wireless communication technologies and services, has announced u-locate, a complete indoor positioning solution, offering the optimal combination of accuracy, cost and power consumption. Based on Bluetooth LE AoA (Angle-of-Arrival), u-locate delivers positioning accuracy levels down to 10 centimeters while ensuring extended tag battery lifetimes at an affordable price point.
The flexible and modular u-locate solution targets RTLS (real-time location system) solution providers and systems integrators, with end-user indoor tracking applications in warehousing, manufacturing, healthcare and many more. The easy-to-configure mobile application includes an extensive management support tool and anchors with self-aware orientation, removing the pain of complex solution installations and ensuring reduced times to market.
u-locate’s advanced AoA positioning algorithms deliver market-leading accuracy while reducing the cost of tracking assets, enabling a wider range of use cases. The combination of Bluetooth 5.1 technology with the optimized antenna configuration of u-locate delivers exceptional levels of positioning accuracy, without compromising power consumption. The u-locate solution scales easily as the end-user installation grows, and futureproofing is underpinned with OTA (over-the-air) software updates ensuring continuous access to new features and updates.
The flexible solution can be tailored according to the needs of the application, and consists of a positioning middleware (u-locateHub), a positioning engine (u-locateEngine), anchor points (u-locateAnchor) and tags (u-locateTag). It can be complemented with GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) products from u-blox, to guarantee seamless indoor and outdoor localization.
u-locateHub complies with the omlox global interoperability standard and its well-documented API platform contains various APIs, supporting integration with multiple vendor solutions. By joining omlox, u-blox recognizes the importance of contributing to a growing ecosystem, and promoting global interoperability of positioning solutions.
“We are delighted that u-blox is entering the omlox ecosystem, by adopting the standard into u-locate, its new RTLS solution for indoor positioning systems,” says Dr. Matthias Joest, Committee leader for omlox. “omlox is the world’s first locating standard. It specifies flexible locating solutions that allow customers to benefit from lower integration costs, while ensuring future-proof setups. Having u-blox – recognized leader in locating technologies – as member and supporter of omlox, is a huge benefit for our fast-growing ecosystem.”
With u-locate, u-blox is leveraging its deep expertise in wireless connectivity and positioning technologies to address the growing need for high-performance positioning systems which reduce operational costs and maximize sustainability by optimizing inventory management along with material and people flows.