Choosing the Right Wireless Tech for Remote Asset-Management

Manufacturers must consider several factors when selecting the most appropriate technology: infrastructure requirements; detection range; detection accuracy; reliability ; RFID tag battery life; update rate; and cost.

Some Options

There are many technologies to consider:

• WiFi. Using battery-powered tags and off-the-shelf access points, WiFi systems are best for applications that require approximate location information in outdoor and indoor environments and are ideal for facilities with existing WiFi networks.
• Pulsing 5.8 GHz Active RFID. This is a precise location system best for applications in harsh multi-path outdoor or indoor environments. The system's multi-year battery-powered tags emit pulsed signals at the 5.8 GHz ISM band that are captured by receivers.
• Ultra-Wide Band (UWB). UWB is another precise location system designed to locate assets in harsh multi-path outdoor or indoor environments. Multiyear battery-powered tags emit pulsed signals at high frequencies (6-8 GHz) that are captured by receivers. UWB uses frequency ranges not regulated globally.
• Global Positioning System (GPS). GPS does not require infrastructure and consists of receivers that calculate positions by measuring the distance between themselves and three or more GPS satellites.

Greater Insight

Some solutions can integrate UWB, WiFi, Active RFID and GPS into a single platform. Other advanced features include the capability to associate RFID tags and GPS devices with equipment or personnel, create business rules that trigger automatic notifications, and create queries and view reports.

Incorporating this real-time location data into an overall process knowledge system gives users -- from field operators to managers -- greater insight into overall operations. This brings the plant a step closer to becoming a "smart" facility.