WiFi access points help to triangulate the position of a device whose WiFi is turned on. Thus, all a phone needs to do is detect various WiFi hotspots in its range, and then its location accuracy improves, because the geographical location of millions of WiFi access points can be obtained from a centralized database.
It turns out GPS is twice as accurate than Wi-Fi for very fine data and, possibly due to low-end devices with inexpensive GPS chips, Android s goog devices as a whole are less accurate than iPhones s aapl. GPS does not need any kind of internet or wireless connection, but there are technologies like A-GPS that use the mobile network to shorten the time to first fix, or the initial positioning or increase the precision in situations when there is a low satellite visibility.
Android phones tend to use A-GPS. Bluetooth improves location accuracy via special beacons known as iBeacons. Back in , Apple, Roximity, and Estimote, among a raft of other companies introduced iBeacons, which are tiny pieces of radio that transmit signals between them and Bluetooth-enabled devices.
He was also the VP of Engineering at the network security company, Lookingglass, and served for eight years as a submarine officer in the U. He graduated from the U. Published February 02, Infrastructure If you want to deploy a WiFi positioning system, you have to be certain your WiFi infrastructure is dense enough to support it.
Location Accuracy A WiFi location tracking system should give you a level of accuracy ranging from three to five meters. Security Your IT team may express some security concerns about having unmanaged WiFi end nodes on their network. Mode WiFi is generally ideal for indoor tracking due to its short range. LinkedIn Twitter. Asset Tracking, BLE Asset Management Asset Tracking, outdoor asset tracking, supply chain, asset tracking solution, real-time location, Real-Time equipment tracking, improving process efficiencies, loss prevention, asset tracking use case, equipment tracking, remote assets, lost assets, visibility Importance of Asset Tracking Systems in Logistics Read.
This advanced technique can precisely measure distance between Wi-Fi devices by calculating the time it takes for signals to travel between devices. ToF can be leveraged to detect the precise location of a Wi-Fi device using multiple sensors or access points. This requires a dense deployment of APs or sensors to detect a Wi-Fi device, such as a smartphone or tracking tag.
To work properly, the sensors or APs need to be accurately synchronized to the same master clock. The signals of the Wi-Fi device will be received by the APs or sensors in the communication range and time-stamped. While ToF enables more accurate Wi-Fi positioning, deploying this approach comes with a greater level of complexity, and may not be cost-effective in scenarios when high accuracy is not required.
Specified in the IEEE This calculation is based on the path traveled by the signal and determined using the transmission speed of the electromagnetic wave and the speed of light. This can be used for ranging between two devices or for indoor positioning using multiple APs or sensors with multilateration. AoA is an advanced method which can deliver Wi-Fi positioning with enhanced accuracy compared to more traditional techniques like fingerprinting and RSSI.
To be able to find direction, a mobile asset, such as a tag or beacon, with a single antenna transmits to a fixed Wi-Fi sensor with a multi-antenna array. The phase shift of the multiple antennas, as a result of receiving the signal, is measured and calculated to determine the angle of the transmitting mobile device and create an area of certainty of the object to be located.
One advantage of an AoA approach is that it reduces the number of necessary reference points. Instead of a minimum of three sensors as required for any multilateration approach, you only need two to create an unambiguous determination of position. Additional reference points add to the accuracy and reliability of the calculated positions. While indoor positioning via AoA is more accurate than signal strength approaches, solutions that leverage this technique are only just entering the market.
Wi-Fi 5 and lower is typically less accurate than other RF technologies, such as UWB and BLE, and achieves location accuracy typically under 10 meters with optimal conditions and deployment. The current standard Wi-Fi 6 promises accuracy in the meter range, but as it is new technology, this has yet to be shown in the field. A future update to the standard expected in March , When using APs alone, the positional accuracy is much lower, however, Wi-Fi enabled sensors can be added to augment traditional APs tracking or even as standalone sensors for more accurate indoor positioning.
Different Wi-Fi positioning methods can also yield different degrees of accuracy. The range of Wi-Fi positioning can differ depending on factors such as whether you are using Wi-Fi APs or sensors or the nature of the indoor space.
Wi-Fi operating at 2. Plus at 5 GHz higher signal attenuation is to be expected if signals have to be sent through environmental obstacles like doors, walls or metallized windows. Wi-Fi, like other RF standards, offers unique characteristics and advantages that may make it a suitable option, depending on individual needs, budget, facility, and specific location-based use cases.
The most critical differences between Wi-Fi and other technologies, is its ability to leverage existing Wi-Fi infrastructure and flexibility to be used in many location-aware applications. Wi-Fi is present in devices all throughout indoor spaces, leveraged by many location tracking systems, and can be extended for indoor positioning across a whole suite of industries and use cases.
BLE and Wi-Fi are two of the most ubiquitous RF technologies - present all throughout our daily lives and indoor spaces. They have many similar characteristics, including operating at the 2. BLE requires significantly less power, allowing for more flexible hardware options and applications. However, many organizations have existing Wi-Fi infrastructure that can be used for indoor positioning, while adoption of BLE likely requires the integration of new beacons, sensors, and more.
Wi-Fi can communicate over longer ranges and higher data rates, both areas where BLE is much more limited. UWB excels in these more advanced applications where a high degree of accuracy is required.
It is also more likely to experience signal interference, to which UWB has strong immunity. UWB also requires less power, allowing for more useful and affordable tools, such as asset tracking tags that can be powered by long-lasting coin cell batteries.
However, the wide array of Wi-Fi enabled devices and the ability to leverage existing infrastructure, such as Access Points, make it a significant indoor positioning technology, especially when a high degree of accuracy is not required. Wi-Fi gives organizations the ability to activate indoor positioning and localization with existing Wi-Fi infrastructure and no additional hardware.
Easily add specialized Wi-Fi sensors to strengthen and scale indoor positioning, depending on the coverage and precision you require. Here are some use cases and applications where Wi-Fi indoor positioning is leveraged. Organizations can leverage Wi-Fi access points, personnel tags, and sensors to create visibility into the location of employees and personnel to power a multitude of location-aware applications.
Wi-Fi serves as an effective RF standard for physical asset tracking. Organizations across many different industries can leverage Wi-Fi technology to track the live location and status of key assets and equipment.
By integrating Wi-Fi indoor positioning, organizations can create smart buildings that leverage location to facilitate various interactions, and messaging, among other capabilities. Make spaces instantly familiar and explorable with indoor navigation and wayfinding , powered by Wi-Fi positioning.
Wi-Fi can be harnessed to capture valuable location data that can be translated into powerful organizational insights. Wi-Fi 6 will lead to innovation with Wi-Fi technology all across the board. Some of the benefits of Wi-Fi 6 technology include:.
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