The main industrial and service sectors are currently involved in a technological revolution thanks to the IoT and the various innovative solutions that are emerging around it. Expressions such as Industry 4.0 (although we are already moving towards Industry 5.0) or Intelligent Logistics are just the tip of the iceberg. Innovative solutions such as Real Time Location Systems, also known as RTLS, are being key in this paradigm shift.

What is a Real Time Location System (RTLS)?

A Real Time Location System or RTLS (Real-Time Location System) is a technological solution that makes use of wireless technologies, receivers and cloud computing technology to determine the location of "objects". This location can be determined strictly in real time or with a more spaced data refresh with the intention of improving battery life. All kinds of elements can be positioned through their labels or receivers: Machines, production equipment, medical supplies, employees...

The technologies used by Real Time Location Systems or RTLS are wireless and varied, with differences in their features and limitations. Mainly they can be based on WiFi, Bluetooth, Ultrasonic, UWB (Ultra Wide Band) connectivity or on proprietary patented technologies such as Skylife Sileme SAM. The main limitations shown are related to coverage or the possibility of operating in metallic environments, cases in which proprietary technologies such as Skylife Sileme SAM stand out.

Applications of Real Time Location Systems (RTLS)

Without going into the main sectors or industries that can take advantage of this technology yet, let us detail the different applications that a Real Time Location System or RTLS can have. Management and location of assets:

• Traceability, management and use of everything tangible that is owned by a company or person: machinery, vehicles, equipment...
• Supply chain management: Tracking work orders or product packages throughout the entire chain, from manufacturing to delivery to the customer.
• Location and safety of people: Real-time location of personnel to monitor access to dangerous areas and locate them in cases of emergency
• Positioning and guidance of people: Both to know their location and to facilitate guidance through the facilities

Main sectors and use cases for Real Time Location Systems (RTLS)

Manufacturing and Industry 4.0

Real-time location systems (RTLS) are used in manufacturing to track the location and status of equipment, tools, and personnel in real time.

• Tool and Equipment Location Tracking: Precise location of mobile tools, equipment, or machinery used in a factory to reduce time spent locating them, increase productivity, prevent loss, and optimize processes
• Worker safety: Locating workers when they enter dangerous areas and positioning in case of emergency or evacuation situations.
• Tracking and location of work orders: Identifying manufactured products to locate their position in the factory and the phase of the chain in which it is located

Health Service

Real-time location systems (RTLS) are used in healthcare to track the location and movements of people, assets, and equipment within a facility.

• Equipment location monitoring: Positioning of medical and non-medical equipment on all floors and services of a hospital to reduce the time spent searching for them, pool their use and prevent their loss.
• Patient management and location: Precisely locate critical patients, allowing their monitoring in real time and avoiding situations such as wandering or escape.
• Patient orientation: Real-time location of patients through mobile devices and guided by the facilities to reduce accessibility problems and delays.

Mining

Real-time location systems (RTLS) are especially useful in underground spaces such as mining, where it is essential to locate people and assets for their control and safety.

• Tracking and positioning of personnel: Current location of all employees or special equipment units, identifying restricted areas.
• Security and evacuation: Location of all people in real time for monitoring in evacuation processes or location in case of rescue needs.
• Vehicle location tracking: Location and trajectory of vehicles entering and leaving the facility, as well as their precise location inside
• Tool and Equipment Location Tracking: Precise location of mobile tools, equipment, or machinery used to reduce time spent locating them, increase productivity, and prevent loss

Logistics 

Real-time location systems (RTLS) are used in large logistics centers to improve their automation and efficiency, allowing the location of assets and people.

• Tool and Equipment Location Tracking: Precise location of mobile tools, equipment, or machinery used to reduce time spent locating them, increase productivity, and prevent loss
• Tracking and tracing of loads and orders: Location and traceability of all the places through which each of the loads, pallets or orders has passed.

Why use Skylife Sileme SAM as a Real Time Location System (RTLS)?

Skylife Sileme SAM is a patented technology for real-time location of physical assets in large indoor spaces: hangars, industrial warehouses, logistics centers, public buildings, etc. It can work at great distances, it is not affected by the presence of obstacles and it never loses the signal of an object to be located, even in the most complicated metallic environments.

Its main advantages over other technologies such as WiFi, Bluetooth or combined solutions are its high efficiency and precision in complex or critical environments due to the high presence of metallic elements. Due to this capacity, it is especially indicated for Industry, logistics centers, mines, hospitals, etc.