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Real Time Locating Systems and RFID 2006
PracTel Inc, July 2006
This report provides a comprehensive picture of the rapidly evolving RFID subclass-Real Time Locating Systems.
There are several factors that determined development of these systems:
-Dispersed through many industries branches, military, and homeland security requirements to improve efficiency and productivity by automatic precise measurements of coordinates of various objects. In the industry, RTLS supports computerization of technological processes, improving quality and speed of operations. In military applications, RTLS use allows, for example, to measure and determine exact coordinates of each vehicle in the army base, or to ease the process of equipment inventory in a hangar. Homeland security has multiple applications for RTLS, such as assistance for first responders in harmful environments and other.
-Establishing such wireless technologies as 802.11, UWB and others, which are the basis for RTLS. These technologies are improving very rapidly, increasing the RTLS speed and range.
-Improvements in the RFID characteristics and technologies.
The report examines the RTLS landscape as a RFID subclass. It shows tied connections between RFID and RTLS; at the same time, RTLS shows general dependence on mentioned above wireless technologies as well as correlation with a wide group of locating technologies. The RTLS standardization process shows dynamics of this technology and is still evolving, though two frequencies bands-433 MHz and 2.4 GHz- have been assigned.
The 802.11 group of wireless technologies is the most popular to support RTLS; among others, it is necessary to mention UWB, which combines effective communications with radar abilities. We see great opportunity to utilize 802.11n that allows transmission in the range of 100-400 Mb/s with increase in distance in comparison with other technologies.
Many general RFID features both technical and non-technical are important to understand RTLS, and we analyzed them in this report.
The report also researches market opportunities for RTLS and shows that, though currently the market is relatively small, it grows very fast, and in a couple of years can be very beneficial for the equipment vendors as well as for service providers. The report analyzes market players’ portfolios and provides results of the survey of RTLS products.
Research Methodology
Considerable research was done using the Internet. Information from various Web sites was studied and analyzed; evaluation of publicly available marketing and technical publications was also conducted. Telephone conversations and interviews were held with industry analysts, technical experts and executives. In addition to these interviews and primary research, secondary sources were used to develop a more complete mosaic of the market landscape, including industry and trade publications, conferences and seminars.
The overriding objective throughout the work has been to provide valid and relevant information. This has led to a continual review and update of the information content.
Target Audience:
This report provides the RFID-RTLS technology and market analysis and assessments. This analysis is useful for service providers, retail operators, vendors, network operators and managers, investors and end users seeking to gain a deeper understanding of RFID-RTLS opportunities and barriers.
For systems vendors, integrators and others, the report provides an analysis and assessment of competing products currently available as well as an estimation of the overall opportunities in the coming years. The end users can gain a more thorough understanding of product’s market and capabilities as well as the economics of using RTLS to improve operational efficiency.
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