In the current era of rapid technological development, positioning technology has become a crucial support for achieving intelligent and efficient operations in numerous fields. From the navigation devices commonly used in daily life to the tracking of equipment and management of personnel in industrial production, positioning technology is everywhere. Among various positioning technologies, UWB (Ultra-Wideband) technology, with its unique advantages, is gradually emerging. Especially, the application of UWB base stations in various scenarios has brought people an unprecedented high-precision positioning experience.
Analysis of the Principle of UWB Technology
UWB technology is a carrier-free communication technology that transmits data by sending and receiving nanosecond to microsecond-level non-sinusoidal narrow pulses. Different from traditional communication technologies, UWB does not rely on a sinusoidal carrier for signal transmission. Instead, it utilizes the precise characteristics of extremely narrow pulse signals in time and space to achieve communication and positioning functions. In terms of positioning, UWB mainly achieves ranging based on the ToF (Time of Flight) principle and then determines the position of the target. Simply put, the UWB tag and the base station send and receive UWB pulse signals, and measure the flight time of the signal from the tag to the base station. Since the propagation speed of the signal in the air is known, the distance between the tag and the base station can be accurately calculated by multiplying the flight time by the signal propagation speed. For example, when a UWB tag sends signals to multiple surrounding base stations, the time when each base station receives the signal will vary depending on its distance from the tag. Through these time differences and the known location information of the base stations, using a specific algorithm (such as TDOA, Time Difference of Arrival algorithm), the position coordinates of the tag can be accurately calculated.
Technical Advantages of UWB Base Stations
High-precision positioning: UWB technology can achieve centimeter-level positioning accuracy, which is difficult for many traditional positioning technologies to match. In complex indoor environments, such as large warehouses and factory workshops, traditional GPS positioning is greatly affected by factors such as building obstructions, resulting in a significant decrease in positioning accuracy or even failure to function properly. However, UWB base stations are not affected by these factors and can accurately locate the positions of personnel and equipment. For example, in an automobile manufacturing factory, UWB base stations can accurately locate the AGV (Automated Guided Vehicle) on the production line, ensuring that it runs accurately along the predetermined trajectory, avoiding collisions, and greatly improving production efficiency and safety.
Strong anti-interference ability: UWB uses spread spectrum signals, and the signal transmission power is extremely low, even lower than the noise generated by ordinary devices. Under the same code rate conditions, its anti-interference ability far exceeds that of other communication methods. In industrial environments, there are a large number of electromagnetic interference sources, such as various motor devices and communication devices. UWB base stations can operate stably in such a complex electromagnetic environment, ensuring the accuracy and reliability of the positioning signal. Taking a chemical enterprise as an example, in a production workshop filled with various electrical equipment, UWB base stations can still provide stable and accurate positioning services for staff and mobile devices.
High transmission rate: With its ultra-wide bandwidth, UWB can achieve a transmission rate of up to several hundred megabits, meeting the stringent requirements for fast data transmission. In some scenarios that require real-time transmission of a large amount of data, such as in intelligent logistics warehouses, information about the inbound and outbound of goods and the status information of handling equipment all need to be transmitted quickly. UWB base stations can not only achieve high-precision positioning but also quickly transmit this data, ensuring the efficiency of logistics operations.
Low power consumption: According to FCC regulations, the maximum average power spectral density of UWB on civil devices is limited to -41.3dBm/MHz, which enables its wide application in various battery-powered devices. For some positioning tags that need to be used for a long time, such as positioning bracelets worn by personnel, the low power consumption feature can greatly extend the device's battery life, reduce the frequency of battery replacement, and lower the usage cost and maintenance difficulty.
Good confidentiality: UWB uses spread spectrum signals, and only when the spread spectrum codes of the receiving end and the transmitting end are exactly the same can the signal be correctly demodulated, effectively ensuring the confidentiality of communication. In some scenarios with high requirements for information security, such as military facilities and financial institutions, this feature of UWB base stations can ensure the secure transmission of positioning information and prevent information from being stolen or tampered with.
Diverse Application Scenarios of UWB Base Stations
Industrial manufacturing field: Against the backdrop of Industry 4.0, intelligent manufacturing has become a trend, and UWB base stations play a vital role in the industrial manufacturing field. On the one hand, it can achieve real-time positioning and monitoring of production equipment. For example, in a machining workshop, by installing UWB tags on machine tools, robots and other equipment and using UWB base stations for positioning, enterprise managers can obtain real-time information about the running positions and working status of the equipment. When the equipment malfunctions or deviates from the predetermined running trajectory, it can be detected in a timely manner and measures can be taken, reducing production downtime and improving production efficiency. On the other hand, UWB base stations also have significant advantages in personnel management. In large factories, there are a large number of employees and complex work areas. By equipping employees with UWB positioning tags and combining with the coverage of UWB base stations, enterprises can grasp the position information of employees in real time, achieve precise scheduling of personnel, and improve production collaboration efficiency. At the same time, electronic fences can be set up to issue timely alarms when employees enter dangerous areas, ensuring the personal safety of employees.
Intelligent warehousing and logistics field: In intelligent warehousing and logistics scenarios, the efficient management of goods and precise distribution are core requirements. UWB base stations can accurately locate the positions of goods in the warehouse, enabling fast inbound, outbound and inventory counting. When goods are put into storage, the system automatically records the storage positions of the goods through UWB positioning. When goods are taken out of storage, it can quickly guide the staff to find the goods, greatly shortening the inbound and outbound time of the goods. For logistics transportation vehicles, UWB base stations, in cooperation with on-board UWB devices, can track the driving trajectory of the vehicles in the warehouse in real time, optimize vehicle scheduling, and improve logistics transportation efficiency. In addition, in cold chain logistics, UWB positioning can be combined with devices such as temperature sensors. It can not only track the positions of goods but also monitor the temperature of the environment where the goods are located in real time, ensuring the quality and safety of cold chain goods.
Smart building and security field: In smart buildings, UWB base stations can be used for personnel positioning and security monitoring. For example, in a large commercial complex, by deploying UWB base stations, mall managers can know the position distribution of customers and employees in real time, and optimize the layout of the mall and the setting of service facilities. At the same time, in case of emergency situations such as fires and earthquakes, rescue personnel can use the UWB positioning system to quickly determine the positions of the trapped people and improve the rescue efficiency. In the security field, UWB base stations can be used for perimeter protection. By setting up UWB base stations and tags around the building, when an illegal intruder enters the monitoring area, the system can quickly detect the change of the tag signal, issue an alarm in a timely manner and accurately display the intrusion position, providing strong support for security personnel.
Medical and health field: In medical places such as hospitals, UWB base stations also have broad application prospects. For some patients who need special care, such as patients with Alzheimer's disease and mental illness, by equipping them with UWB positioning tags and with the coverage of UWB base stations in the hospital, medical staff can grasp the position information of the patients in real time and prevent the patients from getting lost. In terms of medical device management, UWB base stations can help hospitals quickly locate important medical devices, such as mobile CT machines and ultrasonic diagnostic instruments, improving the usage efficiency of the devices and reducing the time spent searching for the devices. In addition, during surgery, UWB positioning technology can also assist doctors in accurately positioning the positions of surgical instruments, improving the precision and safety of the surgery.
