Swiss firm U-Blox has launched a Bluetooth angle-of-arrival (AoA) product to enable reliable indoor asset tracking.

Called U-Locate, it offers hardware, software and middleware components for indoor positioning, including support for interoperability with the Omlox standard.

Based on Bluetooth LE AoA, it delivers positioning accuracy levels down to 10cm while ensuring extended tag battery lifetimes at an affordable price.

The flexible and modular offering targets RTLS (real-time location system) providers and systems integrators, with end-user indoor tracking applications in warehousing, manufacturing, healthcare and more. The easy-to-configure mobile application includes a management support tool and anchors with self-aware orientation, removing the pain of complex installations and ensuring reduced times to market.

The AoA positioning algorithms deliver accuracy while reducing the cost of tracking assets, enabling a wider range of use cases. The combination of Bluetooth 5.1 technology with the optimised antenna configuration of U-Locate delivers better positioning accuracy, without compromising power consumption. It scales easily as the installation grows, and futureproofing is underpinned with OTA (over-the-air) software updates.

The flexible offering can be tailored according to the needs of the application, and consists of a positioning middleware (U-Locate Hub), a positioning engine (U-Locate Engine), anchor points (U-Locate Anchor) and tags (U-Locate Tag). It can be complemented with GNSS products from U-Blox, to guarantee seamless indoor and outdoor localisation.

U-Locate Hub complies with the Omlox global interoperability standard and its well-documented API platform contains various APIs, supporting integration with multiple vendor offerings. By joining Omlox, U-Blox says it recognises the importance of contributing to a growing ecosystem, and promoting global interoperability of positioning products.

“We are delighted that U-Blox is entering the Omlox ecosystem, by adopting the standard into U-Locate, its RTLS for indoor positioning systems,” said Matthias Joest, committee leader for Omlox. “Omlox is the world’s first locating standard. It specifies flexible locating that allows customers to benefit from lower integration costs, while ensuring future-proof setups. Having U-Blox – recognised leader in locating technologies – as member and supporter of Omlox, is a huge benefit for our fast-growing ecosystem.”

With U-Locate (www.u-blox.com/en/ulocate), U-Blox is leveraging its expertise in wireless connectivity and positioning technologies to address the growing need for high-performance positioning that reduces operational costs and increases sustainability by optimising inventory management along with material and people flows.

Headquartered in Thalwil, Switzerland, U-Blox (www.u-blox.com) has a global presence with 1400 employees.