With most things in life, the more options you have, the more likely you are to find one that’s optimal for your next challenge, and that has never been more true than when designing asset-tracking systems. There are three main location-based technologies – WhereNet, Ultra-Wideband (UWB), and Wi-Fi, and Zebra Technologies is the only location-solutions provider that offers all three to better ensure an option that best fits your specific application.
Zebra Technologies acquired California-based WhereNet in 2007, and the proprietary standard has since grown to include five key components:
- WhereTag: Active, battery-powered, fully-sealed RFID tags that stand up to the elements while delivering precise, real-time location and status data.
- WhereLAN: Cost-effective, easy-to-deploy RTLS sensors designed for indoor and outdoor environments. WhereLAN’s low power consumption facilitates solar powering and all-weather enclosures allow them to be mounted at locations determined by optimum coverage rather than for protection of the sensors themselves.
- WhereCall: Key to Zebra’s Material Flow Replenishment System, these wireless messaging tags can be worn or line mounted without need of fixed wiring.
- WhereWand: Transforms your hand-held computer into a simplified RTLS tag and sensor configuration tool.
- WherePort: These proximity-communication exciters prompt RTLS tags to transmit a unique “blink” pattern as assets transit from one RTLS zone to another.
Zebra Dart Ultra Wideband Solutions
Zebra’s Dart UWB represents the industry’s lowest cost-of-ownership RTLS solution and encompasses four main components:
- Dart Hub: Delivers thousands of tag signals per second to within an accuracy of 12 inches. The Dart Hub simplifies connection of multiple sensors, providing power, data and clock function to each.
- Dart Sensors: Feature line-of-sight ranges of up to 650 feet and configurations that are suitable for indoor or outdoor locations – even in locations with explosion potential.
- Dart Vision Reader: Designed for control of personnel and asset access, these readers deliver a level of detection that standard RFID technologies can’t deliver.
- Dart Tag: Each compact, low-profile Dart Tag can be deployed indoors or out, and features a unique ID and a 7-year battery life.
Yes, all Zebra components described above can also be deployed via standard Wi-Fi configuration.