THE ROLE OF LOCALIZATION TECHNOLOGY IN MODERN INTRALOGISTICS

04.11.2024 | naise.eu

ENHANCING OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY THROUGH LOCALIZATION SOLUTIONS

THE GAME-CHANGER IN INTRALOGISTICS: LOCALIZATION TECHNOLOGY

Localization technology refers to the process of determining the exact position of objects or people within a defined space, using a variety of advanced technologies such as GPS, RFID (Radio Frequency Identification), UWB (Ultra-Wideband), or LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging). These technologies enable the real-time tracking and positioning of assets or personnel, providing critical data about their location and movement. In recent years, localization technology has gained significant traction, particularly in industries where real-time visibility of assets can lead to notable improvements in operational efficiency.

This technology is increasingly valuable in complex environments like warehouses, production floors, and logistics centers, where knowing the exact position of equipment, goods, or workers can streamline operations, minimize delays, and mitigate potential safety risks. Whether tracking inventory in real-time, guiding autonomous vehicles within facilities, or ensuring the safety of workers by monitoring their positions, localization technology plays a pivotal role in modern industrial operations.

Intralogistics—the management, transportation, and storage of goods within a facility—relies on precise coordination and efficient optimization. As facilities grow larger and more complex, the need for accurate, real-time tracking becomes paramount. Intralogistics covers everything from the flow of raw materials in a production facility to the storage and handling of finished goods in a warehouse. Ensuring the smooth movement of goods within these environments is crucial for maintaining high levels of productivity.

Traditional intralogistics often face several challenges, particularly when manual tracking and management are involved. Relying on human oversight to track the location and status of goods can lead to bottlenecks, inefficiencies, and even accidents, disrupting workflows, slowing down operations, and increasing operational costs. Localization technology addresses these challenges by providing real-time data that enables better decision-making, smoother coordination, and safer working conditions. In essence, it empowers companies to optimize their intralogistics processes, creating a more agile and responsive internal supply chain.

NAISE’S APPROACH TO LOCALIZATION

NAiSE offers an innovative solution in the field of intralogistics, providing a manufacturer-independent software platform designed to integrate all participants within a facility—robots, forklifts, and pedestrians—into one cohesive and harmonious ecosystem. This platform ensures smooth interaction and coordination between various elements of an intralogistics system, enhancing operational efficiency.

NAiSE’s Real-Time Localization System (RTLS) is a powerful addition to its platform, enabling the software to receive real-time location data from participants in the intralogistics process who lack their own localization systems, such as non-automated assets. The RTLS utilizes advanced technologies, including Ultra-Wideband (UWB), for precise tracking within the facility.

The NAiSE system goes beyond traditional localization by incorporating a mesh communication network, allowing NAiSE Tags to not only determine their positions but also communicate directly with each other. This decentralized approach provides a real-time response to critical situations, which is a significant advantage over centralized systems that lack direct communication between components.

The NAiSE Positioning Network, powered by NAiSE Anchors and Tags, forms the backbone of the system, enabling swift localization without the need for complex cable management or anchor synchronization. This reduces infrastructure costs and installation time while ensuring seamless operation across the ecosystem. The ability of the tags to share position data supports swarm intelligence setups and allows the system to rapidly adjust to dynamic environments.

Localization is essential for NAiSE’s software because it not only optimizes resource allocation and streamlines workflows but also enhances reliability by providing real-time visibility into the movement and interactions of all participants. This ensures a more efficient, flexible, and resilient intralogistics operation.

Through strategic collaborations, NAiSE has integrated advanced innovations into its platform. In the OMTRTLS project, a pre-existing indoor positioning system was further enhanced with an intelligent assistance system designed to provide optimization suggestions. The project, funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research and supported by DLR Project Management Agency, and VDI Technology Center, aimed at improving intralogistics processes through real-time localization of goods and other participants.

Running from August 2019 to July 2022, the initiative sought to increase transparency at both the warehouse and management levels. By leveraging machine learning, the project focused on optimizing overall processes, boosting resource efficiency, and reducing costs. This sophisticated localization system not only optimized resource allocation but also streamlined complex workflows, reduced infrastructure costs, and enhanced the overall efficiency of intralogistics operations.

NAISE COLLABORATIONS: STRENGTHENING LOCALIZATION TECHNOLOGY

Collaborating with Quuppa

NAiSE is dedicated to enhancing its cutting-edge localization technology through strategic collaborations with industry leaders. One such key partnership is with Quuppa, a global leader in real-time locating systems. Together, NAiSE and Quuppa are improving logistics management and fleet tracking within industrial environments, demonstrating seamless product compatibility. This collaboration centers around integrating the Quuppa Intelligent Locating System into NAiSE’s intralogistics software, providing a comprehensive solution for tracking assets and personnel in real-time.

The first joint deployment of this collaborative technology occurs in Romania, where the production facility of one of our joint customers benefits from the integration of both NAiSE and Quuppa products. This combined system is expected to increase operational accuracy and deliver invaluable insights across various industrial sectors. The successful integration of Quuppa’s tracking technology into NAiSE’s platform exemplifies how both companies are pushing the boundaries of logistics management, providing solutions that are scalable, adaptable, and efficient.

Collaborating with IVISO 

In another groundbreaking collaboration, NAiSE and IVISO are redefining fleet tracking standards for industrial applications. Together, they are delivering a solution that offers unmatched precision and operational efficiency. Central to this partnership is the IVISO IF-RTLS (Real-Time Locating System), a revolutionary system that provides accurate, infrastructure-free tracking for automated guided vehicles (AGVs) using only a single stereo camera per vehicle. This innovative solution minimizes upfront costs, rapidly adapts to changing environments, and can be operational within just two days.

By collaborating with IVISO, NAiSE continues to push the envelope in delivering cost-effective, scalable, and high-precision localization solutions that improve logistics operations and asset management.

NAiSE is setting new benchmarks in the intralogistics industry through its innovative use of cutting-edge localization technology. Collaborating with leading companies like Quuppa and IVISO, NAiSE continues to enhance its intralogistics solutions, delivering unparalleled precision, operational efficiency, and real-time insights into fleet management and logistics processes.

As businesses face growing complexity in managing their internal logistics, NAiSE’s technology offers a critical advantage, improving efficiency in today’s fast-paced environments.