What is RTLS, How Does it Work, and How is it Different from GPS and RFID?
While RTLS is often referred to as “indoor GPS”, the two technologies are quite different. As we know, GPS technology relies on satellite communication and works best outdoors where man-made structures will not interfere with the required signals. Alternatively, RTLS technology is designed to work primarily indoors and uses a network of mobile tags and fixed sensors that communicate using various radio frequencies, including the 2.4Ghz WiFi/Bluetooth spectrums and the 3.1 to 10.6 Ghz Ultra-Wide Band (UWB) spectrum.
In a typical RTLS implementation, the mobile tags are either worn by individuals who are moving, or attached to objects that will be transported, around the facility. Typically using radio frequency (RF) signals, the tags may communicate either with each other, or with a network of fixed sensors installed in the areas where the objects or people will be moving. A location algorithm is then used to determine the precise location, in real-time, of the asset or person within the facility.
It is this precise, real-time location tracking that differentiates RTLS from more traditional RFID solutions. RFID technology, which also uses RF signals to communicate between tags and sensors (aka readers), has been used successfully for many years, in numerous industries, to detect and verify the unique identification of both objects and people as they move around a facility. However, a typical RFID solution lacks advanced location algorithms, and therefore it only knows the last reader that detected a particular tag. As a result, it cannot pinpoint the exact location of the tag within the scanned area, nor can it guarantee that the tag is even still in that area. While it has many useful applications, RFID typically cannot compete with RTLS in use cases that require precise, real-time location tracking.
Find out more!
Learn more about RTLS through a series of whitepapers and educational videos offered by the engineering team of Flexware Innovation and contact us to discuss your possible application of RTLS in your facility.
Director of Marketing
I’m driven by the belief that meaningful progress happens when people, processes, and technology work in harmony. In my role as Director of Marketing at Flexware Innovation, I focus on elevating the stories and solutions that empower manufacturers to operate smarter and lead with confidence. I strive to create clarity, build trust, and make complex ideas accessible so my colleagues, customers, and partners can move faster toward what matters most.
