dresden elektronik & ZIGPOS announce Real-Time Locating System Kit with new ATMEL ranging technology

March 5, 2013 - PRLog -- dresden elektronik ingenieurtechnik gmbh and ZIGPOS GmbH together launch an advanced technology evaluation kit enabling assessment of the accurate indoor- and outdoor energy efficient Real-Time locating system (eeRTLS) offered by the partners.

The evaluation kit allows an easy start-up for evaluation of the innovative locating system, developed by ZIGPOS and based on Atmel´s new ranging technology. It comes with small complexity while providing accurate position information for any sensor, actuator or other objects in the wireless network. The eeRTLS technology can be applied seamlessly in indoor, outdoor or mixed scenarios in a completely independent mode of operation. No satellite components are required.

The easy to use ZIGPOS Evaluation Tool inside the kit provides comprehensive monitoring, control and commissioning capabilities to easily setup dedicated test-scenarios. Its intuitive graphical user interface avoids the need of sophisticated programming skills and in-depth knowledge of IEEE802.15.4 or radio ranging capabilities.

The radio modules from dresden elektronik include an IEEE 802.15.4 compatible communication as well as an accurate phase measurement unit. This enables energy efficient combination of radio communication and position estimation of a radio node. Using the new evaluation kit the development efforts are reduced to a minimum for the basic technology evaluation phase. Possible applications for the real-time object and person tracking are home automation, industrial sensor/actuator networks, logistics and retail chain support, smart transportation and internet of things.

The easy to use graphical user interface, developed by ZIGPOS, is a powerful software tool. It contains various positioning algorithms and tracking filter to evaluate the performance of the new technology in the different application fields.

Key Features enabled by the new technology are:

- advanced wireless sensor and actuator network  

- highly accurate real time radio location tracking system

- indoor and outdoor application scenarios

- global applicable solution  

- low-power and low-cost IEEE 802.15.4 standard compatible radio technology

- simple device commissioning

- robust and easy to use radio networking  

- reliable and secure protocol stack

The evaluation kit is the result of close cooperation between the advanced technology provider ZIGPOS and dresden elektronik, the specialist for electronic development and manufacturing. Erik Mademann, CEO of ZIGPOS GmbH, providing the Locating Know-How, states: “The recently developed energy efficient Real-Time Locating System (eeRTLS) by ZIGPOS can be used to enrich short range radio networks operating in the ISM frequency band globally available”.  

The CEO of dresden elektronik, Lutz Pietschmann, comments: “There is a chance now coming up to add the key feature of accurate locating the radio nodes. This enables a new horizon of features and applications for wireless sensor and actuator networks (WSANs)”. Oyvind Strom, Sr. Marketing Director of ATMEL Wireless Solutions, confirmed: „Adding the new key feature of accurate radio ranging to our microcontroller and transceiver products enables a large number of new businesses and advanced applications in the wireless field. This will enhance the competitive advantage of our customers”.

Even hybrid networks with traditional radio nodes and with new locating enabled radio nodes are possible for a transition phase or dedicated scenarios. The communication is based on a global standard, IEEE 802.15.4, enabling interoperability with existing radio solutions.

The evaluation kit can be ordered now in the online shop from dresden elektronik: https://shop.dresden-elektronik.de/. For the US the FCC is pending.

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About ZIGPOS

ZIGPOS GmbH is an innovative company based in Dresden, the state capital of silicon Saxony (GERMANY). ZIGPOS is providing wireless sensor and actuator network solutions for various application areas, such as: logistics, transportation, building automation, industrial networks, medical environments and for the future internet of things. ZIGPOS networking technology includes energy efficient radio communication and real time locating functionality. ZIGPOS is offering a variety of COTS products and engineering services as well as customer specific key turn solutions integrating the complete ZIGPOS know-how chain.

For more information, please visit: www.zigpos.com

dresden elektronik ingenieurtechnik gmbH

With currently approx. 90 employees dresden elektronik develops and manufactures customized solutions in the field of low-power wireless communication, control systems for traffic light systems, modular display technology for public transportation management as well as measurement and testing technology.

For wireless sensor networks based on the low-power radio standard IEEE 802.15.4 the product range extends from optimally tuned hardware components such as radio modules and USB sticks via easy to use control tools for ZigBee or 6LoWPAN networks through to customized turn-key solutions.

From the development via serial production through type testing of industrial electronic components and systems, dresden elektronik offers the entire value-added chain from a single source for more than 20 years.

Products of dresden elektronik are applied in numerous branches such as mechanical engineering and construction, stagecraft, traffic guidance technology, automotive industry, measurement and test engineering, medical engineering, semiconductor industry, precision equipment engineering and in research and development as well.

For more information, please visit: www.dresden-elektronik.de