BUILDING NETWORKS COMMUNICATION INFRASTRUCTURES FOR LOCATION-BASED SERVICES IN INDUSTRIAL USE

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Domenic Dorsey
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1 BUILDING NETWORKS COMMUNICATION INFRASTRUCTURES FOR LOCATION-BASED SERVICES IN INDUSTRIAL USE

2 BUILDING NETWORKS COMMUNICATION INFRASTRUCTURES FOR LOCATION-BASED SERVICES IN INDUSTRIAL USE Independent of the vertical all companies face similar challenges by digitalization. They have to design their whole value-added chain to reduce costs, increase productivity and to organize their complete business operations as efficient as possible. The expression digitalization in general means the change of processes, objects and events, that results from the increasing use of digital devices. Digital Disruption, that threatens a lot of verticals, adds unheard authority to these challenges. But these challenges also imply great chances: In 2013 the gross value added for German plant engineering and construction was around 77 Billion Euros. Thanks to Internet of Things and cyber-physical systems moving into production plants this number could increase up to around 100 Billion Euros in WHEN MACHINES, PRODUCTS AND LOGISTICS COMMUNICATE of all companies want to improve the efficiency of their business and production processes hope for increasing flexibility hope for the development of new services for their customers 2 In Industry 4.0 humans, machines, plants, logistics and (pre-)products communicate and cooperate with each other. According to estimations by Accenture this interconnectivity is able to amount to a production increase of up to 30 %. 1 fuer-den-deutschen-maschinen-und-anlagenbau/ 2 according to Nigel Upton, Manager at Hewlett Packard Enterprises, at a conference in Berlin with more than 1000 representatives of leading industry companies

The most important thing a person, a machine or asset is able to communicate is in this context its own position. The expression position can even be reduced to the status there or not there.

Using position and status data of the tracked machines and assets work processes and availability of DISAMBIGUATION: machines can be controlled at every time to check the IOT OR INDUSTRY 4.0?

Besides a display in real-time Favendo s location-based solutions enable In 1999 British tech researcher and co-inventor of the RFID chip at renowned Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT),

3 The most important thing a person, a machine or asset is able to communicate is in this context its own position. The expression position can even be reduced to the status there or not there. Any further conditions of assets cannot be assessed without the exact position. Using position and status data of the tracked machines and assets work processes and availability of DISAMBIGUATION: machines can be controlled at every time to check the IOT OR INDUSTRY 4.0? plant s efficiency and to improve it. Besides a display in real-time Favendo s location-based solutions enable In 1999 British tech researcher and co-inventor of the RFID chip at renowned Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Kevin a profound analysis of process. Ashton, used the term IoT for the connection of physical things with a structure of virtual representations. In contrast Sebastian Berg, scientist at RWTH Aachen, prefers the German term Example: A logistics company wants to optimize the running and maintenance times of its forklift fleet. Industrie 4.0 (Industry 4.0). While the US-American Internet Indeed the forklift is able to communicate the level of Things is asking to a greater extent for the products, in Industrie 4.0 the production is put forward. In the meantime for of its engine oil and hydraulic fluid resp. its missing, Industrie 4.0 IIoT is synonymously established Industrial but only if the maintenance staff knows where the Internet of Things. concerned unit is located inside the building and so no (quoted according to Renate Grimmig: How companies profit from the Internet of Things) searching is necessary, maintenance time is reduced. But the identification of a position in real time is only one element to improve the situation. Because additionally to the acute elimination of problems a maintenance prediction and by that an optimization of processes can only be done through a constant positioning by tracking of the units. By a constant overview of running times and operating hours. Additionally the workload can be metered and it can be checked if the number of units is sufficient for the needs of a smooth production run. To communicate the position and afterwards more conditions and characteristics in real time and constantly, all elements depend on a reliable communication infrastructure.

4 So one of the biggest challenges for industry is to set up interconnections. To connect all factory devices in a stable industry network. To let machines communicate directly about the production processes demands, to enable fully automatic processes. The digitalization of producing factories up to Industry 4.0 modernization standards including the vision of an intelligent, networked factory is in most cases still limited through the available communication infrastructures. The limitations of location-based services applications are currently drawn by the communication infrastructure. Richard Lemke, CEO Favendo, private lecturer for Business Informatics esp. Information systems for the service sector at Otto-Friedrich-University Bamberg In modern producing environments one can notice an increasing dynamic, that causes frequent rebuilding and changing of machines. Thanks to a greater flexibility cost-effective individualized products can be marketed and more efficient production saves the limited resources as well as the environment. The production environment must at all times be able to adapt to the products to be produced, something which is currently only possible to a limited extent with cable-bound communication for controlling and monitoring the machines. In order to ensure the control and monitoring of the production, the data in a networked production environment must also always be centrally available in real time. This places special demands on the communication network. These requirements also apply in a similar way to administrative and office buildings. Here too, work processes can be optimized by using location-based services and a smart office and work space management if the necessary data is available in real time. In most cases in these buildings it is also necessary to set up an independent communication infrastructure based on wireless radio sensors. POSSIBLE COMMUNICATION INFRASTRUCTURES FOR LOCATION-BASED SERVICES WLAN The greatest advantage of this technology is that in most cases a WLAN infrastructure consisting of WLAN access points and for example network compatible devices like printers is already in use and no new infrastructure has to be implemented. This advantage however is outweighed by a lot of disadvantages. Facing the sheer data volume alone, a conventional

WLAN is already quickly overloaded in the normal office environment. Also, for example smart devices with ios version 4.3 or higher do not support the location via WLAN.

The calibration of the positioning has to be done by reference measurement beforehand, which makes the implementation extremely complex.

But even human bodies turn out as significant disturbing factors. That is due to the bodies high rate of water (over 70 per cent) and the resonance frequency of water, which is around 2.

RFID That technology often used in logistics enables a precise localization, but it is not possible to realize a true navigation with it.

The transponder also called radio tag or RFID tag is able to store data. These can be used for orientation e.g. by passing target coordinates deposited on a staff badge to an output device of a building control system, for example a touch screen terminal.

Concerning the typical use cases for RFID like access control or stocks and logistics the range is typically between 0.5 and 3 meters.

5 WLAN is already quickly overloaded in the normal office environment. Also, for example smart devices with ios version 4.3 or higher do not support the location via WLAN. By now operating system version 11 and higher is in use. So a high number of users is already excluded by the technical requirement. The calibration of the positioning has to be done by reference measurement beforehand, which makes the implementation extremely complex. For an indoor navigation the smart device orients itself by the strength of the WiFi signals (Received Signal Strength Indication RSSI). The accuracy is between five and 15 meters. But even human bodies turn out as significant disturbing factors. That is due to the bodies high rate of water (over 70 per cent) and the resonance frequency of water, which is around 2.4Ghz, the same frequency which a lot of wireless local networks are run on. RFID That technology often used in logistics enables a precise localization, but it is not possible to realize a true navigation with it. Also in comparison this technology is very cost-efficient and mass compatible. A RFID system consists of one transponder and one reader. The transponder also called radio tag or RFID tag is able to store data. These can be used for orientation e.g. by passing target coordinates deposited on a staff badge to an output device of a building control system, for example a touch screen terminal. On that depending on the location a static route in sense of a way description can be displayed. Concerning the typical use cases for RFID like access control or stocks and logistics the range is typically between 0.5 and 3 meters. Similar to RFID NFC (Near Field Communication) is also a radio technology for wireless data transmission on short distances. With a maximum of 10 centimeters the range is even lower. BEACON-INFRASTRUCTURE Beacons are small transmitters that permanently send a signal via Bluetooth low energy resp. BLE 5.0. The Bluetooth transmitters have proven themselves above all for status monitoring and real-time localization. Objects to be tracked can be provided with this signal transmitter, which sends its identification to a receiver. Because of that in the case of asset tracking we talk about server based positioning. The signals are received by devices called collectors, passed on by them to the server and are interpreted by the corresponding software at the server. The server communicates with any given device, also mobile devices. Mobile devices are also able to receive and interpret the signals from transmitters fixedly mounted in the building. In both cases the system has to have information about the environment. For indoors maps so called floor plans are drawn (for example by digitizing construction plans). How many beacons have to be deployed depends on the size of the area and architectural occurrences. By default Favendo uses bluloc beacons as transmitters. The battery operated devices are extremely long-living and suitable for indoor and outdoor use. The robust casings meet the strict German fire protection laws. The low-priced units

6 are also easily remotely maintained and managed. For industrial use we rely on a combination of beacon and RFID technology, to guarantee the best possible positioning also in rough industrial surroundings. The open architecture of the tracking system allows to use existing RFID systems and to combine them with a new infrastructure of controllers and beacons. Besides beacon signals a controller is also able to track smart devices which move inside a defined area. One controller can cover up to 2000 square meters and acts as point of concentration for the received signals. The sensor collects either the beacon signals or the so called MAC addresses, which are sent out by all smart phones or tablets to connect with potentially available WLAN networks in the environment and collects them. The MAC (Media Access Control) address is for every devices like a unique digital fingerprint. ULTRA-WIDEBAND UWB is a wideband signal that can be used for positioning. An accuracy of less than up to 30 centimeters can be reached. So when accuracy and three dimensionality count, UWB shows its strengths. In this case the senders are called locator tags, which communicate with so called anchors. The anchors take over the task as built-in reference points. With three anchors within reach of the tags a two-dimensional positioning is possible. For a three-dimensional positioning at least four anchors have to be within reach. The object or person that is supposed to be located has to be equipped with a battery powered tag. For positioning the tag calculates the distance to several anchors and sends its data back to the anchors, which in turn send this data to a server-based backend. Only there the position is issued. UWB enables up to 100 position queries per second. The display of a tag s position on a device is also possible because the tag is able to communicate via USB interface or BLE directly with a smart device. The hardware components needed for this near field communication technology are compared to the other presented examples very cost-intensive. For most use cases positioning via Bluetooth beacons is totally sufficient. When utmost accuracy and three-dimensionality count UWB is at its most impressive. Nevertheless: At IAA a Franconian automotive supplier showed first applications based on UWB.

LED Especially in Office and Workspace Management LED with coded light can be used for positioning. Positioning via coded light is offered market-ready by Favendo partner Philips Lighting.

7 LED Especially in Office and Workspace Management LED with coded light can be used for positioning. Positioning via coded light is offered market-ready by Favendo partner Philips Lighting. The Indoor Positioning System (IPS) uses LED-lights for local navigation and transmission of information. Their light signals transmit for every light an unique code that is perceptible for the smart phone camera, but not for the human eye. Similar to navigation via GPS the app is able to determine the current position of the smartphone up to an accuracy of 30 centimeters by the signals received from the lights. With pure Visible Light Communication (VLC) the data stream is however a one-way road to the user s smartphone. That means no data about customer or asset movement can be gathered. To weigh out this disadvantage VLC can be combined with BLE technology. LORAWAN (LONG RANGE WIDE AREA NETWORK) LoRa technology resp. LoRaWan (Long Range Wide Area Network is another Low power wireless network protocol. With a range up to 40 kms in rural areas and 2 kms in the city area LoRaWan belongs to the widest-reach technologies for positioning. The Low-Power-Wireless-Network protocol was developed for the communication in the Internet of Things, specifics are determined by LoRa-Alliance, a non-profit organization initiated from industry companies from all verticals, and are freely available. Besides the big range part of the advantages is its ability to permeate buildings, up to a certain degree also underground rooms can be supplied. Until now LoRaWan is especially deployed outdoors. SENSOR-AGNOSTIC INFRASTRUCTURES With technologies like beacons, LoRa, IPS/LED and RFID practically all items can be digitally and wireless identified. The future belongs to sensor agnostic infrastructures. Like said before the expression means the combined deployment of different sensor technologies. Especially proven their worth have the combinations of Beacons and RFID or LED and embedded mesh beacons. The combination of LED and beacons means highest flexibility over a long period of time for the operator and at once a highly precise localization feature. And at the same time it solves one of the big challenges beacon developers still face: the power supply. Independent installed beacons get their power through an integrated battery. Are beacons built into LED lights, by that the power supply is managed. Mesh-able beacons can pass on their received information through a many-to-many network. In a next step of development beacons will be able to transport their data streams through the lights wiring. Another step of development is power supply directly through an eight-wired ethernet cable. Power and data stream are then running through just one constant connection. And through the only installation at hand in every building: the lighting.

8 REALIZING SENSOR-AGNOSTIC INFRA- STRUCTURES WITH EXISTING LIGHTING 1 STATUS QUO VLC/IPS makes a hyper-precise indoor positioning possible. This technology allows only one way data stream! 2 HOW TO MEET THE CURRENT EXPECTATIONS Additionally installed beacons complement the system and make a point-to-point connection with additionally installed controllers. These pass on the received data via WLAN/Lan to a server. Every element needs its own power supply.

9 3 TRANSFORM LIGHTING INTO IOT-TAGS Mesh beacons permanent built into lights build a many-to-many network. In this network data is transferred via BLE from one beacon to another till they meet a controller which is linked via WLAN/LAN with the server. 4 TRANSFORM LIGHTING INTO IOT-TAGS Mesh beacons (and if desired additional sensors) are connected via USB Socket to the lighting and form a stable plug & play solution. Data is transferred through the lightings wiring. Power supply also happens through this wiring (power over ethernet).

10 PICKING A SUITABLE TECHNOLOGY Which technology (WLAN, awlan, beacon technology, RFID, LED-based IPS/Visual Light Communication) to pick depends on a lot of circumstances and has always to be decided on an individual basis. Like described before one has always to take a combination of different technologies into consideration. When choosing a provider prospects should pay heed to the fact that the provide is not specialized on just one technology and forced to realize all desired services and applications with just one maybe not ideally suitable technology. While for example through LED-based IPS a positioning under 30 cm is possible, which is necessary for a navigation directly to the product on the shelf, nearly positioning, which in many cases is enough for navigation to certain zones (zone navigation), can be done with the help of RFID, beacons and/or WLAN. USE CASES Asset Tracking offers numerous advantages for industrial companies and is considered a door opener for Industry 4.0 solutions INDUSTRY OF THINGS, ASSET TRACKING Trace, track and control: Asset Tracking means the tracking of objects by using sensor technologies in a defined space. The display of the objetcs movement is done in real time on any given device. Movement and position of objects can be traced in real time live and historical. Also the next station of the asset can be predicted. The movements can be recorded as well as analyzed. Asset Tracking is not a use case but a solution, that can be applied to many industrial cases. Asset Tracking is depending on the use case two dimensional or with the according technology like UWB three dimensional possible. Real Asset Tracking differs from goods receipts and management systems by the fact that not only the position of an object is tracked at a certain time but that it is traceable how the objects behaves on the way from A to B and which route it takes on the way.

11 SMART ASSET MANAGEMENT With Favendo s Smart Asset Management (SAM) logistic processes can be optimized fast, easily and accurately. The RFID technology used makes it possible to replace a scan process that was previously required at the goods receipt by a fully automatic recording including a connection to an ERP. The only requirement: The assets to be tracked are provided with transponders. By default, an RFID gate is capable of capturing 250 transponders per second. From receipt of goods to outgoing goods, you will always have all the parts that are tagged in view, keeping track of quantities in real time, and relying on a flawless justin-time reordering. Depending on the installation, an accuracy up to the shelf space can be achieved: RFID gate: Assets in grid boxes or palletized assets are provided with transponders and are, for example, in the context of the goods receipt or within a production line passed through an RFID gate. In a standard application, up to 250 transponders and thus parts can be detected per second. RFID zone: Multiple gates allow zones to be set up to track assets. RFID storage: Depending on the installation, SAM can pass on the position of an asset to the ERP system either via a shelf, shelf board or shelf space. If, for example, C-parts are removed from their storage bin and transferred to production, a reorder is automatically triggered in the system. The Favendo integration software delivers the collected data as standard in.csv format to the merchandise management system. An individual adaptation of the format to the requirements of your ERP system is possible. SMART OFFICE The Smart Office solution was developed to enable effective space and time management in large office complexes. Smart Office helps to get the most out of the ever-increasing use of shared desk and flexible office organization. Employees and visitors can make the most of their time in Smart Office-managed buildings: Favendo s Smart Office solution offers indoor navigation, smart conference room management, and Colleague Finder all in one mobile tool. The solution also provides anonymized and privacy-compliant analytics on space usage, peak hours and workloads. The technology platform used is sensor agnostic, that means it works with Beacons, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), Ultra Broadband (UWB) and Visual Light Communication (VLC) depending on whether and what technology already exists in the building. As a result, the installation effort is kept as low as possible and can be done during operation.

info@favendo.com www.favendo.com IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS PLEASE CONTACT US.

12 IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS PLEASE CONTACT US. Favendo GmbH An der Spinnerei Bamberg, Germany Tel.: Favendo GmbH Goethestraße 3 B Jena, Germany Tel.:

Ahrma Technology Whitepaper

Ahrma Technology Whitepaper Ahrma Track & Trace IoT Platform Ahrma Holding BV was founded in 2014. Headquarters and the production plant are located in The Netherlands (Deventer). Ahrma is serving clients