EJ Jackson demonstrates Ekahau RTLS in 10 minutes

EJ Jackson gave a brief demonstration of Ekahau’s Wi-Fi Real Time Location System (RTLS). RTLS uses Wi-Fi and infrared beacons to locate tags with sub-1 meter accuracy, and integrates with Site Survey and Vision. In his short but detailed presentation at Wireless Field Day 2, EJ Jackson showcased the different components and capabilities of Ekahau’s RTLS solution. The system operates by conducting a thorough calibration process akin to a traditional site survey, during which tags are introduced to collect environmental data for creating a radio frequency (RSSI) model. This data is then used to estimate locations accurately based on wireless signal strengths and can later be refined with infrared (IR) beacons to achieve sub-room accuracy in environments like hospitals or tightly controlled areas.

The Ekahau RTLS solution comprises three key elements: the wireless infrastructure, an RTLS server running advanced location software, and the various types of tags – such as asset, personnel, patient, and even mobile devices. These tags communicate over the network, sometimes in infrastructure mode, which enables more efficient data transfer and significantly extends battery life. EJ demonstrated how zones can be defined, IR beacons associated with specific areas, and how tags can then trigger alerts or messages when entering or exiting zones. The IR data takes precedence over RSSI to enhance location precision, and extensive testing has shown that the IR signals can penetrate multiple layers of standard hospital materials like blankets or clothing, ensuring dependable performance even in cluttered or shielded environments.

The Ekahau system also includes various business logic capabilities for tracking movement through accelerometers, detecting tampering through optical sensors, and even monitoring environmental conditions like temperature and humidity. These features support an array of use cases, from protecting expensive medical equipment from accidental disposal, to monitoring server room conditions without needing complex cabling. In terms of the backend, Ekahau’s RTLS application is fully web-based and accessible across intranets, and there is ongoing work to deepen integration with Cisco’s Mobility Services Engine. Jackson emphasized that while their Site Survey business is robust, RTLS is the fastest-growing and most lucrative segment, highlighting its strategic importance in Ekahau’s overall business.