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Asset Tracking Using a Real-Time Locating System Employing a Novel Location Determination Method

Rothfuss, Michael Andrew (2011) Asset Tracking Using a Real-Time Locating System Employing a Novel Location Determination Method. Master's Thesis, University of Pittsburgh. (Unpublished)

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Abstract

Real-Time Locating Systems (RTLS) belong to a class of locating systems capable of remotely determining the location of tagged assets in an environment within a relatively short time frame (real-time). Signals from tags are received wirelessly by readers, which use information about the signal, to continuously determine the location of the tag relative to each reader. Using readers positioned at several locations around a tag offers multiple location readings, which can be compiled together at a central host to estimate the location of a tag in a two or three dimensional space. Location information from several vantage points also reduces the chance of false location estimates of a tag when one or more readers' location estimates contain some error.Indoor asset tracking is a unique specialty of many types of RTLS, as Global Positioning Systems (GPS) have difficulty providing asset locations within buildings. RTLS deployments generally address the problems of determining the location of equipment and products in a warehouse or even tracking employees and files in an office. The most common RTLS uses a Wi-Fi infrastructure to determine the location of tagged assets. These systems employ Time-of-Arrival (ToA) or Received Signal Strength Indication (RSSI) techniques to wirelessly determine asset location. Scaling up a system that uses a Wi-Fi infrastructure to localize large numbers of tags introduces a significant wireless traffic burden, reducing data throughput for other users of the same Wi-Fi network. Both ToA and RSSI methods of localization suffer from significant inaccuracies in reported location of assets and often are unable to determine which room an asset resides.This thesis presents a new method for determining asset location that offers better accuracy than systems using ToA and RSSI techniques, and an RTLS that uses existing Wi-Fi infrastructures and commercial off-the-shelf parts (COTS) without placing excessive need on the Wi-Fi networks.


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Details

Item Type: University of Pittsburgh ETD
Status: Unpublished
Creators/Authors:
CreatorsEmailPitt UsernameORCID
Rothfuss, Michael Andrewmar28@pitt.eduMAR28
ETD Committee:
TitleMemberEmail AddressPitt UsernameORCID
Committee ChairMickle, Marlin Hmickle@pitt.eduMICKLE
Committee MemberCain, James Tjtc@pitt.eduJTC
Committee MemberHoelzeman, Ronald Ghoelzema@pitt.eduHOELZEMA
Committee MemberMao, Zhi-Hongzhm4@pitt.eduZHM4
Date: 30 June 2011
Date Type: Completion
Defense Date: 26 March 2010
Approval Date: 30 June 2011
Submission Date: 6 April 2010
Access Restriction: 5 year -- Restrict access to University of Pittsburgh for a period of 5 years.
Institution: University of Pittsburgh
Schools and Programs: Swanson School of Engineering > Electrical Engineering
Degree: MSEE - Master of Science in Electrical Engineering
Thesis Type: Master's Thesis
Refereed: Yes
Uncontrolled Keywords: asset tracking; location determination; real-time; real-time locating system; real-time location system; receiver sensitivity; remote tracking; RTLS; Wi-Fi
Other ID: http://etd.library.pitt.edu/ETD/available/etd-04062010-012231/, etd-04062010-012231
Date Deposited: 10 Nov 2011 19:34
Last Modified: 15 Nov 2016 13:38
URI: http://d-scholarship.pitt.edu/id/eprint/6828

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