TrackingMiniature tracking chip offers high accuracy
An Irish start-up has developed a tracking chip claimed to be more accurate and cost competitive than other comparable technologies such as RFID and Wi-Fi; the chip could be used for a variety of applications such as locating soldiers on the battlefield, tracking the movements of firemen in a burning building, or sourcing medical equipment in a hospital
Irish start-up DecaWave has developed a tracking chip claimed to be more accurate and cost competitive than other comparable technologies such as RFID and Wi-Fi.
DecaWave claims its 7mm2 chip, which is based on the UWB 802.14.4a IEEE standard, is smaller than any others on the market due to a patented set of algorithms.
It can be integrated into a mobile phone or small wearable device and reputedly deliver information about a target’s location, whether indoor or outdoor, with an accuracy of +/-10cm regardless of any obstructions and whether or not it is moving.
The company says this could be used for a variety of applications such as locating soldiers on the battlefield, tracking the movements of firemen in a burning building, or sourcing medical equipment in a hospital.
Ciaran Connell, chief executive of DecaWave, told the Engineer one of the major advantages of the chip is that it consumes less power.
“It can run off a single watch battery for 10 years,” he said. Connell added that the company will be ready for mass production in the fourth quarter of next year. Each tracking tag will incorporate the chip, which is manufactured by TSMC in Taiwan, an antenna plus battery and cost approximately $5 (£3).
Connell said the technology can locate a target from a 45-meter distance indoors through obstructions and within 90m if it is within the line of sight. “That’s unprecedented,” he added.
In outdoor applications it can work from a 500m distance, granting there are no major obstructions.
