FREE SHIPPING on Orders Over US$79
United States

Use Wireless AP for Wi-Fi Indoor Positioning System in Various Industries

SheldonUpdated at Mar 22nd 20241 min read

Wifi positioning systems refer to a wireless local area network (WLAN) composed of wireless access points (including wireless routers), which can realize positioning, monitoring and tracking tasks in complex environments. Based on the location information of the wireless aps, it uses a combination of empirical testing and signal propagation modeling to locate the position of an accessed mobile device. Maximum accuracy ranges from approximately 1 meter to 20 meters. This precision depends on shielding through walls, ceilings, and the number of access points.
In today's rapidly evolving technological landscape, indoor positioning, tracking, and Wi-Fi navigation have revolutionized how we interact with indoor spaces. WiFi indoor positioning can be applied for indoor navigation (client-based solution) and tracking solutions (server-based approach).
Wireless AP Applications in Various Industries
This Wi-Fi indoor Positioning usually requires the use of products and equipment such as Wi-Fi network equipment (such as routers, and access points), Wi-Fi positioning system software, mobile devices, location tags, back-end servers, positioning APIs and SDKs. These components work together to determine the precise location of devices or individuals in indoor environments by collecting and processing Wi-Fi signal data, providing positioning services and data support for applications in various industries. The following are some typical application scenarios:
Small and Medium Office
Wi-Fi can be successfully applied to indoor positioning in large administrative buildings. It helps enterprises track and manage equipment and assets in the office in real time, including computers, printers, conference equipment, etc. It can accurately know the location and status of these assets, improve equipment utilization and reduce the risk of loss. Likewise, it can also be used to manage the booking and use of meeting rooms, optimizing the use of meeting rooms.
Educational Environment
Indoor positioning system enables real-time monitoring and management of classrooms, labs, and campus common resources, helping schools better organize resource usage. Widely deployed access points and monitoring keep students and staff safe and improve campus security management. With technicians collecting data on students' activity trajectories and behavioral habits, schools can optimize campus services, allocate resources, and improve students' quality of life.
Logistics and Warehouses
Companies specializing in logistics and warehousing can use Wi-Fi to locate ordered materials, vehicles, and goods. The system helps staff quickly locate goods and automate many warehouse operations. Real-time monitoring of the location of people and equipment in the warehouse improves efficiency and enables timely response to emergencies.
Healthcare Organizations
Healthcare facilities are often large and complex environments for patients and healthcare workers, and Wi-Fi positioning systems can provide indoor navigation services to help them find their destinations quickly, making visits more efficient and productive. Healthcare organizations can track and manage the location of medical devices in real-time. Administrators can monitor the location of healthcare workers in real time to ensure they can reach patients when needed.
Museums and Exhibitions
Using Wi-Fi, you can combine exhibition information and systems to provide visitors with real-time information and explanations. Personalized exhibition recommendations and guided tours are provided based on visitors' locations and interests. Exhibition organizers can collect visitors' geographic data, carefully observe their behavior, and rationally plan the exhibition.
Wifi Indoor Positioning Methods
Using Access Points
AP-based wifi indoor positioning is one of the most common and widely used approaches. In this method, access points in a deployed Wi-Fi network are utilized as location identification points, and the location of the device is determined by analyzing information such as signal strength and latency between the mobile device and each AP. The positioning algorithm collects signal data from multiple surrounding APs and calculates the location of the device using techniques such as signal strength fingerprinting or triangulation.
The advantage of this method is that it utilizes the existing Wi-Fi infrastructure without additional investment and at a relatively low cost. At the same time, due to the wide coverage of Wi-Fi signals, relatively accurate indoor positioning can be achieved.
Using Sensors
Indoor positioning systems can also employ sensor technologies such as inertial navigation sensors, geomagnetic sensors, and accelerometers to improve positioning accuracy and stability. Sensors can help complement the limitations of Wi-Fi positioning, such as providing additional positioning information in areas with severe signal blockage or in scenarios where high accuracy is required.
This approach allows for more accurate position tracking, but the cost and energy consumption, as well as fusion and processing, can be more difficult.
Conclusion
Using WiFi for indoor positioning offers countless opportunities for organizations to improve customer experience, streamline operations and increase productivity. By integrating FS's indoor positioning technology into business operations, organizations can realize new possibilities for seamless navigation, personalized service and operational excellence in indoor environments. Going forward, the integration of indoor positioning technology will certainly shape the way we interact with indoor spaces, paving the way for a more connected and efficient world.