Meute Technologies - tracking enablers

Technology

Meute technologies presently offers three technology platforms to address the tracking requirements of its clients. Each of these technologies cater to specific requirements of which cost and range are prime factors.

   GPS/GSM/RF Devices
   Cellular Tracking
   RFID Devices

GPS/GSM/RF Devices

Global Positioning System (GPS) is a worldwide radio navigation system consisting of 24 satellites and their ground stations. GPS is based on the concept of Trilateration. Trilateration is a basic geometric principle that allows you to find one location if you know its distance from other, already known locations. GPS receivers are devices, which help us in finding out the exact position on ground. These receivers vary in size, accuracy and capabilities. Of late, these have been miniaturized to just a few integrated circuits and are highly economical.

These devices can be combined with GSM/RF devices and placed on mobile assets. Tracking of the asset can thus be carried out and the real time location can be relayed to a remote location using GSM/RF. Alternatively, details of the movement of the asset can be recorded locally on the unit and data extracted when required. This technology caters to Long range tracking requirements with the ability to track assets virtually around the globe.

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Cellular Tracking

E 911 initiatives by the USA have opened up new possibilities in tracking techniques. E 911 is a policy under which cellular operators would be required to track down a subject using his cellular phone. This is primarily to cater for emergencies where the subject is unable to give out the location due to ignorance or physical inability due to say an accident/ abduction. While locating the cell where a subject is located is very easy, special efforts have to be made to narrow down the location to few sq meters. There have been cases where emergency services have been directed up to 30 meters of the subject. Efforts are on to bring this down to under single figures in which case commercial tracking opportunities could be exploited.

Cellular tracking also works on the principal of trilateration. This technology though in its nascent stage holds great promise for the future and caters for mid range tracking applications within a mobile phone cell.

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RFID Devices

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID): An emerging hot technology in the AIDC (Automatic Identification and Data Capture) sector. Although it has been available for a long time, it has only been available in proprietary formats from a variety of vendors. Work is at last progressing to provide standardized forms of RFID, with standardization work being done at ISO and AIM.

RFID provides a means of obtaining information on an item without making direct contact. Reading and writing distances can vary from a few millimeters to several meters depending on the technology variation used. The tags themselves come in a variety of form factors from credit card sized plastic cards, to tiny injectable glass transponders for tracking animals, to large "bricks" suitable for use on the side of containers on trains. The actual technology used to implement RFID varies depending on manufacturer and application, with frequencies used varying from 125kHz to 5.8GHz. Whether you are looking for a one-bit electronic article surveillance device or a multi-character inventory label, RFID has a solution that can provide a non-contact method for storing the information.

RFID also provides an opportunity for low range, low power tracking and caters for cost effective tracking of small items, documents and personnel.

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