TDOA-UWB positioning system: an outstanding representative of high-precision positioning technology

2025-01-13/ By Admin

In today's rapidly developing technology, positioning technology has widely penetrated into various fields, from daily travel navigation, to refined management of industrial production, and to safety guarantees in special environments. Its importance is self-evident. The TDOA-UWB positioning system, as an advanced positioning technology, has demonstrated outstanding performance in numerous scenarios due to its unique advantages.

1、 Analysis of Technical Principles

The TDOA-UWB positioning system mainly consists of four parts: positioning base station, positioning tag, solution engine, and display terminal. These four work together to achieve precise positioning.

Positioning base stations are like "sentinels" distributed in the positioning area, evenly distributed around the area that needs to be located, always vigilant, and receiving signals sent by positioning tags. In a large factory workshop, dozens of positioning base stations are installed on the ceiling, walls, and other locations to ensure signal coverage without blind spots.

The positioning tag is the "identity identifier" of the object being located, carried by personnel or objects that need to be located. Once it enters the signal coverage area of the base station, it will automatically establish contact with the base station, like an active messenger who "reports its whereabouts". In the logistics warehouse, each pallet of goods is equipped with positioning tags for real-time tracking of the goods.

The solution engine is the "smart brain" of the entire system, installed on the server, responsible for collecting and processing data from various base stations. By using the TDOA (Time Difference of Arrival) algorithm, combined with known base station location information, the distance difference between the positioning tag and each base station is accurately calculated, and then the position coordinates of the positioning tag are determined.

The display terminal is a "window" that visually presents the location information calculated by the solution engine to the user, which can be a large screen in the monitoring center or a mobile app in the hands of management personnel. In the monitoring room of the substation, the on duty personnel can see the specific location of all operation and maintenance personnel in the station in real time through the large screen, in order to carry out scheduling and management.

2、 Significant advantages of the system

High precision positioning

The accuracy of the TDOA-UWB positioning system is astonishing, capable of achieving centimeter level or even higher precision positioning in complex environments. Taking a substation as an example, with numerous equipment and a complex electromagnetic environment, workers need to accurately know their distance from live equipment during equipment maintenance to ensure safety. The TDOA-UWB positioning system can be accurate to within 10 centimeters, which is like equipping the staff with a precise "distance gauge", effectively ensuring their safety.

Strong anti-interference ability

In an environment filled with various electromagnetic interferences, UWB signals demonstrate strong anti-interference capabilities due to their wide spectrum and low power spectral density. At the airport, numerous electronic devices and communication systems operate simultaneously, generating a large amount of electromagnetic interference. However, the TDOA-UWB positioning system can work stably in such an environment, providing accurate positioning services for airport ground personnel, luggage transport vehicles, etc., ensuring the efficiency and safety of airport operations.

Excellent real-time performance

The system can obtain real-time location information of positioning tags and quickly update and display them. On the production line of smart factories, robots and workers need to work closely together. The TDOA-UWB positioning system can track their positions in real time. Once an abnormal situation occurs, such as the robot being too close to the worker, the system can immediately issue an alarm to avoid collision accidents and ensure the smooth operation of the production line.

Multi target positioning capability

The TDOA-UWB positioning system has the powerful ability to simultaneously locate and track multiple positioning tags. In large warehousing and logistics centers, there are thousands of goods, forklifts, and staff. This system can easily respond, accurately locate and manage all targets, greatly improving the efficiency of warehousing and logistics, and reducing the occurrence of goods misplacement, loss, and other situations.

3、 Widely applicable scenarios

Industrial sector

In industrial production, the TDOA-UWB positioning system provides strong support for refined management. In automobile manufacturing factories, real-time positioning of components, assembly robots, and workers can optimize production processes, improve assembly accuracy, and reduce production time and costs. When a component is in short supply, the system can quickly locate its location, arrange delivery in a timely manner, and ensure that the production line does not stop.

Medical industry

In hospitals, the system can be used to track the location of medical devices, drugs, and medical staff. For example, in the operating room of a large hospital, a positioning system can quickly locate urgently needed surgical instruments, reduce surgical preparation time, and improve surgical efficiency. For patients with limited mobility, wearing location tags allows medical staff to track their location at any time and provide timely assistance.

Public safety field

In large event venues such as concerts and sports events, there are dense crowds and complex situations. The TDOA-UWB positioning system can monitor the flow of personnel in real time. In case of emergency situations such as fires or stampedes, it can quickly locate the location of trapped personnel, provide accurate information for rescue work, and strive for valuable rescue time.

In summary, the TDOA-UWB positioning system plays an important role in many fields with its unique technical principles and significant advantages. With the continuous development and improvement of technology, we believe it will be applied in more scenarios, bringing more convenience and security to people's lives and work.