AllTraq

The ABGI AllTraq system is the first commercially viable wide area tracking system. It uses a combination of Ultra WideBand frequency, Radio Frequency Identification tags, data security protocol and easy to use software.

Ultra Wideband (UWB) based real time location systems (RTLS) have a number of advantages over similar Wi-Fi based systems.

Our UWB system can track a larger amount of tagged assets over a greater distance with more accuracy than Wi-Fi based systems. While a Wi-Fi based RTLS may be able to tell you if your assets are in a specific room, our UWB system can tell where in the room each asset is located. 

Wi-Fi based RTLS tags generate noise and degrade Wi-Fi quality causing enough congestion to negatively impact application communications. Futhermore, this noise reduces location capabilities.

For healthcare, UWB is superior for encryption and meets HIPAA standards for privacy. The FDA has approved UWB for use in the operating room and have recognized that UWB technology satisfies operating room requirements for medical-grade wireless video systems. UWB's lower RF output power allows same channel reuse in adjacent rooms and results in low interference with other signals.

Wi-Fi RTLS companies promote their product as easy to install due to its utilization of existing Wi-Fi infrastructure. However, according to Cisco's deployment guideline document for a Wi-Fi RTLS, a density of access points of around 30 feet is needed. The deployment document goes on to state the following:

1. Selecting the location planning option results in the need for access points being placed along the perimeter and the corners of the floor, in addition to the interior of the floor as necessary.
2. In designs where location tracking is intended to co-reside with voice and high speed data it is recommended best practice that the inter-access point spacing should be reduced below the general guideline of 40 ft.
3. The distance between deployed access points can impact location performance, as well as the performance of co-resident voice and data applications. An excessive inter-access point distance can detract from good location accuracy by not providing sufficient signal strength differentiation at extended distances.

In essence, a Wi-Fi based RTLS will require more infrastructure in order to utilize the existing Wi-Fi setup.

According to VeriSign cyber attacks are expected to grow at a rate of 50% a year. Faulty RFID infrastructure in the initial stages of the Iraq war in 2003 resulted in $1.3 billion of supplies being lost during transport.

"Wireless systems information is probabilistic rather than definitive," according to Martin Illsley of Accenture. "...and the systems are vulnerable to being hacked into."

With the proprietary UWB AllTraq system from ABGI that vulnerability is gone.

With the ABGI AllTraq system, we have accomplished these "mundane" advances in accuracy, density and distance allowing for the data advantages as well as the cost advantages of UWB to be brought to the transportation, healthcare, agriculture, mining and security industries.