Briefing 2023

Initial situation

In today's world, wireless devices are increasingly vital for industrial applications, facilitating real-time data collection, remote access and control, and machine-to-machine communication. Localization technologies, such as ultra-wideband (UWB), enable accurate indoor positioning and tracking of assets, machinery, and personnel. This allows for better resource management, process optimization, and improved safety. Overall, localization technologies have great potential to further enhance the efficiency and productivity of industrial settings and to open new markets, making them an essential component of the modern industrial landscape.

Adding localization capabilities to the billions of IoT nodes already deployed in the field can be a challenging task. The primary issue is that most of these devices were not designed with localization in mind and lack the necessary hardware and software components to support it. As a result, adding localization capabilities to these devices requires significant modifications, which will be costly and time-consuming, and, eventually, often a no-go.

Our challenge

As one of the leading researchers in adding localization capabilities to existing systems, TU Wien has demonstrated various ranging and localization systems for UHF RFID, DSRC, and recently for IoT nodes – all without changes to the hardware of the device, and all with patents issued or pending.

In our latest method, we tweak narrowband 2.4 GHz or 5.8 GHz radios via firmware updates into transmitting energy-efficient ‘virtual’ wideband signals, optimum for applying time-of-flight based localization methods. Having the concept validated in a real environment with thousands of tag, we are ready for the next step: Scaling the system to cover larger areas and higher numbers and advancing the design into a marketable product.

The task

Join our way and support us in the development of a low-cost embedded system for scaling the system and demonstrating its performance. We are seeking for a sleek, FPGA-based localization-base station and are open for innovative design approaches to bring down the BOM for this multi-antenna, wideband RF receiver. Further supporting us in synchronizing the base stations with ps accuracy over-the-air or over structured cabling would be highly appreciated as well.

Perspectives

The service units of the TU Wien support the initiation phase of cooperative projects and developments based on in-house technologies. If needed, information and advice on funding opportunities for joint research projects can also be provided.

The research project team of TU Wien has excellent expertise in the field of radio frequency (RF) engineering and has extensive experience in cooperative collaboration with non-university organisations and individuals as well as the commercialization of marketable products. Solution orientation, openness and flexibility to meet the requirements of the partners are key in our approach.

Next steps

Interested persons can sign up for 1:1 calls or small group meetings to learn more about the respective technology and exchange ideas about possible next steps for collaboration.

Once a common ground for the collaboration has been found, project meetings are set up according to the individual needs and backgrounds.

Concerning communication and collaboration (e.g. chats, project management tools, cloud services), TU Wien is able to provide various tools for external persons too. If desired TU Wien is also flexible and open to tools from outside the organization.

Kick-off video

Contact

Everyone is invited to learn more about the presented technologies and research activities of TU Wien! We are looking forward to every contact and interesting idea!

The technology expert for this project is Assoc.Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Dr. Holger Arthaber. Administrative and organisational support is provided by Kathleen Jimenez (Funding Support and Industry Relations) and Daniel Rottenberg (Patent and Licensing) of TU Wien

Downloads

Technology Offer: https://www.tuwien.at/fileadmin/Assets/dienstleister/forschungs-_und_transfersupport/TO/4_ICT_Physics_Electronics_Semiconductor/Dokumente/TUWien_2018-044_localisation.pdf

About us

Technische Universität Wien

Technische Universität Wien (TU Wien) is Austria's largest research and educational institution in the field of technology and natural sciences. With more than 4,000 scientists conducting research in five main research areas at eight faculties and over 27,000 students in 55 degree programmes, TU Wien strengthens the business location as an innovation driver under the mission statement "Technology for People", facilitates co-operation and contributes to the prosperity of society.

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