Bluetooth tracking with BLE gateways and BLE sensors
| May 2023 |
BLE is a wireless solution that combines location accuracy, battery efficiency and cost optimization. BLE devices are typically used for short-range data transmission and are ideal for locating and tracking assets.
BLE devices, i.e. gateways (also called beacons) and tags (sensors), have several advantages over traditional GPS-based asset trackers, as long as you know how to leverage them for the benefit of your business.
Although they are similar in functionality and are therefore often referred to as one and the same, it is good to know that BLE beacons and BLE sensors have different applications, especially if you are considering introducing them into your business.
Simply put, BLE gateways are ideal for stationary assets and are great for indoor tracking, while BLE sensors are the best solution for tracking smaller movable business assets that do not require constant location.
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1 | BLE gateways are for stationary assets
BLE technology works by sending out an outgoing signal via a BLE device, which is then received by another device acting as a beacon. This could be a mobile phone with an app, a telemetry device, or a BLE beacon built as a receiver. You could compare BLE technology to lighthouses, which signal to sailors that they are near the coast.
How do gateways work?
Beacons are passive, both literally and figuratively. They are designed to be permanently mounted on a specific stationary surface. They do not transmit any information, but they do give away their ID, which is why they are most commonly used for indoor navigation.
Everyone knows that a GPS signal weakens as you enter a building. And the bigger the building, the more concrete used, or the deeper you go into the basement, the less or no signal is available to you. The reality is that location monitoring is also needed indoors these days, because it helps larger warehouses, operations centers, and even airports to operate more efficiently. That’s where BLE beacons come in.
For best results, place multiple beacons in a space in a way that provides the most coverage of that space. In practice, these beacons work well next to each other and each signal that is registered shows the real-time indoor position.
Because beacons are meant to be stationary (immobile), they are generally built to be less durable than tags. And they have a low profile design, because you don't necessarily want them to attract attention.
Case studies for the use of BLE beacons
- Real-time tracking of guards as they complete checkpoints within a building.
- Monitoring of cleaners and sanitary staff in large and busy facilities such as airports or shopping centres.
- Automated check-ins of vehicles returning to their base after a day on the road.
- Vending machines. Rental machines will likely remain at a specific location for a while. Keep track of how long the item has been on site, if it is still there, and if maintenance has been by.
2 | BLE tags for tracking movable property
Like beacons, BLE sensors (or tags) are devices that continuously emit unique signals that can be picked up by Bluetooth devices. But to get information from them, you always need another device to receive and record this data: a mobile device such as a smartphone or tablet, or a platform connection from a telemetry device that can interpret the signal. An active internet connection is a must here!
How do BLE sensors work?
Sensors are used for active or movable assets. As such, they are built to be more durable and conspicuous, can detect temperature and humidity, and usually contain more information, such as a name or characteristics of an asset.
And while they are similar in functionality to beacons, tags offer a different applicability. The information collected is not that a person has entered a certain range, but that the BLE device is within range of a receiving BLE device. Consequently, the key difference here is the conclusion: identifying the location of a business asset, rather than the person.
Remember that a recipient can be any device on the network, not just you searching the parking lot with your phone for your keys.
Practical examples for BLE sensors
1 | Construction Equipment
Construction projects take time and many tools accumulate on the construction site during the process. Sometimes there are multiple projects in different locations and tools need to be moved from one place to another. BLE tags can help track these tools to their location and ensure that nothing gets lost, while maintaining an overview of the current usage status.
2 | Agriculture
Fields need care and attention. Nowadays, there are many tools, machines and attachments that help with digging, cultivating, spraying, cutting, tilling or, in other words, taking care of the fields. It is not always easy to see the forest for the trees when it comes to the location of all these work tools. BLE tags offer a quick solution, because they inform you about the last user and location.
3 | Emergency services
From defibrillators and stretchers to axes, hoses, stairs and more, paramedics and fire crews have many tools and equipment they use every day that can be left behind in the rush to save someone’s life. At the end of the day, however, each item can be easily tracked with tags that have a long battery life and require little to no maintenance.
The low-energy Bluetooth sensors are much smaller and very easy to use compared to traditional GPS tracking units. In most cases, you simply stick them on an asset, make sure you are equipped with a receiver and you are ready to go. No special skills or qualified technicians required!
Track BLE assets with All-Connects
All-Connects’ FLEET.connect business application for vehicle, equipment and fleet management offers various types of asset tracking solutions, including BLE. The signals from a BLE device can be picked up by a nearby telemetry device and the information sent to the online user application. In addition, managers can also receive notifications and view detailed BLE device information via the FLEET.connect mobile app.
The accuracy of the BLE tag location, as displayed in the management application, mainly depends on the frequency, sensitivity and range. As soon as a telemetry device comes within range of the respective BLE tag, a location is determined.
The solution offers easy, straightforward installation, user-friendly overview and management capabilities, as well as a report that will summarize all the most essential information over the selected period.
Ask for expert help
And there you have it! That is the BLE technology of the BLE gateways and BLE tags explained in short. If you want to know more about BLE solutions and possibilities for material tracking, make an appointment with our experts as soon as possible! Contact us directly by phone 03 289 55 35 or fill in the form below.
