Tracking & Tagging
MST and AeroScout have formed an alliance to provide the leading Wi-Fi based active RFID technology into mining applications.
The partnership leverages off both companies technological expertise and application experience to provide optimum solutions for underground and surface mines. With digital communication systems now being installed in mines, the opportunity to use this Wi-Fi 802.11b/g communication infrastructure for tracking is obvious.
So with MST's proven digital infrastructure (the ImPact Digital Communication System) and experience in implementing tracking systems (TRACKER Tagging System) being combined with AeroScout's Wi-Fi based RFID Tags was a logical step to provide key safety and productivity benefits by:
- Productivity; the tracking of a mines equipment assets underground, such as vehicles and mobile plant., allows better management and utilization of this equipment.
- Safety; additionally the ability to track the location of personnel underground by using personal RFID Tags, in the form of circuitry integrated into the miner's cap lamp battery or as self contained device, provides a strong safety tool particularly in any emergency situation.
RFID Tags are designed to incorporate
in the ICCL Miner's Cap Lamp or be Self Contained
Why MST & AeroScout?
Quite simply both companies are the leading technology providers in their fields, namely:
- AeroScout is the leading provider of 802.11 based tagging technology in the world, particularly in complex industrial applications.
- Mine Site Technologies is the global leader in mining communications and tracking infrastructure.
Visibility Systems: Bridging the Gap Between Wi-Fi, Active RFID and Telemetry
The combined suite of products provides Enterprise Visibility Solutions using Wi-Fi wireless networks as an infrastructure. The MST & AeroScout solutions use standard wireless networks to accurately locate any asset, and utilize that location to deliver direct benefits such as asset tracking, process automation, theft prevention and increased utilization.
AeroScout pioneered the Wi-Fi-based visibility market and MST has been at the forefrount of specialist mining communications for 20 years. The companies introduced the industry's first Wi-Fi-based Active RFID tag, and continues to lead the market with the only Wi-Fi visibility system to enable multiple modes of location. Unlike competing technologies, the AeroScout/MST tracking solution was designed to work in practically any environment (both indoors and outdoors, with TDOA and RSSI methods), and with the flexibility to meet numerous application needs.
How does the MST/AeroScout/MST System work?
- AeroScout's Wi-Fi-based Active RFID tags and/or standard Wi-Fi devices send a tiny wireless signal at a regular interval.
- The signal is received by MST's ImPact Access Points (or AeroScout Location Receivers), without any infrastructure changes needed, and is sent to a location processing "engine".
- The engine uses signal strength and/or time of arrival algorithms to determine location coordinates, and sends this data to either MST's TRACKER System software or to AeroScout's MobileView software for more advanced processing.
- AeroScout MobileView uses location data to display maps, enable searches, create alerts, manage assets, work with third parties, etc.
AeroScout Tags
AeroScout Tags: Wi-Fi-based Active RFID Tags for Asset Tracking and People Tracking.
AeroScout's Wi-Fi-based Active RFID Tags are available as either:
- Incorporated into the ICCL cap lamp - see picture above showing AeroScout RFID Circuitry especially designed for integration into the ICCL.
- Self Contained Tags with internal batteries in two versions, T2 and T3 - see below.
The AeroScout Tags are small, wireless devices for accurately locating and tracking any asset or person. AeroScout Tags utilize standard Wi-Fi networks to track high-value assets and people in real time, in any environment – from tight indoor locations such as hospitals and manufacturing floors to open outdoor locations such as parking lots and shipping yards. This unique technology extends the capabilities of Wi-Fi networks to new applications that drive enterprise efficiency and productivity.
AeroScout created the industry's first Wi-Fi tags in 2003, and continues to develop innovative tag solutions for multiple markets. The T2 Tag is the industry's best-selling and most widely-deployed Wi-Fi tag, and the T3 Tag provides unmatched advanced features in a sleek, low-profile form.
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| AeroScout T3 Tags The AeroScout T3 Tag combines a streamlined flat form factor with long battery life, two call buttons, motion and temperature detection, and tamper-proofing, resulting in the most feature-rich Wi-Fi tag on the market. The T3 Tag is ideal for use as a personnel badge, for IT asset tracking, and a variety of other advanced uses. |
AeroScout T2 Tags The AeroScout T2 Tag is the proven market leader in Wi-Fi tags, due its long battery life, convenient small size and built-in choke-point capabilities. The T2 Tag is ideal for tracking high volumes of assets across the widest range of environments. |
Exciters
The AeroScout Exciter extends the tracking system by providing robust and sophisticated RFID communication & detection capabilities.
The Exciter triggers Wi-Fi tags as they pass through a choke point to transmit a message that is received by an ImPact Wi-Fi Access Point. This provides instant knowledge that a tagged asset or person passed through a gate, doorway or some other tightly defined area. The detection capabilities of the Exciter, combined with the location features of the AeroScout software, make this tracking suite the most sophisticated enterprise visibility solution for a wide variety of industries.
Key features include:
Long range RFID detection of AeroScout tags, triggering them to transmit as they pass through a defined area. Exciters have up to a 6m (18 ft) programmable range, enough to cover wide gate areas.
Tag behavior modification:
- Wireless activation and deactivation of tags. Tag battery life can be extended further by switching them off when they leave a defined tracking area through a gate or doorway;
- Change of tag transmission rate for a temporary or indefinite time to accommodate different usage patterns in various physical spaces.
Sophisticated messaging functions provide the ability to use the Exciter to store messages on the tag for later transmission. Message transmission can later be triggered by other Exciters, enabling sophisticated process control functions. Exciters can trigger a tag to:
- Send up to 10 bytes of data
- Transmit one of 10 pre-stored messages
- Send and store up to 10 bytes of data
Ethernet connectivity for centralized programming, monitoring and software updates by the AeroScout Engine System Manager.
Multiple sizes and ranges fit a variety of customer needs
AeroScout MobileView: Enterprise Software for Asset Visibility
MobileView is the industry's most advanced end-user application for Enterprise Visibility Solutions, adding a critical layer of business logic to any location system. MobileView turns asset location information received from multiple location data sources into real business solutions, delivering sophisticated mapping, rules-based alerting and reporting functions in a scalable, enterprise-proven software platform. With MobileView, developers and end users can apply their own rules and business logic to location information, truly leveraging their positioning data for efficient and intuitive applications in many different industries.
With MobileView, users can finally utilize location data to TRACK, ALERT, MANAGE and INTEGRATE from a single, enterprise-ready platform.
Key Benefits:
Intuitive Asset Visualization
MobileView includes a flexible, Web-based tool for locating and viewing asset positioning in real-time. A few clicks is all it takes to locate an asset.
Improvement of Business Processes
Easily create sophisticated rules-based events and alerts triggered by asset location, to automate and improve everyday processes.
Flexible Sources and Outputs
Integration with multiple location data input sources as well as third party applications.
Open Development Platform
MobileView is both an end user application and a development platform, with all the tools necessary for developers to create their own customized industry solutions.
Enterprise-Ready Features
Support for clustering and redundancy, a distributed architecture and capacity for tens of thousands of assets make MobileView ideal for large enterprise users.
Management of Assets and Locations
Easily populate and store intelligence about assets and physical locations, including categorization, icons, and named zones.