Indoor Positioning System Based on Bluetooth Low Energy Technology and a Nature-Inspired Optimization Algorithm

Warehousing is one of the most important activities in the supply chain, enabling competitive advantage. Effective management of warehousing processes is, therefore, crucial for achieving minimal costs, maximum efficiency, and overall customer satisfaction. Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) are the...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inElectronics (Basel) Vol. 11; no. 3; p. 308
Main Authors Bencak, Primož, Hercog, Darko, Lerher, Tone
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Basel MDPI AG 01.02.2022
Subjects
Accuracy
Algorithms
Bluetooth
Calibration
COVID-19
Customer satisfaction
Data acquisition
Electronic devices
Energy technology
Localization
Logistics
Management systems
Optimization
Optimization algorithms
Radio frequency identification
Supply chains
Tracking devices
Transmitters
Warehouses
Warehousing management
Wireless access points
Workstations
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Summary:Warehousing is one of the most important activities in the supply chain, enabling competitive advantage. Effective management of warehousing processes is, therefore, crucial for achieving minimal costs, maximum efficiency, and overall customer satisfaction. Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) are the first steps towards organizing these processes; however, due to the human factor involved, information on products, vehicles and workers may be missing, corrupt, or misleading. In this paper, a cost-effective Indoor Positioning System (IPS) based on Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology is presented for use in Intralogistics that works automatically, and therefore minimizes the possibility of acquiring incorrect data. The proposed IPS solution is intended to be used for supervising order-picker movements, movement of packages between workstations, and tracking other mobile devices in a manually operated warehouse. Only data that are accurate, reliable and represent the actual state of the system, are useful for detailed material flow analysis and optimization in Intralogistics. Using the developed solution, IPS technology is leveraged to enhance the manually operated warehouse operational efficiency in Intralogistics. Due to the hardware independence, the developed software solution can be used with virtually any BLE supported beacons and receivers. The results of IPS testing in laboratory/office settings show that up to 98% of passings are detected successfully with time delays between approach and detection of less than 0.5 s.
ISSN:2079-9292
2079-9292
DOI:10.3390/electronics11030308