ZETAQLAB and BLUEUP collaborate to integrate RTLS solutions into lighting control systems
BlueUp Srl and ZETAQLAB SpA, young and dynamic Italian SMEs, announce the start of a collaboration aimed at developing solutions for asset tracking and indoor localization, integrated within lighting control systems.
The need to trace goods and people in working contexts (factories, warehouses, offices, hospitals) is growing exponentially, driven by the implementation of new methodologies and new operational approaches inspired by the Industry 4.0 paradigm. The purposes include the optimization of processes, the localization and automatic inventory of assets, the increase in personnel safety. One of the biggest obstacles to implementing Real-Time Locating Systems (RTLS) is infrastructure costs: antennas, cabling, design, and installation. The possibility of using existing infrastructures, such as lighting, which is always present in indoor environments, would make it possible to reduce most of the costs and speed up the process of adopting RTLS solutions in working environments.
For this reason, BlueUp and ZETAQLAB have decided to share know-how and experiences, to develop and bring to market innovative RTLS solutions, based on Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology, integrated in wireless lighting control systems.
Control devices, such as sensors and command keyboards, and the light points themselves can in fact become antennas capable of detecting the presence and estimating the position of BLE tags that are applied to assets or worn by people. In this way, the lighting control infrastructure also becomes a localization infrastructure, at no additional cost.
This allows the customer to obtain a double economic advantage: the reduction of energy consumption thanks to intelligent light management systems, and the real-time monitoring of internal processes thanks to the localization and tracking functions. The proposal will initially be focused on two specific markets, Smart Office and Healthcare, whose needs and characteristics reflect the state-of-the-art technology and solutions of both companies.
BlueUp Srl
BlueUp, an innovative SME founded in 2014, is the leader in Italy in Bluetooth Low Energy beacon and tag technology for the Internet of Things (IoT). Thanks to the intense research and development activity, together with strategic technological partnerships, it has managed to establish itself both on the Italian and international markets. BlueUp designs, develops and produces certified tags and beacons that support the main market standards: iBeacon, Eddystone, Quuppa (RTLS AoA), Wirepas (Mesh 2.4GHz). In addition to individual devices, BlueUp's offering includes identification, location, tracking and distributed monitoring systems for the manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, security and smart building markets.
ZETAQLAB SpA
Founded in 2014, the company specializes in digital management of light and in lighting control systems, in particular those based on wireless technologies. The skills possessed represent the convergence of the Lighting, Building Automation and IoT (Internet of Things) sectors. ZETAQLAB designs and manufactures hardware and software systems, providing customers with all related services, such as supervision via SaaS (Software as a Service), pre- and post-sales engineering and plant commissioning services. Since December 2021, ZETAQLAB is part of Starlight Group SpA.