Efficiently managing high-density parking — indoors or outdoors — is one of the most complex challenges today for car dealers and distributors, large fleet managers and parking managers. Vehicles crammed into tight spaces, no maneuvering aisles, long times to locate the right vehicle: everyday problems still often addressed with manual methods, such as paper notes or visual memorization, or with the use of the car key in the hope of intercepting an acoustic response from the vehicle when pressing the button. Today, thanks to the evolution of localization technologies, this reality can be radically transformed.

RTLS and Digital Twin: how parking management is changing

Real-time location systems (RTLS), based on IoT technologies, are radically transforming the way parking spaces are managed. By connecting physical objects — such as vehicles — to a digital network, these systems enable constant monitoring of their position, status and movements in real time. This translates into greater operational efficiency, reduced human errors and minimized waiting times.
In environments such as parking lots, even complex ones, a localization system allows operators to always know where each vehicle is, improving internal coordination, space management and the overall customer experience. Integration with RTLS solutions allows you to simulate, analyze and optimize operational flows in a predictive way, anticipating bottlenecks and supporting more effective planning.
In this context, BlueUp has developed MeshCube, a wireless and fully autonomous RTLS localization system, designed to simplify and digitize parking management. Thanks to a decentralized mesh network, battery power and ease of installation, MeshCube represents a concrete and scalable solution to bring the benefits of IoT and digital twin even in environments where traditional technologies are too complex, invasive or expensive.

MeshCube: simple, scalable, and ready-to-use wireless localization

MeshCube is the wireless localization platform developed by BlueUp to directly and effectively respond to the challenges related to the management of complex parking lots and high-density storage spaces. Unlike traditional RTLS systems, MeshCube does not require cabling, fixed infrastructure or external power: all devices are completely wireless and battery-powered, ensuring rapid, non-invasive installations and multi-year operating autonomy. The entire system can be put into operation in a few hours, without the need for building permits or structural interventions.

The network is based on Wirepas Mesh 2.4 GHz, a decentralized, self-organizing and highly resilient mesh protocol, perfect for dynamic and congested environments. The fixed anchors, which act as reference points for localization, can be easily installed on fences, posts, signage, walls or mobile supports, adapting flexibly to any spatial configuration.

The MeshCube system is composed of active tags applied to vehicles, anchors, i.e. fixed devices positioned in the coverage area that receive signals from the tags and provide stable reference points for the mesh system, a Gateway that connects the local network or Internet to the central software, and a software platform equipped with an intuitive web interface and the proprietary BlueUp Positioning Engine localization engine. The platform is available both on-premises and in the cloud, and is compatible with existing management systems thanks to open HTTP/MQTT APIs.

From an operational point of view, MeshCube ensures precise and continuous localization even indoors, with native scalability that allows the network to grow without reconfiguration. The low management costs, due to the long autonomy of the devices and the minimal maintenance required, complete an offer designed to be immediately usable, economically sustainable and highly customizable according to the specific needs of the context.

Why alternatives are no longer enough

Many existing systems for vehicle localization have structural limitations that reduce their effectiveness, especially in complex environments such as indoor or densely crowded parking lots.

• GPS is a technology adopted for localization on a geographic scale, and adaptable for the management of outdoor parking lots. However, it requires tags with a high unit cost, and equipped with long-range connectivity for the transfer of localization data. This entails additional costs related to data traffic (in the case of cellular connectivity) or hardware/software infrastructure (for example in the case of LoRaWAN connectivity). Furthermore, GPS localization cannot be used in the case of indoor parking lots, such as multi-storey car parks, preventing the use of a single infrastructure to cover the different contexts of use.
• The AoA (Angle of Arrival) technology allows for high positional precision, but implies an expensive infrastructure, especially in the case of outdoor parking lots where it is necessary to install antennas on very high poles, with consequent high infrastructure costs. Furthermore, parking lots are often temporary areas (used for short periods) or rented, so the cost of the infrastructure cannot be amortized over time.
• Ultra-Wide Band (UWB) provides performances similar to AoA in terms of precision, but it comes up against the same limitations related to reduced scalability and high infrastructure costs (among other things, the density of anchors is generally higher than AoA). Furthermore, the cost of UWB tags is still relatively high.
• Finally, RFID technology – although cheap – does not allow continuous localization: it can be used to detect the passage of vehicles at gates equipped with readers, but it is not able to ensure localization within the entire parking area.

In this scenario, Mesh 2.4 GHz technology used by MeshCube represents a flexible, scalable and economically sustainable solution. The decentralized mesh network allows to localize vehicles in real time even in critical environments, without the need for cabling or fixed infrastructures. All devices – tags, anchors – are battery powered and designed to last for years, dramatically reducing installation and management costs. For a parking lot, only one or a few gateways are needed, powered and connected to the data network.

Who is MeshCube for: actors and use cases

The effectiveness of a localization system like MeshCube is measured above all in its ability to respond to operational needs widespread in different sectors. The management of high-density parking is a concrete challenge for many operating entities, from dealerships to rental companies, to fleet managers and complex parking lots. Each of these players has specific needs related to the traceability and rapid retrieval of vehicles, which require reliable solutions that are easy to integrate into daily flows.
Car dealers and distributors, for example, must continuously monitor a large stock of vehicles, often distributed in large yards or storage areas with limited visibility. Knowing exactly where a vehicle is located allows them to speed up delivery, sales preparation, testing or periodic maintenance operations.
Managers of large fleets — such as rental companies, car sharing operators or companies active in urban logistics — need accurate and constantly updated control of the vehicle fleet, to reduce downtime, improve rotation and plan daily activities more efficiently.
Even public or private parking operators, especially in structurally complex contexts such as multi-storey car parks, intermodal hubs or airports, can benefit enormously from precise and immediate localization of each vehicle, thus offering a faster, more orderly and effective service.

Regardless of the sector they belong to, the common needs are clear and transversal:
⦁ Rapid localization of the correct vehicle
⦁ Real-time control of the stock
⦁ Reduction of times in the recovery and handling phases
⦁ Optimization of flows and reduction of operational errors
⦁ Continuous traceability, without depending on the presence of expert personnel
⦁ Improvement of the quality of the service

A new era for parking management

In an industry where efficiency, precision and speed are key factors, MeshCube represents a paradigm shift. Its completely wireless architecture, extreme ease of installation and ability to adapt to any configuration make this platform a one-of-a-kind solution.
MeshCube is not just a technical answer to the complexities of localization in high-density parking lots: it is a strategic tool to reduce costs, improve operating times and enable truly data-driven management of space and flows.
Whether it is a dealership, a shared fleet, a logistics hub or a large multi-storey car park, MeshCube offers robust, scalable and ready-to-use technology — transforming daily management into a simpler, smarter and more sustainable process.