Introduction

AdvanTrack-500 is an RFID-based system that provides inventory in real time of all tagged items located in a given space. Examples of such spaces are retail stores, small to medium warehouses, hospital areas, etc.

AdvanTrack-500 uses overhead antenna+reader systems that scan the area below them identifying the RFID tags.

AdvanTrack 500 configuration is based on cells where each cell comprises five antennas connected to a reader.

Each cell covers an area between 40 m2 and 80 m2 depending on the tag density. The antennas have circular polarization, which makes the read rate less dependent on the orientation of the tags versus the antennas.

By providing real-time inventory, AdvanTrack-500 allows retailers to increase on-shelf availability, sales and customer satisfaction as well as reduce time and workload of inventory cycle counts. This may lead to more satisfied customers and more productive employees.

Getting Started

Installing AdvanTrack-500

AdvanTrack-500 configuration is based on eight antennas connected to a reader:

Getting Started

Helpful downloads:

• Download Datasheet

Requirements:

• A valid AdvanCloud License per cell

• AdvanTrack-500 requires a controller PC (NUC-like). Note one Controller PC can control several cells.

  • Windows 10+

  • 8 GB RAM

  • 256 GB ROM

  • Quad-core Intel i3 or better

• Internet connection at the Controller PC

• An fixed IP for the controller PC. Can be a static IP or a dynamically assigned by the router taking always the same IP is granted.

• Power plug at the RFID reader side.

1. AdvanTrack cell planning

A cell is the minimum operational unit for AdvanTrack-500, it composed by:

• 1 x multistatic RFID reader

• 1 x central element with 4 x RFID antennas

• 4 x corner elements with 1 x RFID antenna each

The area a cell can cover is highly related to tag density, normal cells can cover a square area of 7 x 7 meters up to 9 x 9 meters.

Very high dense areas may require even smaller cells.

Cell planning is the process to define:

1. The number of cells required to cover a certain area

2. The position of the elements in each cell.

There are several factors involved in this procedure:

• Geometry of the area to be covered

• Tag density

• Physical access to ceiling/walls for the elements installation.

Keonn field engineers take care of the cell planning in accordance to each project requirements.

What follows is an example of cell planning

Antennas marked as S are shared between different cells, in such cases two approaches are possible:

1. Use one central antenna, and use 2 or more of the available antennas.

2. Mount two or more corner antennas.

Both are completely equivalent in terms of operation, being easy of installation the main driving factor.

2. AdvanTrack installation

2.1 Antenna elements

Antenna elements must be mounted according to cell planning. Antenna elements are provided with a Ball Joint Bracket for easy mounting.

• Central antenna must be ceiling mounted

• Corner antennas can be ceiling or wall mounted.

Check in the Downloads area for the detailed drawings of the antenna elements with the Ball Joint Bracket.

What follows is the orientation diagram for one cell installation.

Installation requirements:

• When mounting the central antenna element:

  • Make sure the antennas face the cell laterals, not the corners.

  • Make sure the element is not tilted

• When mounting the corner antenna elements:

  • Make sure the antenna faces the centre of the cell, where the central element is.

The antenna support itself will make the antenna is facing 45º towards the floor, regardless of the installation method.

2.2 Multistatic RFID Reader

The position of the reader it's not important from the operation point of view.

The recommended position is shown in the diagram below

Other recommendations for positioning the RFID reader:

• Easy access to the reader

• Minimise RF cable length, do not place the reader far away from it cell.

Connect RFID Reader with antenna elements following the numbering depicted in the diagram.

• RFID reader port 1 --> connects to antenna element marked as 1

• RFID reader port 2 --> connects to antenna element marked as 2

• ...

• RFID reader port 8 --> connects to antenna element marked as 8

3. AdvanTrack Configuration

2.1 Controller PC

Either Keonn will supply the HW along with all the required SW components, or Keonn will assist installing the SW components needed.

Basically this unit serves three purposes:

1. It orchestrates the operation of the AdvanTrack-500 cells. This include RFID low-lebel settings and cell synchronisation.

2. It receives data from the RFID Reader

3. It processes and sends data to AdvanCloud.

This is done with two SW components:

1. Keonn's SCloud, which is the keonn's AdvanCloud agent

2. AdvanTrack-500 message server, this is a Windows Service

2.2 RFID Reader

The RFID reader must be configure to use the message broker serving from the Controller PC.

TODO captures

2.3 SCloud

Before defining and activating the AdvanTrack-500 in AdvanCloud, SCloud main screen will look like.

TODO image SCloud windows

TODO configure SCloud for start automatically

TODO use ID to define AdvanCloud settings

2.4 AdvanCloud configuration

In case the device is not activated, and before configuring it, you need to have:

• A working AdvanCloud environment

• A valid AdvanCloud License for the device

In case of doubts or problems contact your Service Manager.

What follows is an example of AdvanTrack-500 configuration.

The Server configuration will be created by Keonn.

Is the configuration for:

• Synchronising the different cells

• Configuring the low level RFID parameters for the RFID readers in the cells

• Configuring the post-processing of the inventoried data

• Configuring of the upload options of the data to AdvanCloud. That includes the time period, the Area where stock will be uploaded, etc.

Once AdvanCloud is configured, SCloud must be restarted.

TODO capture SCloud host and save

Operation

ADTR-500 will periodically upload inventories. What follows is a capture of inventories uploaded by ADTR-500

TODO capture of inventories

Troubleshooting

RFID Reader

Ranger UI is an utility that allows using the ADTR-500 directly from the Controller PC

TODO captures Ranger UI

AdvanCloud configuration

Due to the complexity of managing ADTR-500, the related AdvanCloud configuration is also complex and may be sometimes error prone.

In case you are not getting data in the Cloud or the data quality is not as expected, please contact support@keonn.com

Downloads

Download datasheet from here.

Access drawings below.