NXP has released a standards-based starter kit to facilitate the adoption of Real-Time Location Systems (RTLS) in industrial settings. This is an attempt to streamline the process from pilot testing to actual facility expansion by bundling ultra-wideband (UWB)-based positioning hardware, software, and data analysis layers into a single package.

NXP announced on the 27th that it has released the 'Omrox Starter Kit,' developed in collaboration with Synchronic IT and Flogate. This product was introduced as an integrated solution capable of rapidly evaluating and deploying RTLS compliant with the Omrox standard.

The core of this kit is NXP's new UWB chip 'Trimension SR048' and wireless MCU 'MCX W72'. It combines Synchronic IT's UWB tag and anchor, a real-time location tracking engine, and Flogate's middleware 'DeepHub'. It is a structure that goes beyond simply displaying location data collected on-site and connects it to operational information such as asset movement management, robot position control, worker safety zone management, workflow optimization, and indoor navigation.

Behind this lies the growing demand for industrial RTLS. While the UWB-based RTLS deployment market is expected to continue growing over the next few years, concerns regarding disparate technological approaches and potential vendor lock-in have slowed the pace of adoption. NXP believes that Ohmrox’s open standards can mitigate these issues.

According to NXP, the Trimension SR048 supports various UWB distance measurement methods, including TDoA, RToF, and DL-TDoA, and can be applied to battery-based tags thanks to its low-power architecture. Additionally, it is designed to operate in temperatures ranging from -40°C to +115°C, targeting industrial environments such as factories and logistics facilities. NXP anticipates that this chip will serve as the foundation for the future development of UWB-enabled anchors, tags, and industrial devices.

This product places greater emphasis on expanding the standards-based ecosystem than on simply supplying components. Synchronic IT’s positioning engine is provided as part of the Omlox Core Zone V2.1 software stack, and the kit supports standard UWB profiles such as Omlox Air 8. It also outlines a direction for integration with FiRa-based mobile navigation. This signifies an intention to transition RTLS from an individual device-centric approach to a standards-based platform, creating a structure that allows for operation alongside equipment from other vendors even after initial deployment. Pre-orders for this starter kit are currently being accepted.