EmbTrack: A Wearable IEEE 802.15.4 Tracking System for Logistics

The authors present an innovative wireless embedded system for logistic applications: it is a prototype of a portable appliance to manage operations in production activity. The system is based on a wearable device which is able to read products codes and allows the system to guide users through the different phases of warehouse´s everyday life; by means of wireless IEEE 802.15.4 standard - on the ISM 2.4 GHz band - the system can transfer data, service and control messages and commands to and from its coupled management server. Moreover by an ad-hoc procedure based on a weighted minimum mean square error (W-MMSE) localization algorithm, the system is able to localize users within a typical logistic scenario. The system is addressed to retail markets, pharmacies, porterage and logistic activities thus allowing the user to work more efficiently and employing mobile a more ergonomic terminal: from intensive picking to packing, from load of goods from lines to lists and warehouse checks.