Localization in hospital environments is a complex challenge that requires an accurate, stable, and adaptable solution. Traditionally, the limitations of localization techniques, especially in demanding environments such as healthcare, have been assumed to be limited. However, in recent years, Angle of Arrival (AoA) technology has emerged as a promising solution to address these challenges.
The choice of incorporating Angle of Arrival in the MYSPHERA solutions
MYSPHERA’s vast experience and solid background in real-time location in healthcare environments allowed us to analyze the various RTLS technologies available, as well as their characteristics and limitations. Of these, BLE RSSI stood out as the most suitable, given its particularities and the specific needs of the hospital environment.
However, the technology is constantly evolving and new options are emerging that improve on what already exists. In this sense, Angle of Arrival technology is presented as an innovation that allows us to add functionalities, overcoming certain limitations and offering improvements in terms of accuracy at bed level, susceptibility to interference, and ability to overcome the attenuations of physical objects.
Specific advantages of AoA offered in MYSPHERA solutions
The integration of Angle of Arrival into MYSPHERA solutions marks a turning point in the way localization is approached in hospital environments:
▪️ Bed-level accuracy: AoA excels in its ability to deliver exceptionally accurate results at the bed level. This essential attribute directly addresses the critical need in hospital environments, where the accurate location of assets, medical staff, and patients is essential for effective resource allocation and efficient management of hospital assets.
▪️ Optimization of hospital processes: AoA enables more efficient allocation of resources, reducing response times and improving coordination of medical staff. From asset logistics to patient flow management, AoA redefines how hospital operations are run and coordinated, significantly improving operational efficiency and quality of care.
▪️ Adaptability to hospital environments: Angle of Arrival stands out for its resilience to interference and its ability to bypass attenuations caused by physical obstacles. These features translate into a robust and reliable paging system in complex hospital environments.
MYSPHERA’s hybrid approach: RSSI + Angle of Arrival
MYSPHERA takes a strategic step by adopting a hybrid approach that combines conventional techniques, such as RSSI, with the innovative Angle of Arrival. This unique approach capitalizes on the strengths of both techniques to optimize location system accuracy and stability in hospital environments.
🔹 Interference and obstacle mitigation: RSSI, which measures signal strength, can be susceptible to interference. However, Angle of Arrival, which measures the angle of arrival, offers greater resistance to such interference.
In addition to saturation interference, which can be handled by changing the transmission channel, another important factor to consider is signal attenuation due to obstacles. This can include personnel, objects, and the location of the transmitting device next to materials or textures that are not conducive to optimal radiation. Although this point is not specifically mentioned in the document, it is a crucial aspect to ensure effective signal transmission.
The synergy between the two technologies ensures accurate localization and robust signal transmission, which is essential for the efficient operation of hospital environments.
🔹 Improved reliability: The combination of RSSI and Angle of Arrival not only addresses accuracy but also improves system reliability. AoA, by providing detailed information on the angle of arrival of the signal, complements the distance information provided by RSSI. This results in increased reliability in location identification, reducing potential errors and optimizing operational efficiency.
🔹Dynamic adaptability: The hybrid approach enables dynamic adaptability to different scenarios. In less complex environments, where RSSI might be sufficient, the system can be adjusted to optimize efficiency. In situations requiring exceptional accuracy, especially at the bed level, the Angle of Arrival comes into play to provide precise details. This dynamic adaptability ensures optimal performance in a variety of hospital conditions
How do we apply our RTLS technology? Through real-time localization we have developed two solutions focused on process orchestration and automation:
