Scope and Purpose

Tracking of assets in an industrial setting has been the focus of ISA100 Working Group 21 which, at the request of end users on ISA100, has compiled information pertaining to various types of RF technologies that could be considered for industrial deployment. This is a different operational matter than the supply chain management aspects of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID). What was originally associated with the RFID world has evolved into the more aptly named Real Time Location System, RTLS. While RFID could essentially be thought of as a database management system with readers that could inform the database as to which reader last observed the tagged asset, RTLS brings the tracking of devices into the realm of where an asset is right now. There are a wide range of wireless technologies that may be used to provide industrial RTLS functionality. As with most things wireless, there are certain technologies and techniques that are more developmental than others, with "new" advances popping onto the scene seemingly monthly.

This technical report presents a number of technologies that, as of the date of this document, are under consideration for deployment and utilization in industrial settings. In many instances, the technology was meant for a different environment – not the "canyons of metal," variable attenuation, potentially multipath-laden environment of industrial settings. Not every specific detail of every candidate technology is reviewed, just a few that various end users such as those in petrochemical (on-shore/off-shore), pharmaceutical manufacturing, power systems (generation and distribution), and pulp and paper processing have inquired about.

While not inclusive of every possible asset tracking technology, those included are based on technical report contributions over an 18-month period.