Exploring BLE 5.1 and Ultra-Wideband (UWB) Technologies for Real-Time Location Systems

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Exploring BLE 5.1 and Ultra-Wideband (UWB) Technologies for Real-Time Location Systems

Posted on by Waed Os

Ultra-Wideband (UWB) vs Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) 5.1 for RTLS Systems in Healthcare

In the world of indoor tracking and positioning, advanced technologies are transforming the way healthcare organizations and enterprises optimize their operations. Two leading technologies in this space are Ultra-Wideband (UWB) and Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) 5.1.

Penguin Location Services, a leader in RTLS for healthcare, develops innovative real-time location systems that enhance asset tracking, patient flow, and staff safety. In this article, we compare UWB and BLE 5.1 for RTLS systems in healthcare, exploring how each impacts accuracy, coverage, power consumption, and ecosystem compatibility.

Understanding Ultra-Wideband (UWB)

UWB is a short-range wireless communication technology that uses low power levels across wide frequency bands. It provides highly accurate positioning, achieving sub-meter precision even in complex indoor spaces such as hospitals.

For healthcare tracking systems RTLS, UWB enables precise locationing of critical medical equipment, staff, and patients. Its resistance to interference and multipath effects makes it especially effective in busy hospital environments.

Exploring Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) 5.1

BLE 5.1 is an advanced evolution of Bluetooth designed for low power consumption and extended range. It uses techniques like Angle of Arrival (AoA) and Angle of Departure (AoD) to improve localization accuracy.

For RTLS healthcare applications, BLE 5.1 offers cost-effective, scalable solutions for tracking assets, monitoring staff movement, and improving patient flow. BLE’s range, ease of deployment, and integration with existing infrastructure make it highly suitable for large hospital systems.

Comparing UWB and BLE 5.1 for RTLS in Healthcare

Accuracy and Precision

  • UWB provides exceptional sub-meter accuracy, ideal for surgical instrument tracking or infant protection systems.

  • BLE 5.1 has also achieved near sub-meter accuracy, making it a competitive choice for most healthcare RTLS systems.

Range and Coverage

  • BLE 5.1 supports coverage up to 300 meters, making it effective for hospital-wide deployments.

  • UWB is limited to around 100 meters but excels in dense or interference-heavy areas.

Power Consumption

  • BLE 5.1 is extremely energy-efficient, supporting long battery life for wearables and IoT sensors used in healthcare.

  • UWB consumes more power, which can limit its practicality for battery-operated hospital tags.

Interoperability and Ecosystem

  • BLE 5.1 benefits from broad adoption and compatibility with existing Bluetooth infrastructure, reducing integration costs for RTLS healthcare systems.

  • UWB adoption is growing but still requires more specialized hardware.

Conclusion

Both UWB and BLE 5.1 bring strong advantages to RTLS for healthcare. While UWB offers unmatched accuracy, BLE 5.1 provides a balance of accuracy, cost-effectiveness, and ecosystem maturity—making it ideal for scalable healthcare tracking systems RTLS.

At Penguin Location Services, we deliver intelligent RTLS solutions that leverage BLE 5.1 today while ensuring a future-ready path toward UWB adoption. Our AI-powered algorithms ensure sub-meter accuracy and workflow optimization in hospitals and healthcare environments.

If you’re looking to enhance patient safety, staff efficiency, or asset utilization through RTLS systems in healthcare, contact us at [email protected] to learn more about our BLE-based development kits, products, and services.

Penguin Location Services signs its newest client in Saudi Arabia: King Abdullah Financial District Development & Management Company in partnership with Coverage Points

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Penguin location services signs its newest client in Saudi Arabia:
King Abdullah Financial District Development & Management Company (KAFD) in partnership with Coverage Points

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 10th May 2023 – In a signing ceremony held at KAFD, Saudi Arabia’s prime business and lifestyle destination, the King Abdullah Financial District Development and Management Company (KAFD DMC) formalized an agreement with Penguin location services for the development of a comprehensive indoor and outdoor navigation solution designed to improve the experience of the district’s tenants, residents and visitors.

Set in the heart of the Saudi capital Riyadh, KAFD is home to 1.6 million square meters of state-of-the-art office space, world-class venues and iconic luxury residences, designed to transform the way urban communities live, work, learn and play. A landmark development, KAFD is a key driver of Riyadh’s economic ambitions, and is owned and managed by the King Abdullah Financial District Development and Management Company (KAFD DMC).

With the new mapping solution, tenants, retail and hospitality businesses in the district will be able to apply indoor navigation for their employees and customers to facilitate the management and improvement of their experience. In this way, users’ experience of mobility within KAFD will be tailored to their individual needs. Visitors will therefore be able to select their path within KAFD to their end destination, find the best parking options, and choose from any of the mobility solutions available while residents can enjoy a home-to-office navigation experience that provides them with the most ecologically-friendly mode of travel.

“KAFD is a well-planned urban space that integrates public transport systems, but also encourages non-motorised transport through its network of skywalks and the provision of sustainable modes of transport, from scooters to an exclusive shuttle service,’ explained Gautam Sashittal, Chief Executive Officer of KAFD DMC. ‘Smart technology is integral to the district’s living experience and we are looking forward to the provision of a holistic navigation solution that will improve the quality of our services, and life at KAFD.”

“We are thrilled to be a part of this exciting project and look forward to working with the KAFD DMC team to enhance their smart city solutions. We are confident that our expertise and experience in the industry will enable us to deliver exceptional results for KAFD,” said Dr Mohammed Smadi, the CEO/CTO of Penguin location services. He added, “This milestone is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team.”

As part of the district’s innovative smart city solutions, KAFD will connect its virtual and physical worlds through a mobile app for guests, tenants and residents alike. The navigation solution will be available for all app users.
Penguin location services offers Smart Campus solutions, including maps, navigation, traceability, and environmental sensing to offer technology-enabled campus experiences. The KAFD Campus Wayfinding project is an example of the scale of Penguin’s commitment to Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 for digital transformation and the company’s investment in research and development for smart solutions.

ENDS

About KAFD
Situated in Riyadh, KAFD is an iconic business and lifestyle destination with state-of-the-art physical and digital infrastructure. The destination is owned and managed by King Abdullah Financial District Development and Management Company (KAFD DMC), which was established in 2018 and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Public Investment Fund (PIF), the sovereign wealth fund of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. KAFD’s 94 towers, designed by 25 world-leading architectural firms, have reshaped the skyline of Riyadh. The vibrant mixed-use district offers a range of experiences across its area of 1.6 million square meters and is the largest development globally to achieve LEED Platinum certification, the highest accreditation from USGBC (U.S. Green Building Council), which recognizes KAFD as a global leader in sustainability.
For further details about KAFD, please visit www.kafd.sa

Media Contact
Please address any enquiries to Suha Matar, Advisor, at [email protected] or via phone number: +966 11 814 0015

For more information, follow KAFD on:
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About Coverage Points
Coverage Points provides location-based data analytics, data-driven marketing, and consulting services. Coverage Points’ unique analytics platform gives rich insights about venues’ visitors. This insight can help monetize and optimize the guests’ Wi-Fi network and the venue space.
Learn more at www.coveragepoints.com

About Penguin location services
Penguin is a Smart Campus digital transformation solution provider. Our vision is to recreate living and working spaces through the digital transformation of processes and activities that touch staff, visitors and assets.
Learn more at www.penguinin.com, LinkedIn, or by reaching out at [email protected]