In the current era of rapid technological development, distribution centers, as key nodes in the logistics system, are actively seeking innovative technologies to enhance operational efficiency and management levels. UWB (Ultra Wide Band) technology, a wireless communication technology that uses nanosecond-to-microsecond non-sinusoidal narrow pulses to transmit data, is gradually becoming a powerful catalyst for the intelligent transformation of distribution centers due to its unique advantages.??
Overview of UWB Technology??
The history of UWB technology can be traced back to the 1940s, initially applied in military fields such as radar, positioning, and communication systems. With technological evolution and regulatory improvements, UWB technology was first approved by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission for civil communications in 2002, after which it began to gain prominence in civilian sectors.??
Its working principle is based on transmitting and receiving strictly controlled Gaussian single-cycle ultra-short pulses with precise pulse intervals. Unlike traditional communication technologies, UWB does not use sinusoidal carriers but instead relies on extremely short pulses for communication, resulting in an extremely wide signal bandwidth. The receiver directly converts the pulse sequence into a baseband signal through a first-stage front-end cross-correlator, eliminating the intermediate frequency stage and greatly reducing equipment complexity. Key technologies of UWB wireless systems include pulse signal generation, modulation, antenna design, and receiver design. For example, generating nanosecond-level pulse signal sources is fundamental to UWB technology, achievable through photoelectric or electronic methods. The photoelectric method holds broad prospects, while the electronic method is widely used but has certain precision limitations. In terms of modulation, techniques such as Pulse Amplitude Modulation (PAM) and Pulse Position Modulation (PPM) are suitable for UWB to achieve information transmission.??
Advantages of UWB Technology??
High-Precision Positioning??
UWB technology provides centimeter-level positioning accuracy, a significant advantage distinguishing it from traditional positioning technologies like GPS and Bluetooth. In the complex indoor environment of distribution centers, GPS signals are easily blocked and weakened or lost, while Bluetooth positioning accuracy is relatively low. UWB technology can precisely determine the locations of personnel, vehicles, and goods. For instance, after deploying a UWB positioning system in a large logistics distribution center, the positioning accuracy for forklifts can reach within 10 centimeters, effectively avoiding collision risks in narrow aisles and significantly improving the accuracy and efficiency of cargo handling.??
Strong Anti-Interference Capability??
UWB uses time-hopping spread-spectrum signals with high system processing gain. During transmission, weak radio pulse signals are dispersed across a wide frequency band, with output power even lower than the noise generated by ordinary devices, and the signal energy is restored during reception. This allows UWB to maintain stable communication and positioning in complex electromagnetic environments—such as when numerous electronic devices operate simultaneously in distribution centers—without being easily interfered with by other wireless signals like Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, ensuring system reliability and stability.??
Low System Complexity??
UWB technology eliminates the intermediate frequency stage in traditional communication devices, simplifying equipment structure. Meanwhile, its signal processing is relatively simple, requiring no complex carrier modulation or demodulation processes, reducing both hardware costs and software development complexity. For distribution centers, this translates to lower system construction and maintenance costs, as well as more convenient system deployment and upgrades.??
Strong Signal Penetration??
UWB signals can effectively penetrate obstacles such as walls and shelves, enabling positioning and communication with occluded objects. In a distribution center warehouse stacked with goods, UWB technology can accurately sense the positions of personnel or equipment behind obstacles, even when line of sight is blocked, avoiding management blind spots caused by visual obstructions and improving space utilization and management comprehensiveness.??
Application Scenarios of UWB Technology in Distribution Centers??
Personnel Management??
Efficient scheduling and management of personnel are critical in distribution centers. By equipping employees with UWB positioning tags, managers can real-time monitor staff locations and work statuses on a monitoring platform. For example, during cargo sorting, the system can quickly locate the sorter closest to the target goods, allocate tasks reasonably, reduce waiting time, and improve sorting efficiency. Additionally, the system can promptly issue alarms for personnel entering dangerous or restricted areas, ensuring safety. Furthermore, UWB positioning data can be used to statistically analyze employee work hours, activity trajectories, etc., providing data support for performance evaluation and workflow optimization.??
Vehicle and Equipment Scheduling??
Distribution centers house numerous vehicles and equipment such as forklifts and AGVs (Automated Guided Vehicles). Rational scheduling of these assets is essential for improving logistics efficiency. UWB technology enables real-time positioning and trajectory tracking of vehicles. Based on vehicle locations and task requirements, an intelligent scheduling system can optimize travel routes, avoid congestion and collisions, and enhance operational efficiency. For instance, during cargo handling, the system can plan the optimal transportation route based on forklift positions and cargo storage locations, reducing travel distance and time and improving overall handling efficiency. Meanwhile, by setting safe inter-vehicle distances, the UWB positioning system can issue timely warnings when vehicles approach too closely, preventing collisions.??
Cargo Tracking and Inventory Management??
UWB technology can be used for cargo tracking and inventory management to achieve end-to-end monitoring from goods receipt to shipment. Upon inbound, UWB tags are bound to goods, recording item information and transmitting real-time location signals. The warehouse management system can always know the whereabouts of goods by receiving tag signals, enabling quick item retrieval and improving inbound/outbound efficiency. In inventory counting, the UWB positioning system can automatically identify item locations and quantities, comparing data in real time with the inventory management system to promptly detect discrepancies, ensure data accuracy, and reduce manual counting workload and errors. For example, after adopting a UWB cargo tracking system, one distribution center reduced inventory counting time from two days to half a day per week, while increasing inventory accuracy from 85% to 98%.??
Intelligent Warehouse Layout Optimization??
Leveraging UWB’s precise positioning data on personnel, vehicles, and goods, distribution centers can optimize warehouse layouts. By analyzing data on frequent activity zones of personnel/vehicles and cargo access frequencies, shelf layouts and storage locations can be rationally adjusted. High-turnover goods can be placed near entrances/exits or easily accessible areas to reduce travel distances for personnel and vehicles, improving warehouse space utilization and logistics efficiency. Additionally, feedback from positioning data can optimize aisle widths, work area divisions, and other factors to enhance overall operational performance.
