FAQ
Frequently asked questions.
Straight answers on hybrid RTLS, the Hybrid Tag 4.0, Pick-to-Light, Spatial AI, integration and cost.
Technology
What is hybrid RTLS?
A real-time location system that runs UWB and BLE through the same anchors and tags, on one platform and one map. Start with what you need today, then add zones, BLE assets or Pick-to-Light later, without re-cabling or a second system.
What is the difference between RTLS and RFID?
RFID tells you a tag passed a fixed reader. An RTLS follows assets and people live across the whole site, raises alerts on where they are, and lights up the tag you select (Pick-to-Light, on tags with an LED).
How accurate is Ubudu RTLS?
With UWB TDoA, under 50 cm in industrial or complex environments and under 20 cm in controlled ones. BLE gives a zone-level position, 2 to 5 m, and BLE angle-of-arrival anchors reach 0.5 to 2 m under high ceilings. To find one item, Precision Finding guides you to within about 10 cm through an iOS app.
How often is a tag position updated?
Up to ten times a second: the location engine computes positions every 100 ms. A moving UWB tag reports six to seven times a second, BLE about once a second, and a tag goes quiet when its asset stops. The rate is set per site.
UWB or BLE: which do I need?
UWB where a process needs a precise position: work orders at a workstation, anti-collision zones. BLE for zone-level presence across large, multi-floor buildings. Most sites use both, each where it pays. For outdoor or wide-area tracking, Ubudu offers compatible LoRaWAN and GPS trackers from partners.
The tag & hardware
How is the Hybrid Tag 4.0 different?
Every model (Mini, Slim, Round) runs three modes: BLE always on, UWB woken only when needed, and Precision Finding to walk straight to one asset. You choose the mode per use case, not a different device.
What is the tag battery life?
Up to 5 years on BLE, depending on the model. UWB and Pick-to-Light draw more power, so real battery life depends on the update rate and how much the asset moves.
Can it run on our existing network?
Yes. Gateways send data to the server over your Ethernet or over 4G, so the RTLS can share your network or stay off it.
Is it wireless and retrofit-friendly?
Largely. Hybrid anchors need power (PoE or DC) but sync their UWB timing wirelessly, and battery-powered BLE anchors need no cable at all.
Spatial AI
What is Spatial AI?
AI agents that work on your live location data. Ask the RTLS AI Assistant where things are, in plain language. The Flow, Safety and Asset agents watch for congestion, collision risks and idle equipment.
Is it just a chatbot?
No. Describe what you need and the agents build it: a rule (Rule Agent), a script (Script Agent) or a dashboard (Dashboard Copilot). Agents can also act, from an alert to a tag lighting up.
Which AI models does it use?
Your choice: a cloud model, or an open-weight model running on your own infrastructure.
Deployment & integration
Cloud or on-premise?
Both. On your own servers, or in Ubudu's GDPR-compliant cloud in Europe, with Asia-Pacific and North America hosting as options. Same architecture either way.
How fast can we deploy?
A first zone can be live in days. Larger sites are planned with our team, zone by zone.
How does it integrate with our systems?
Through an open REST API, a WebSocket feed, MQTT and webhooks: positions, zone events and alerts reach your MES, ERP or WMS. The Pairing Tool links each tag to the asset reference in your own software.
What standards and certifications?
Hybrid Tag 4.0 tags are CE certified, made in the EU, and built on IEEE 802.15.4z UWB and Bluetooth 5.4. The BLE wireless anchor is CE and FCC certified. Ask us for the certificate of a specific device.
Is our data secure?
Yes. Every API call needs an API key or a Keycloak token, and an access control server enforces role-based permissions as the OAuth2 provider. Data stays on the hosting you choose.
Buying & ROI
How much does it cost and how do we buy?
Two ways: off-the-shelf Plug & Play kits you self-install, and tailor-made deployments scoped with our team.
What is the typical ROI?
The return comes from less time spent searching and better use of equipment, typically within 6 months to 1.5 years.
On the benefits side, evaluate the time spent searching for assets and the productivity gains, and set those KPIs early so you can weigh them against your budget. On the cost side, account for investment costs (devices, anchors, installation, integration with your systems, and licences and servers for an on-premise deployment) and recurring costs (device maintenance, licence maintenance or SaaS fees, and support).
Your accuracy and update-rate requirements drive the architecture, the investment and the project's complexity, so size them before you buy.
Still have a question?
Tell us about your floor.
6,000+ deployments since 2011. Describe your use case and we'll size the right hybrid RTLS setup with you.