Update Rate
The frequency at which RTLS reports new positions, measured in Hertz or updates per second. Common rates range from 0.1 Hz for slow-moving assets to 10+ Hz for dynamic applications. Higher rates provide smoother tracking but consume more battery power and system resources.
Update rate in industrial RTLS refers to the frequency at which a tag transmits positioning signals or the system calculates and reports new position information, typically measured in Hertz (Hz) or updates per second. Industrial RTLS update rates span a wide range depending on application requirements: 0.1-1 Hz (one update every 1-10 seconds) for slow-moving asset tracking where continuous monitoring unnecessary (stored inventory, parked equipment, stationary tools), 1-5 Hz for general asset tracking providing smooth visualization and adequate responsiveness for most operational monitoring (moving pallets, mobile equipment, personnel tracking), 5-10 Hz for dynamic applications requiring responsive tracking (active AGVs, forklifts in operation, material flow through production processes), and 10-40 Hz for safety-critical or high-speed applications (collision avoidance systems, proximity detection, fast-moving vehicles or equipment). A tag operating at 1 Hz might achieve 2-3 year battery life, while 10 Hz operation reduces life to 3-6 months. Motion-triggered update rate adjustment works through: tags incorporating accelerometers detecting motion, automatically increasing transmission rate when movement detected, reverting to low rate after period of stationary operation, and significantly extending battery life (tags stationary 80-90% of time in many industrial applications can achieve 3-5× battery life improvement). Sewio's RTLS supports flexible update rate configuration from 0.1 to 40 Hz, enabling customers to optimize the tradeoff between tracking responsiveness, battery life, and system capacity for their specific industrial applications, with typical deployments using 1-5 Hz for general tracking and 10-20 Hz for safety-critical applications requiring rapid response to position changes.