Lambda:4 | Technologies

Locating by high frequency radio waves

Localization by high frequency is not only done by the well-known radar from aviation. Maritime navigation dealt with the localization of vessels in distress very early on and a so-called Adcock direction finder was built for this application. The Adcock direction finder was conceived by the British inventor and physicist of the same name in 1919. These bearing systems consist of four antennas forming a square, which are usually installed around the ship’s mast. A small display indicates the direction from which the distress signal comes by means of an ellipse.

In the automotive field,  a navigation system is installed or fastened to the windscreen as portable equipment in many vehicles nowadays. The current position of the vehicle is determined via GPS – another  locating method  by means of high frequency radio.

The localization by high frequency radio waves is a long-standing technology  in the wide field of aviation and navigation. The application in complex environments, such as ashore, in cities and within buildings is still uncommon until now.

Radio engineering in the digital age

Due to the rapid advancement of radio engineering, today’s market offers low cost devices for most frequency ranges and applications. In the age of mobile phones, UMTS, WLAN, the radio mouse for the PC and the many RFID applications, different features are achieved:

• low price components
• energy-saving (long battery life or “passive “)
• highly integrated compact components with huge functionality
• high density administration of many participants, with mobile phones by protocols and digital communication
• different ranges depending upon the requirements

Radio engineering for economical localization even in complex environments

The technology of Lambda:4 is positioned here. We use and extend the existing knowledge of localization by high frequency radio waves employing components which are very efficient nowadays, but also inexpensive. The result is the development of completely new ranges of application for this technology.