VIPS

Our advanced Indoor Positioning System, VIPS, uses the latest Ultra-Wideband technology to measure real-time, dynamic 3D position, speed and attitude (pitch/roll/yaw) to an accuracy of ±2 cm indoors.

With applications ranging from automotive testing to camera tracking for virtual productions, VIPS is as flexible as it is capable.

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Why VIPS?

What can VIPS be used for?

The flexibility of VIPS makes it suitable for any application that requires accurate measurement and recording of 3D positioning in sectors including construction, mining and motion capture. VIPS is also compatible with steering robots, offering highly accurate path following and repeatability for autonomous guidance applications.

Autonomous Guidance

Automotive

Virtual Production & Motion Capture

Mining & Tunnels

Construction

Logistics and Material Handling

VIPS is ideal for integration in to existing technologies and product ranges.
We are always keen to hear from engineers, integrators and technical partners to explore new applications and collaborations.

VIPS is a highly effective indoor positioning solution, offering centimetre-level accuracy in locations where GNSS or optical systems cannot be used. Its 100 Hz update rate makes it ideal for dynamic measurements ranging from fine, precise movements to high-speed motion at up to 270 km/h.

Based on ultra-wideband technology, VIPS can maintain accuracy with minimal positional drift in the most challenging of environments. In addition to being a capable standalone solution, VIPS is also highly flexible and is simple to integrate with additional technologies. VIPS offers seamless transition from GNSS (outdoors) to VIPS (indoors), and vice versa, with reacquisition and full accuracy established in less than 0.2 seconds.

For VR and motion tracking, VIPS can be used as an alternative to optical tracking systems, maintaining the same quality position in all environments, even where the line of sight is frequently obscured.

Why VIPS?

Do you need to measure, track and record the position, speed or attitude of a moving object in areas where your existing solution is not capable or reliable enough, or simply not available?

Do you have a GNSS based product or technology that would benefit from an indoor extension capability?

Are you looking to seamlessly combine indoor and outdoor positioning?

Do you need an alternative to optical tracking systems, e. g. to be able to place them behind a green/blue screen?

Does your positioning/ tracking solution struggle to maintain lock or result in high levels of drift when used in challenging environments?

Do you need an indoor positioning system that is easy to install and can be transferred between locations?

How does VIPS work?

VIPS works by utilising a network of stand-alone, battery powered beacons which communicate using ultra-wideband (UWB).

The beacons are placed around the perimeter of the operation area (e.g. floor plan of a building or perimeter of a film stage), in known positions which have been manually surveyed using a handheld laser, Total Station or, if time is of the essence, a self-survey can also be performed. The accuracy of the known beacon positions directly correlates to the accuracy of the output measurement, allowing for flexibility in required accuracy verses set up time.

The beacons are completely stand-alone, and the option of battery power makes deployment very rapid. A UWB receiver on the target object communicates with the beacons and uses trilateration to determine its position. This data is combined with the measurements from a highly accurate inertial measurement system, proving real-time, 3D position to within 2 cm.

This industry-leading accuracy is a result of our custom hardware, software and calibration routines. Additionally, the beacons are temperature calibrated to ensure accuracy in all conditions, from -30 °C to +60 °C.

Key Features

High Accuracy

VIPS delivers ±2 cm accuracy indoors, which is equivalent to GNSS with RTK corrections.

Dynamic Measurement

VIPS measures velocity and attitude (pitch, roll and yaw), in addition to positioning. With an update rate of 100 Hz, the ±2 cm accuracy can be maintained at speeds of up to 270 km/h.

Seemless Indoor/Outdoor Transition

Transfer seamlessly from outdoor GNSS to indoor VIPS and vice-versa. VIPS can also achieve reacquisition and full accuracy in less than 0.2 seconds.

Data Recording

Connecting to a datalogger (eg. VBOX 3i) enables recording of VIPS data via Serial or CAN.

Portable

The VIPS beacons are small and lightweight which makes the whole system easy to transfer between locations and quick to change set up configurations within a test or usage environment.

Easy Installation

VIPS is easy to install with flexibility to prioritise set up time over accuracy. The self-survey option enables a basic VIPS system to be set up within 30 minutes with an impressive ±5 cm accuracy. To achieve the optimal ±2 cm accuracy the system can be installed using a total station to survey the exact beacon locations.

Low Power

VIPS beacons can be powered by 12 V batteries for temporary installations. Alternatively, the beacons can be hard-wired into any power network for longer-term installations.

Versatile

VIPS has been designed in-house by RACELOGIC engineers allowing for bespoke adaptations and making it an ideal solution for integration in to existing technologies. We are always keen to hear from engineers, integrators and technical partners to explore new applications and collaborations.

Which VIPS solution is right for me?

VIPS comes in several shapes and sizes to cater for different applications and use scenarios. A VIPS system consists of one rover, and several beacons mounted inside the location. The number of beacons required to sufficiently cover your location depends on the size and architecture of the location. A minimum of 4 beacons is needed at all times, but 6 or more beacons gives the best accuracy.

VIPS

Suitable for any industry

VIPS consists of a rover (13 x 7.5 cm) which is placed on the target object and a minimum of 8 beacons placed up to 40 m apart around the perimeter of a building, tunnel or hall. The rover communicates with be beacons to calculate its position, proving real-time, 3D position to within 2 cm.

VIPS Mini

For broadcast TV, live events & virtual production

VIPS Mini consists of a small rover (7 x 4 cm) placed on the camera and connected to the VIPS/ FIZ Processing Unit from which data is sent to the render engine. The system uses a minimum of 8 beacons placed around the stage to calculate its position and an internal inertial measurement unit to calculate pan, tilt, and roll. Adding additional beacons makes the system highly scalable. VIPS is also capable of integrating FIZ data to provide a complete data set to the render engine.

What else do I need to know about VIPS (FAQs)?

How much does it cost?

The cost will depend on the number of beacons you require to sufficiently cover your location. Please provide as much detail as possible regarding the location where you will install VIPS when asking for a quote, and we will come back to you with a specific solution.

How many beacons would I need?

The target object needs to see a minimum of 8 beacons at all times, but more beacons give the best accuracy.

Beacon spacing depends on the geometry of the test area. If the area is narrow, then a beacon should be placed every 25-30 m. If the area is wider, the beacons can be spaced up to 40 m apart.

What size area can the system cover?

The maximum distance between beacons is 25-50 m, and up to 250 beacons can be used on one site.

Can the system be installed permanently?

Yes, we can advise you on how to fit a system to your own building/test track/tunnel etc.

Can it use GPS when available?

Yes, the system can incorporate a GPS RTK engine and will seamlessly swap to the most accurate system available at the time.

Is it compatible with steering robots?

Yes, it is compatible with steering robots, offering highly accurate path following and repeatability. We used the self-survey method to set up the system for this video, which took 2 people just 30 minutes to install, with no accurate measuring tools necessary.

How many target objects can use the system?

VIPS can track up to 5 vehicles/ objects at the same time.

How accurate are the measurements?

If the beacons are surveyed using a Total Station, the positional accuracy is < 2 cm. If the self-survey mode is used (seeding the system with rough positions to within 5 m), the positional accuracy is 5-10 cm. The speed is accurate to within ±0.1 km/h, the pitch/roll ±0.1° and yaw ±0.5°.

Is the position and speed calculated on the target object?

Yes, the receiver includes a powerful processor which provides real-time information to the VBOX.

Can I use the system to bridge gaps in satellite coverage outside?

Yes, VIPS can also be used outside as an alternative to GNSS, in areas with limited or no satellite signal.

Note that you would require a minimum of 8 beacons to cover any area, and the beacons require a power connection or battery supply.

What makes VIPS superior to GPS, is that it can acquire lock and achieve full accuracy in less than 0.2 s, so there is virtually no delay waiting for the system to lock onto the beacons.

What is the VIPS Technical Specification?

Update rate:

Up to 100 Hz
Speed accuracy:

±0.1 km/h
Position accuracy:

±2 cm
Latency:

50 ms
Max. speed :

270 km/h
Communication:

RS232, CAN, WiFi

UWB frequency bands:

2 (user-selectable)
UWB centre frequency:

3993.6 / 6489.6 MHz
UWB bandwidth:

1331.2 MHz / 1081.6 MHz
UWB transmit power:

-41.3 dBm/MHz
Time to first fix:

< 0.2 s
Power requirements:

7 - 30 V DC, 100 mA
Operating temperature:

-30°C to +60°C

Distance between beacons:

25-40 m (depending on power level)
Max. number of receivers:

2 (per band)
Min. number of beacons:

8
Max. number of beacons:

250
IP Rating:

IP67
Size (standard beacon):

124 mm (D), 74.5 mm (H)
Weight:

350 g

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