RTLS – Real-Time Locating System

RTLS forms the foundation for the powerful, automated and highly accurate OneBase®MFT Transport Control System. By continuously capturing positions, forklifts, cranes and - derived from that - materials become visible in real time and can be controlled precisely.

What is RTLS?

A Real-Time Locating System (RTLS) enables – alternatively to manually recorded material movements via scan – the automatic locating of material objects and vehicles within defined areas and continuously provides up-to-date position data. This is a key prerequisite for transparent and efficient intralogistics processes.

Through the continuous real-time tracking of forklift, crane, and material positions, RTLS forms the basis for:

automatic detection of material movements without barcode scanning
transparent and efficient intralogistics processes
meaningful analyses of movements, travel paths, and material flows
precise control of forklifts and cranes

RTLS is used in almost all ABF software products.

Forklift Guidance System

In the 3D Forklift Guidance System, the continuously determined forklift position is used for automatic detection of material movements - without barcode scanning.

Crane Guidance System

RTLS provides the basis for precise localization of the transport equipment in the Crane Guidance System.

Forklift Tracking

If only transparency is needed without active control, RTLS provides the foundation for pure forklift tracking.

Safety Cockpit

Via RTLS integration, the forklift’s current speed, direction and position can be used to calculate potential collisions - the basis for the warning functions of the Safety Cockpit in the Forklift Guidance System.

Highlight: Highly accurate forklift localization with 3D LiDAR

One example of ABF’s innovative strength is the integration of 3D LiDAR localization technology (from systemrocket) into the ABF Forklift Guidance System. This sets new standards in real-time localization: forklifts are localized in space with centimeter-level accuracy and integrated directly into the 3D Forklift Guidance System.

Based on a 3D point cloud, the position, movement and interaction of forklifts are captured with centimeter-level accuracy – in real time. This method enables precise environment detection and reliable position determination even in dynamic industrial environments. This turns an anonymously moving forklift into a transparent, controllable resource.

ABF is a pioneer in end-to-end 3D localization of industrial trucks—for maximum transparency over movements, routes and material flows.

Open interfaces: omlox & omlox v2

For maximum future-proofing, ABF relies on open standards. Via omlox—including current interfaces such as omlox v2—different RTLS technologies can be integrated flexibly.

The result is a seamless, scalable solution for transport equipment and material tracking—without vendor lock-in. Different locating technologies can be flexibly combined and integrated.