A Quantum RTLS system has four core components that work together to create a real-time 3D positioning network: 

• Anchors: Fixed reference devices installed anywhere positioning is required. Anchors detect ultrasonic signals from Mobiles and can be daisy-chained using Power over Ethernet for flexible deployment. 

• Mobiles: Compact tracking devices attached to the people, tools, parts, vehicles, or assets you want to locate. Mobiles emit ultrasonic signals that are detected by Anchors to calculate precise 3D position. 

• Gateways: Network devices that coordinate communication between the positioning hardware and the software platform. 
• Edge Compute Device (ECD): The local compute unit that runs the positioning network, hosts the Spatial Intelligence Platform and API, and makes location data available on-premise or through cloud-connected systems.
  
  

Together, Anchors, Mobiles, Gateways, and the Edge Compute Device (ECD) create the spatial data layer that powers ZeroKey’s Smart Manufacturing solutions. 

Most manufacturing teams begin by purchasing a Quantum RTLS Starter Kit. It includes the core infrastructure needed to digitize a first workstation, process area, dojo, lab, or production cell. From there, you can validate your first use case, prove ROI, and scale by adding anchors and mobiles as needed. 

A Starter Kit can be deployed for evaluation in as little as a day. A typical rollout starts with a focused evaluation in month one, scales to a production cell or line over the next few months, and expands facility-wide as use cases and ROI are validated. Exact timelines depend on the size of the area, number of tracked objects, integration requirements, and production constraints. 

No. Quantum RTLS includes configurable software for building zones, workflows, triggers, dashboards, alerts, and process logic without custom development. Teams can start with ZeroKey’s own tools, then integrate with existing systems through the API when they are ready. 

Yes. A Quantum RTLS deployment can run inside your facility or private infrastructure. The Edge Compute Device hosts the software platform and API locally, giving teams direct access to positioning data without requiring cloud connectivity. Cloud or hybrid architectures can also be supported depending on the customer’s IT and data strategy. 

No. Quantum RTLS can create value whether your current process runs on paper, Excel, tablets, MES, ERP, PLCs, or a fully connected smart factory stack. Teams can use Quantum RTLS to digitize manual processes from scratch or feed high-fidelity spatial data into advanced industrial systems. 

Vision systems depend on line of sight, lighting, camera placement, and clear views of the work area. Legacy RTLS (such as Ultra-wide Band, Bluetooth, and WiFi) are typically too coarse for workstation-level process validation. Quantum RTLS provides 1.5 mm accurate 3D positioning, enabling applications like torque location validation, tool-tip projection, manual step verification, and precise time-and-motion capture. 

Many manufacturing errors happen at the scale of hands, tools, bins, fasteners, and work zones. Coarse location data may tell you someone is near a station, but it cannot reliably confirm which bolt was tightened, which bin was picked, or whether the correct action occurred. 1.5 mm accuracy enables Quantum RTLS to validate real process steps, not just approximate presence. 

ZeroKey provides open APIs and event streams that can connect spatial data to MES, ERP, PLC, SCADA, BI, analytics, digital work instruction, and automation systems. Position updates, zone events, workflow completions, tool interactions, and process data can be sent to the systems that already run your operation.