This project was conceived and developed to incorporate low-cost, off-the-shelf, S-band radio transceivers with smart detection software to implement a practical indoor position tracking system. This complete, high level electrical and computer engineering design project utilizes the ultra high frequency radio's mesh networking capabilities to actively track the relative position of designated tag modules. This system is capable of tracking the approximate location of guest and/or personal within a facility containing classified/secret room locations based on relative signal strength. The system will automatically notify authorized personal when a security breach event takes place. This happens by predefining specific room locations as secure, and distinguishing tag modules as authorized security tags and unauthorized guest tags.

    A graphical user interface, developed in C#, is used to display the position of both security and guest tags against a custom map representing the layout of the area under observation. The point of observation requires a computer system with a serial connection to a bridge node. The bridge node will send and receive serial data to the network, connecting the network to the observation point. The guest tags are capable of identifying their location within the facility and sending that information out to an LCD screen for the user to observe. The guest tags are also capable of alerting authorized personal to an emergency event by forwarding its location to the security tag and setting-off a short burst through a simple piezo buzzer. The locations of the security breach and emergency distress call will be viewable on an LCD display on each security tag module as well as the observation terminal. For added convenience, the system is capable of detecting a low battery output to the portable tags. This is indicated by turning on a red LED located on the tag modules and setting a low battery indicator on the GUI. This system will not track the specific location of people within a given room. The system will determine whether a room, hallway, or space is occupied, only. The relative location within that space is unknown.