LINKS, SCENE’s partner, has developed a localization platform called Artemis, which enables precise localization with an average accuracy of less than 20 centimeters. It is based on the UWB (Ultra-Wideband) wireless technology, which allows accurate localization by measuring the Time-of-Flight (ToF) of radio signals between UWB devices.

UWB technology was defined and standardized by IEEE 802.15.4a in 2007 and later enhanced by IEEE 802.15.4z in 2020. The latest standard increased the integrity and accuracy of distance measurements. Some important features of UWB technology are summarized in the following figure (from Qorvo).

The tracking solution comprises two main types of UWB devices deployed in the area of interest:

1) Anchors: fixed in known positions on the map.

2) Tags: mobile devices whose positions are estimated by a tracking algorithm.

In fact, mobile tags communicate with anchors to measure the distances between each other by using a method that simplifies the deployment architecture and minimizes errors. The distance measurements are collected on a common server, which is responsible for estimating the tag position using a trilateration algorithm. Finally, the position information can be used in different ways depending on the desired application and function.
In the following figure, the main components of the Artemis architecture are shown:

Artemis is mainly used in research projects, where it is further developed and enhanced. This UWB-based solution is employed in several fields, such as industry 4.0, logistics (as shown in Fig. X), robotics, indoor navigation, and the cinematographic industry, such as the SCENE project!

On a cinematographic set, mobile tags could be wearable devices for tracking actors’ positions. The accurate position of actors offers several useful applications, such as motion capture, camera tracking, integration of special effects, and more.

In the context of SCENE, Artemis will be used to enable automatic lighting and audio effects to facilitate the production phase. Specifically:

1) Automatic lighting: Using actors’ tracking, the lighting system can be regulated to switch on when an actor is nearby and adjust, for instance, the luminosity depending on the distance between the actor and specific points on the set.

2) Automatic audio effects: Actor tracking allows to enabling specific audio effects when actors reach specified points or areas on the set. Additionally, the actors’ positions can be recorded and used in post-production to align audio and video.