Unlocking Indoor Visibility: Wi-Fi Asset Tracking Without Connecting
Imagine a pallet loaded with high-value goods on its way across continents. You track it with GPS and cellular — but once it arrives at a warehouse, all visibility fades. Why? Because GPS doesn’t work through walls, and cellular positioning often loses precision indoors. The asset is still there — but, digitally, it's gone dark.
Silicon Labs offers a compelling solution: Wi-Fi-based asset tracking without ever connecting to a network. Instead of joining a Wi-Fi network, devices simply listen — scanning for nearby SSIDs (network names) and measuring their signal strength to infer location.
What Makes This Approach Powerful
- No network handshakes. There’s no need to associate with an AP. The device just senses.
- Ultra-low power consumption. Using the SiWx917 Wi-Fi 6 wireless MCU, the device can cold boot and scan all channels in roughly 5 seconds while drawing under 50 mA.
- Leverages existing infrastructure. Your warehouse or facility’s current Wi-Fi becomes a “virtual positioning system” — no extra hardware needed.
- Cloud integration. Once SSIDs are detected, the SiWx917 sends the data to the cloud (via MQTT or other protocols). The backend maps SSIDs to real-world coordinates.
- Multi-tech synergy. This Wi-Fi sensing can complement GPS, cellular, or other radios — switching dynamically depending on where the asset is.
How to Build a Real Device
Silicon Labs has already created reference designs using the SiWx917. In these designs, the MCU works with:
- GNSS/GPS module for long-range outdoor tracking
- IMU sensors (accelerometer/gyro) to monitor movement
- MQTT cloud stack to report location data
In one real-world case, a logistics firm embedded this into smart pallets. The result? They gained continuous visibility — from the factory, onto trucks and ships, into the warehouse — without compromising battery life.
Why the SiWx917 Is a Game-Changer
Here’s why this MCU is particularly suited for passive Wi-Fi tracking:
- Fully integrated: Wi-Fi 6 radio + application MCU + AI/ML accelerator → smaller BOM.
- Rich connectivity: TCP/IP, TLS, MQTT stacks built-in → smooth cloud integration.
- Memory & processing: Generous SRAM, PSRAM, and Flash for firmware, OTA, and tracking logic.
- Low-power architecture: Separate network and application processors let the MCU sleep more, reducing power use.
Certified modules: Pre-certified modules include antenna and regulatory approvals → easier design and faster time to market.
Real-World Applications
This connectionless Wi-Fi tracking opens up many practical use cases:
- Logistics & supply chain: Track pallets or containers inside warehouses without deploying extra trackers or gateways.
- Healthcare: Follow equipment (e.g., carts, IV stands) inside hospitals, where Wi-Fi is already ubiquitous.
Industrial automation: Monitor tools, vehicles, or resources as they move through production facilities.
How We Can Help
As an official Silicon Labs distributor, we can support your project from design to deployment:
- Provide you with SiWx917 development kits and modules for testing
- Help connect you with Silicon Labs technical support to build your tracking architecture
- Assist with product selection, certification, and supply chain integration
For instance:
- Silicon Labs SiWx917 Wi‑Fi 6 Dev Kit — ideal for prototyping your tracker.
- Silicon Labs WFM200S022 Wi‑Fi Module — a compact, certified Wi-Fi module for embedded designs.
Conclusion
Wi-Fi asset tracking without connection is a paradigm shift. Instead of demanding new infrastructure or draining power with constant network participation, you simply listen — and let existing Wi-Fi networks do the heavy lifting. Thanks to the efficiency and flexibility of the SiWx917, this becomes not just a concept, but a practical, deployable solution.
If you’re curious about integrating this technology into your next asset-tracking or IoT project, reach out to us. Let’s build smarter, more efficient tracking devices — together.
Stay connected, stay smart…
