The GrowSpace Q1 Kit is a UWB-based RTLS system capable of measuring the 3D coordinates (X, Y, Z) of tags in indoor environments in real time.
By default, the XY plane (horizontal) positioning performs reliably in most environments. However, the accuracy of the Z-axis (height) measurement may vary depending on the anchor installation structure.

📌 If Z-axis (height) data is critical in your environment, you must adjust the anchor installation accordingly.
A simple flat installation is often insufficient to achieve precise Z-coordinate measurements.

In this article, we provide recommended anchor placement strategies and practical tips to improve Z-axis accuracy in real-world deployments.

Example of Position Output from the GrowSpace Q1 Kit

Using the GrowSpace Q1 Kit, you can obtain real-time 3D location data (X, Y, Z) via the developer tag or listener device.

Example output (via serial communication):
X: 12.34, Y: 56.78, Z: 9.01

Or, when connected to a listener device, the position coordinates (X, Y, Z) are output in POS message format.

This allows you to monitor not only the XY plane but also the Z-axis (height) data in real time.

Installation Structures That Affect Z-Axis Accuracy

The GrowSpace Q1 Kit calculates tag positions using TWR (Time of Flight)-based distance measurements.
However, if all anchors are installed at the same height (e.g., on the ceiling), the following issue can occur:

Even if a tag is located 1 meter above or below the ceiling plane, the measured distance to the anchors remains the same —
meaning the system cannot distinguish the tag’s vertical (Z-axis) position.

Solution: Install Anchors at Varying Heights (3D Placement)

To enable the system to distinguish movement along the Z-axis, anchors must be installed at different vertical levels.

Recommended configurations include:

• Installing two anchors on the ceiling and two on the floor
• Or distributing anchors across various heights — such as walls, columns, or elevated surfaces

This 3D anchor placement allows for more accurate height (Z-axis) estimation.

By placing anchors in this way, the distance differences between the tag and each anchor become more distinct depending on the tag’s Z-axis position.
This enables the system to achieve more precise 3D positioning results within the coordinate space.

Installation Tips for Medium to Large Spaces (40m × 20m or Larger)

If anchors are installed only at the four corners of a large space, the uneven distance distribution may lead to reduced positioning accuracy.
In such cases, we recommend the following layout:

• Install four main anchors at the corners of the space
• Add 2–3 supplementary anchors at central or mid-wall locations
• Keep the distance between anchors within 15–20 meters, if possible
• Place anchors at different heights to improve Z-axis accuracy

This setup helps ensure more stable and accurate positioning across a wide area.

With this type of setup, the RTLS system can maintain a more balanced signal distribution,
which significantly improves 3D positioning accuracy, including the Z-axis.

Conclusion

The GrowSpace Q1 Kit enables precise location tracking in three-dimensional spaces.
However, to accurately capture the Z-axis (height), the anchor installation layout is critical.

In particular, when all anchors are mounted only on the ceiling, the system may struggle to distinguish vertical differences.
Therefore, be sure to consider a 3D anchor placement strategy, with anchors installed at varied heights, for optimal performance.