Patent attributes
A facility is equipped with a floor containing one or more of a transmitter to generate electromagnetic signals (EMS) or a receiver to receive EMS. A device such as a tote may include one or more of a transmitters to generate EMS that may then be received by the receiver in the floor or a receiver to receive EMS transmitted by the floor. As the tote moves across the floor, tracking data may be generated using the information obtained from the exchange of EMS. Orientation of the tote with respect to the floor may be determined using an asymmetric arrangement of antennas on the tote, by encoding data within the EMS, or a combination thereof. For example, the tote may include three antennas arranged in a triangular layout, or a front antenna and a back antenna each used to transmit an EMS that is indicative of relative placement of the tote.