The Future Of Positioning: Exploring UWB And Bluetooth Channel Sounding

By Sri Sridharan and David Schnaufer

The indoor positioning technologies sector is experiencing rapid growth, driven by the rising demand for precise location services across a variety of industries. With the indoor location services market anticipated to surge to $55 billion by 2030, cutting-edge technologies such as Ultra-Wideband (UWB) and Bluetooth® Low Energy (Bluetooth LE) are leading the charge in this evolution.

UWB is celebrated for its centimeter-level accuracy and robust security features, making it widely adopted, especially since its integration into mainstream devices like smartphones. In contrast, Bluetooth LE remains vital in the IoT ecosystem due to its low power consumption and cost-effectiveness. Recent advancements, including Bluetooth LE's channel sounding technique, hold the promise of enhanced positioning accuracy by measuring phase differences between radio signals.

This article delves into the characteristics, applications, and advancements of UWB and Bluetooth LE positioning technologies, offering valuable insights to inform decision-making across enterprise, industrial, and consumer applications.