Two-way ranging, real-time location evaluation kit
The kit will allow customers to quickly evaluate the performance of DecaWave’s UWB technology in multiple real-time location systems (RTLS) use cases. A concept can be proofed in hours and prototyped in days, the company says, to bring new and innovative products to the market faster. Based on the two-way ranging scheme, the kit will offer the possibility to test three different topologies.
The kit is based on the DW1000 chip which is the first IEEE802.15.4-2011 UWB compliant wireless transceiver. The chip, while allowing the location of objects to a precision of 10 cm, is also capable of high data-rate communications, up to 6.8 Mb/sec. This combined capability makes it a perfect fit to answer the “What, When, Where” questions essential to the deployment of the Internet of Things.
DecaWave’s Mickael Viot explains that the DW1000 is quite unlike a number of UWB proposals that emerged several years ago (and that failed to take off), “Those were aimed at very high bandwidth over a very short distance to transfer large files between devices: they used OFDM whereas the DW1000 is an impulse-radio-architecture chip that makes use of the characteristics of the RF signal to maximise [distance] accuracy and reliability.” It has in common with other UWB offerings the characteristic that the signal is a very low level – essentially, in the noise – and use of a coherent receiver enables reception of a useful amount of data in addition to its ranging performance. The chip is built, despite its operation over 3.5 to 6.5 GHz bands, in standard 90-nm CMOS, which enables DecaWave to be “open to” IP licensing in addition to its fabless chip supply model.
Due to its communications range of up to 290m in line-of-sight and up to 35m in non-line-of-sight, it also reduces the system cost by reducing the need for infrastructure. The three location modes use time-of-flight or time-difference of [signal] arrival methods of determining location are;
Tracking mode – using three “anchors” and one tag to cover applications use cases that focus on asset tracking, logistics and factory automation. In this mode, the user will be able to collect the 2D/3D position of the tag relative to the anchor’s position.
Geo-Fencing (also called Secure Bubble) mode – based on a single anchor and up to three tags, this mode enables users to monitor if the tags are within certain pre-defined perimeters around the anchor – the “bubble”. This mode will allow users to evaluate use cases such as personal safety (collision avoidance, security perimeter around machinery), child monitoring or ‘secure-my-valuables’ types of applications.
Navigation – also using three anchors and one tag. Connected directly to the tag, the user will be able to walk around and visualise its current position, allowing testing of human and robotics navigation scenarios.
The TREK1000 kit comes with four units, each configurable as an anchor or a tag, as well as a PC application for visualisation and configuration. To proof a larger system, the system can be extended by simply adding an EVK1000 evaluation kit. Customers will also gain access to all the source code – embedded Two-way Ranging software, location engine and GUI software allowing customers to start their own product development.
TREK1000 is available for pre-order from Digikey or Semiconductorestore.com
DecaWave; www.decawave.com/products/
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