What is the Aliro smart lock standard?
The Connectivity Standard Alliance (CSA) is preparing a standard for smart locks based on the Matter protocol and ultrawideband (UWB) wireless to tackle interoperability.
The Aliro standard, set for launch later this year, aims to use Matter to reduce the complexity of integrations and to act as an arbiter for security certification. This is designed to reduce the high cost of R&D and simplify the integration process with new smart home equipment suppliers so that locks can be opened by smartphones, wearables and other equipment such as fobs.
The standard has an impressive list of supporters since its inception in 2023. European chip makers include NXP Semiconductors, STMicroelectronics, Nordic Semiconductors and Infineon Technologies as well as European lock makers Assoy Abloy, Siemens and even furniture maker Ikea.
- First universal mobile access control platform
- NXP combines UWB and radar for IoT applications
- Lock maker adds embedded security
The core of the Aliro standard comes from Apple’s Home Key that works with the iPhone and Apple Watch. Under the CSA it is being extended to support the Matter protocol and access from phones and devices from Samsung, Google, Oppo and others. This uses the secure UWB element to detect an authorised ‘key’ close to the lock, and the Matter protocol, running over Bluetooth, Threads or WiFi, to provide the authentication.
Ahead of the launch of the standards, reference designs are starting to emerge.
NXP is using its FRDM-MCXW71 development board with the MCX W7x wireless microcontroller for an Autonomous Secure Access reference design that supports Aliro. This uses a Bluetooth Low Energy radio and embedded secure enclave to support Matter and Aliro security requirements while an add-on Murata Arduino shield board includes the Murata Type 2JE module. This includes NXPs SR150 Trimension UWB product for hands-free access and a dedicated, closed system version of NXP’s PN7642 NFC controller with preloaded functionality for tap-and-go access which links to the MCX W7x as a plug-and-play component.
Integration of the EdgeLock SE051 Secure Element can be added to further scale the security of the system with protection of credentials against advanced hardware attacks. Using Aliro allows the combination of the necessary hardware components with software and a secure cloud-based provisioning service. The implementation is tuned for performance, power, memory size and robustness, providing a lower bill of materials, easier form factor design, indoor/outdoor detection and interoperability with the mobile ecosystem.
Nordic Semiconductor has also teamed up with Qorvo on a reference design for Aliro. This uses Nordic’s nRF54L microprocessor and Qorvo’s QM35825 ultra-wideband (UWB) SoC. The reference application will enable developers to easily and quickly get started on Aliro and Matter access control to make the smart lock design process accessible for any manufacturer.
“Addressing Aliro compliance supports our common goal of enabling more intuitive and reliable location-based capabilities in next-generation, ultra-secure access control solutions, which have already been proven in smartphones and car access applications,” said Luc Darmon, Senior Director of Global Marketing and Applications at Qorvo. “By combining our expertise in Bluetooth LE, Thread, and Wi-Fi with Qorvo’s UWB technology, we are enabling developers to create the next generation of smart access solutions with ease. This collaboration underscores our dedication to simplifying development while maintaining the highest standards of security and reliability,” adds Bjørnar Hernes, Senior Product Director of Short-Range at Nordic Semiconductor.
The reference application will help developers come up with applications based on Nordic’s Bluetooth LE, Thread, and WiFi, and Qorvo’s UWB technology with combinations of wireless protocols and application layers including: Aliro (NFC, Bluetooth LE, UWB), Matter over Thread, Matter over Wi-Fi, and proprietary application layers over Bluetooth LE.
csa-iot.org/all-solutions/aliro/
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