The Bluetooth specification enhances location services with a direction-finding feature that makes it possible to detect the direction of a Bluetooth signal. With Bluetooth Location Services, developers can bring products to market that understand device direction and achieve sub-meter location accuracy.
Applications for Bluetooth Location Services
Smart Retail
Smart Healthcare
Smart Warehouses
Smart Buildings
Silicon Labs Bluetooth Direction Finding Solution
BG22 Bluetooth Dual Polarized Antenna Array Radio Board
The kit provides a 4x4 Antenna Array board for evaluation and development of Angle of Arrival (AoA) and Angle of Departure (AoD) support provided in the Bluetooth 5.1 specification.
- Bluetooth stack with Direction Finding
- EFR32BG24 SoCs
- EFR32BG22 SoCs and SiP Module
- Antenna reference designs and radio boards
Understanding Angle of Arrival and Angle of Departure
Angle of Arrival (AoA)
- Assets broadcast (TX) their location to an AoA locator such as a wireless access point (AP), connected light or smart luminaire
- Locators measure the signal's arrival angle
Angle of Departure (AoD)
- Beacons transmit AoD information such as coordinates using multiple antennas
- Mobile devices receive the beacons and calculates position
Angle of Arrival Design Considerations
- Assets only need a single antenna, can be low power, and simultaneously support additional Bluetooth LE functionality
- Locators require antenna arrays
- Edge gateways process angle readings and communicate to an asset management system in the cloud to determine device location
Angle of Departure Design Considerations
- Beacons require 4 x 4 antenna arrays
- Mobile devices need to support AoD algorithms
- Beacon coordinates must be known by the location services system