Channel Sounding enhances how Bluetooth Low Energy (Bluetooth LE) devices measure distance and detect presence, extending the technology’s flexibility and promising a new range of applications.
A supplier of low power wireless IoT connectivity and Bluetooth LE solutions, Nordic is well positioned to integrate Channel Sounding into its new nRF54 Series. The forthcoming nRF54L and nRF54H Series will take full advantage of the capabilities offered by Channel Sounding, enabling developers and manufacturers to create more advanced, secure, and efficient wireless products.
“The Bluetooth SIG’s adoption of Channel Sounding significantly enhances the precision of previous Bluetooth distance measuring techniques and encourages innovation across the Bluetooth device ecosystem,” said Øyvind Strøm, EVP BU Short Range, Nordic Semiconductor. “Nordic’s plan to support Channel Sounding in its latest generation SoCs, the nRF54L and nRF54H Series, will enable developers to build a range of innovative distance and presence detection applications and get them quickly to market.”
Traditionally, while Bluetooth LE has been favoured for its low power consumption and cost-effectiveness, it has not always been the optimum solution for reliable and accurate ranging. Channel Sounding looks to address these shortcomings by offering greatly improved reliability and accuracy in distance measurement capabilities that were previously unachievable with Bluetooth.
Channel Sounding will significantly enhance Bluetooth LE's capabilities, particularly in high-volume applications like personal item tags or key fobs, where presence detection and proximity sensing are crucial. It can be seamlessly integrated into devices using a single antenna without requiring significant hardware modifications, all while maintaining the energy efficiency of Bluetooth LE. This compatibility ensures that upgrades are straightforward and cost-effective.
In addition, Channel Sounding incorporates robust security features to protect against tampering and ‘man-in-the-middle’ attacks. That makes it suitable for critical applications such as smart door locks, home appliances, and Find My solutions, ensuring robust performance where reliable ranging and enhanced security are paramount.
Channel Sounding is expected to be widely adopted in mobile phones and a broad range of other battery-powered Bluetooth LE products, providing standardisation and interoperability for use cases that previously required more complex solutions or proprietary devices on both ends of the wireless link.
The inclusion of Channel Sounding in Bluetooth 6.0 is described as marking a significant step forward for the wireless technology. As Channel Sounding becomes more accessible, it will power a wave of new applications that fully leverage improved proximity sensing and distance measurement.
