Ultra-Wideband: Build Your Social Distancing Solution Based on this Technology
The capabilities of Ultra Wideband (UWB) technology are opening the door to a broad range of applications. From social distancing solutions as a response to COVID-19, to asset tracking and efficiency improvements on the factory floor, the market for indoor location services is estimated to reach over $40 billion by as soon as 2022. This growth from a level of $5 billion 4 years ago is being driven by large-scale adoption into new vertical markets such as people measurement. Ultra-Wideband (UWB) holds the promise of secure and more precise location services.
In a free on-demand webinar, Future Electronics discussed the applications and implications of delivering solutions with this new technology.
What is Ultra-Wideband (UWB)?
Ultra Wideband (UWB) is a short-range wireless communication protocol that transmits large amounts of data over a wide range of frequency bands. UWB can use a very low energy level for short-range solutions with high bandwidth communication needs.
UWB is also known as digital pulse wireless or “pulse radio” for sending billions of pulses across a wide spectrum frequency range.
Ultra wideband’s spectrum of radio frequencies ranges from 3.1 to 10.5 GHz in unlicensed applications. The name speaks for itself - Ultra wideband is used for a “wide bandwidth” equal to or larger than 500 MHz.
UWB History
Oddly enough, UWB signals were banned from commercial use in 1920 because it was restricted to military use in defense applications under highly classified programs where secure communication was needed. In 1992, UWB technology started receiving noticeable attention in the scientific community. In the early 2000s, UWB re-expanded to military use in radar and covert communications applications. It was even used for a short period of time for medical imaging, such as remote heart monitoring systems. Recently, the capabilities of Ultra Wideband (UWB) technology are opening the door to a broad range of applications.
UWB Applications
1) Radar: Radio detection and ranging, where the signal penetrates nearby surfaces but reflects surfaces that are farther away, allowing objects to be detected behind walls or other coverings.
2) Voice and data transmission: Using billions of digital pulses, UWB allows a very low powered and relatively low cost signal to carry information at very high rates within a restricted range.