By info@ico28.com 
Nordic Semiconductor has confirmed that its upcoming nRF54L and nRF54H Series Systems-on-Chip (SoCs) will support Channel Sounding, a key feature in the newly adopted Bluetooth 6.0 specification.
Channel Sounding enhances the ability of Bluetooth Low Energy (LE) devices to measure distance and detect presence, opening the door to a wider range of applications and increased versatility for Bluetooth technology.
Nordic, a well-established provider of low-power wireless IoT solutions, plans to integrate Channel Sounding into its latest nRF54 Series. This move aligns with its strategy to continually improve device connectivity and functionality. The nRF54L and nRF54H SoCs are expected to fully utilise this technology, providing developers with tools to design more sophisticated, secure, and efficient wireless devices.
Øyvind Strøm, EVP BU Short Range at Nordic Semiconductor, commented: “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. Nordic is excited by the possibilities the technology opens up for its customers. 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.”
Improved precision and reliability in Bluetooth LE
While Bluetooth LE is widely praised for its low power consumption and affordability, its distance measurement accuracy has historically left room for improvement. Channel Sounding addresses this by providing more reliable and accurate distance measurements, which were previously difficult to achieve using Bluetooth technology.
The technology is particularly valuable for high-volume applications such as key fobs, personal item trackers, and other devices where presence detection and proximity sensing are essential. The advantage of Channel Sounding lies in its ability to be implemented using a single antenna, with minimal hardware changes, ensuring that Bluetooth LE’s energy efficiency is preserved. As a result, upgrading devices to include this new feature is both cost-effective and straightforward.
Additionally, Channel Sounding integrates enhanced security measures, offering protection against threats like tampering or ‘man-in-the-middle’ attacks. This makes it suitable for critical applications including smart locks, home appliances, and asset tracking solutions, where secure and accurate ranging is crucial.
A major advancement for Bluetooth technology
The introduction of Channel Sounding within Bluetooth 6.0 is expected to lead to widespread adoption across mobile phones and various other battery-powered Bluetooth LE devices. This standardisation will simplify use cases that previously relied on more complex or proprietary solutions, ensuring better interoperability between Bluetooth-enabled products.
The inclusion of Channel Sounding is a notable milestone in Bluetooth’s evolution, providing developers with new opportunities to create applications that benefit from improved proximity sensing and distance measurement. As this feature becomes more widely available, it is anticipated that a new wave of innovative, Bluetooth-powered products will emerge, taking full advantage of the enhanced capabilities offered by Bluetooth 6.0.
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FAQ
- What is Bluetooth Direction Finding?
– Bluetooth Direction Finding is a feature introduced in Bluetooth 5.1, allowing devices to determine the direction of a Bluetooth signal. This can be done using either AoA or AoD methods, enhancing applications in location-based services.
- Does Nordic Semiconductor support Bluetooth direction finding?
– Yes, Nordic Semiconductor supports Bluetooth direction-finding features on its nRF52 and nRF53 series SoCs. Specifically, the nRF52833 and nRF52820 in the nRF52 Series, and the nRF5340 in the nRF53 Series, have capabilities for Bluetooth 5.1 direction finding.
- What development kits or hardware from Nordic Semiconductor support AoA/AoD?
– The nRF52833 DK and nRF5340 DK support development for Bluetooth AoA and AoD. Additionally, the nRF Connect SDK provides libraries and samples to develop applications using Bluetooth direction-finding.
- Do I need any special hardware to implement AoA/AoD?
– Yes, for AoA, an antenna array is needed at the receiver end to measure the angle of arrival of the signal. For AoD, the transmitter uses an antenna array to broadcast signals.
- What software tools does Nordic offer for Bluetooth direction finding?
– Nordic provides the nRF Connect SDK, which includes software libraries, samples, and tools to implement Bluetooth direction-finding features. The nRF Connect for Desktop also includes tools such as nRF Sniffer for analyzing Bluetooth traffic.
- Can I use Nordic’s Bluetooth direction finding for real-time location systems (RTLS)?
– Yes, Bluetooth direction-finding is highly suitable for applications in RTLS, asset tracking, navigation, and more.
- Where can I find more technical resources or get support?
– Nordic provides extensive documentation, including tutorials, examples, and technical support through its [Developer Zone](https://devzone.nordicsemi.com/).