In today's era of rapid technological development, wireless communication technologies are constantly evolving and updating, bringing a great deal of convenience to people's lives and industrial development. Among them, Ultra-Wideband (UWB) technology, with its unique advantages, has emerged in many fields, especially in ranging applications, demonstrating huge potential.
I. Overview of UWB Technology
UWB technology is a carrier-free communication technology that uses nanosecond to microsecond-level non-sinusoidal narrow pulses to transmit data. Compared with traditional communication technologies, UWB technology has many remarkable features. Firstly, its bandwidth is extremely wide. Regulations such as those of the FCC allocate an available spectrum resource from 3.1GHz to 10.6GHz, as high as 7.5GHz, for UWB technology. And the -10dB bandwidth of the communication carrier must be greater than 500M to meet the ultra-wideband standard. Secondly, the radiation of UWB signals is extremely low, only about one-thousandth of the radiation of a mobile phone. This makes it possible that in environments sensitive to electromagnetic interference, such as in the industrial field, the application of UWB technology will not interfere with other instruments. Moreover, UWB technology has a high transmission rate, capable of achieving a transmission rate of up to hundreds of megabits, and at the same time, it has low power consumption. The maximum average power spectral density on civil equipment is limited to -41.3dBm/MHz, which provides the possibility for its wide application in various battery-powered devices. In addition, UWB uses spread spectrum signals, and only when the spread spectrum codes of the receiving end and the transmitting end are completely the same can the signal be correctly demodulated, which has good confidentiality.
II. Principle of UWB Ranging
The principle of UWB modules to achieve positioning and ranging functions is mainly based on the Time Difference of Arrival (TDOA) of signals and multipath resolution technology. When a UWB signal is transmitted from one device to another, since the propagation speed of the signal in space is known (approximately the speed of light), the distance between the two devices can be calculated by measuring the transmission time of the signal from the transmitting point to the receiving point. For example, if the signal propagation speed is c and the transmission time of the signal from the transmitting end to the receiving end is t, then the distance d between the two devices is d = c×t. At the same time, due to the narrow pulse width and wide bandwidth of UWB signals, they have strong multipath resolution ability. Even in a complex environment with multiple reflection paths, the UWB module can still accurately distinguish the signals of the direct path and the reflection paths, thus achieving high-precision positioning and ranging.
III. Advantages of UWB Ranging Technology
High-precision positioning: UWB modules achieve precise positioning by measuring the Time Difference of Arrival (TDOA) of signals. Compared with traditional technologies such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, their positioning accuracy is higher, usually reaching the centimeter level or even the millimeter level. This high-precision positioning ability gives UWB modules broad application prospects in fields with extremely high requirements for position accuracy, such as industrial automation, warehousing and logistics, and intelligent manufacturing.
High security: UWB technology uses spread spectrum communication, and the signal power spectral density is low, making it difficult to be intercepted and interfered with. At the same time, UWB modules support multipath resolution and anti-interference technologies, and can maintain stable communication performance in complex environments. For example, in some financial transaction scenarios with extremely high security requirements, UWB technology can be used for identity authentication and payment verification. Its signals contain information such as encryption and ultra-high-precision timestamps, which are difficult to be intercepted externally and can resist relay attacks, providing a strong guarantee for transaction security.
High anti-interference ability: UWB signals use a narrow pulse width and a wide bandwidth, giving them strong anti-interference ability. Even in a complex environment where multiple wireless communication systems interfere with each other, the UWB module can still maintain stable communication performance. For example, in an industrial production workshop, the electromagnetic interference generated by various devices is relatively complex, and the UWB module can effectively eliminate the influence of most multipath interference signals, obtain high-precision positioning results, and ensure the precise operation and collaboration of production equipment.
IV. Application Fields of UWB Ranging Technology
Industrial Field
In industrial automated production lines, by installing UWB modules, robots, automated equipment, and workpieces on the production line can achieve high-precision position recognition and tracking. This not only improves the degree of automation and production efficiency of the production line but also reduces errors and costs in the production process. For example, in an automobile manufacturing factory, UWB technology can be used to accurately position the position of automobile parts on the production line, ensuring that robots can accurately grasp and install the parts, improving the assembly accuracy and production speed. At the same time, in intelligent warehousing and logistics, by monitoring the position and status of goods in real time, accurate management of warehouse inventory and rapid scheduling of goods can be achieved. UWB modules can also be seamlessly integrated with the warehousing management system to achieve automated inbound and outbound management and inventory warnings, greatly improving the operation efficiency of warehousing and logistics.
Smart Construction Site
UWB technology plays an important role in the positioning and safety monitoring of personnel on smart construction sites. By combining outdoor GPS positioning (4G transmission) with indoor UWB positioning technology, a comprehensive and all-weather precise positioning and safety supervision system is created. Indoor positioning uses UWB active positioning technology, based on the Time of Flight (TOF) ranging principle. A ubeacon is installed every 50 meters, and the positioning accuracy can reach within 1 meter, which can accurately track the position and movement trajectory of personnel in complex indoor building areas. Outdoor positioning uses GPS satellite positioning technology, and the positioning accuracy can reach about 3 - 5 meters, meeting the positioning requirements of open construction sites. At the same time, the TOF two-way ranging technology is used to achieve anti-collision warning for excavators, and the error range is controlled within 10 - 30 centimeters, effectively reducing construction safety risks. Once an emergency such as a high-altitude falling object or collapse occurs, the system can quickly lock the position of the trapped personnel based on the positioning information, winning precious time for the rescue operation and minimizing casualties.
Consumer Electronics Field
Take the new wireless communication technology UWB "One-touch Connect" carried by Xiaomi Mix4 as an example. This technology has achieved centimeter-level precise spatial positioning, making the connection between mobile phones and AIoT smart devices safer and more accurate. Users can control the device they point to at will, greatly improving the user experience. In addition, the "One-touch Connect Companion" accessory has been released, which can be connected to early Xiaomi TVs, giving ordinary TVs the UWB control function. In the VR field, UWB technology also has broad application prospects. Its high-speed communication and high-precision positioning capabilities can bring users a more immersive virtual reality experience. For example, in VR games, the position and actions of players can be accurately captured, making the game interaction more real and smooth.
Indoor Positioning and Navigation
In indoor places such as large shopping malls, airports, and exhibition halls, people often face the trouble of not being able to find their destination. The UWB indoor positioning and navigation system can provide users with accurate position information and guide users to quickly find the store, boarding gate, or exhibition area they want to go to. Compared with traditional indoor positioning technologies, UWB positioning has higher accuracy and is not affected by factors such as light and occlusion, and can achieve stable positioning services in complex indoor environments. At the same time, for some special places, such as nursing homes and hospitals, UWB positioning technology can monitor the position of the elderly and patients in real time, so as to provide timely assistance when needed, improving management efficiency and service quality.
