Exploring Ultra-Wideband (UWB) Communication Technology in the Automotive Field

PublishTime： 2024-05-21 Article Source：Kinghelm Official Website

UWB (Ultra-Wideband) is a short-range wireless communication protocol, akin to Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, utilizing short-pulse radio waves within the spectrum range of 3.1 to 10.5 GHz. This technology enables highly accurate positioning within a typical range of up to 20 meters.

Ⅰ. What is Ultra-Wideband (UWB) Technology?

Ultra-Wideband (UWB) is a short-range wireless communication protocol employing radio waves. Initially utilized primarily in medical devices and other specialized applications, this technology is gradually being integrated into everyday devices such as mobile phones, particularly in automobiles, where vehicle owners stand to benefit significantly from UWB's highly precise positioning capabilities.

UWB technology facilitates high-precision positioning within distances typically spanning up to 20 meters. When multiple UWB radio devices are combined into a network, UWB technology can be utilized to accurately identify the precise locations of nearby mobile devices equipped with UWB technology.

Ultra-Wideband (UWB) is a short-range wireless communication protocol, akin to Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, utilizing short-pulse radio waves within the spectrum range of 3.1 to 10.5 gigahertz (GHz).

The term UWB refers to bandwidth (BW) greater than or equal to 500 megahertz (MHz) or fractional bandwidth (FBW) greater than 20% (FBW = BW/fc, where fc is the center frequency).

Ⅱ.How does UWB technology work?

UWB technology operates using an ultra-high bandwidth of 499.2 megahertz (MHz). In comparison, Wi-Fi utilizes only about 20 to 160 MHz of bandwidth, while Bluetooth operates within just 80 MHz. Unlike other radio technologies that segment the available bandwidth into smaller chunks to enhance data transmission rates or accommodate multiple data channels simultaneously, UWB wave technology utilizes the entire available bandwidth for transmitting extremely short radio wave pulses. The pulses in UWB have a duration of only two nanoseconds, which is just a fraction of the duration of data transmission pulses in other wireless radio applications. Maintaining such short pulse durations is crucial for accurately calculating actual distances since radio waves propagate at the speed of light. Because distance measurements require only minimal UWB pulses, UWB radio can be used to provide location information almost instantaneously or to track moving objects in real-time without the drawbacks of significant latency.

Ⅲ.Advantages of UWB technology

Compared to traditional narrowband systems, UWB signals boast an exceptionally wide bandwidth, thereby offering superior indoor performance. The low-frequency spectral density below environmental noise ensures a lower signal detection probability, enhancing communication security. Utilizing UWB enables high data rates to be transmitted over short distances. UWB systems can coexist with already deployed narrowband systems. The broad bandwidth can counteract channel effects in dense environments, achieving extremely fine spatiotemporal resolution and thus enabling high-precision indoor positioning of UWB nodes.

The most promising application of UWB technology for vehicle owners is the precise localization of car keys. With cars equipped with ultra-wideband antennas, they will be able to instantly and accurately identify other devices equipped with ultra-wideband antennas, such as digital keys installed on smartphones carried in pockets. Your car will recognize when you are approaching and automatically unlock, activate the car lights, and even initiate pre-configured personalized settings.

Furthermore, UWB technology can prevent relay attacks, even when car keys are in motion during transportation. This is because the UWB chip constantly measures the straight-line distance between the car key and the vehicle (measuring the speed of light), thus preventing the engine from starting if the car key is not inside the vehicle.

Ⅳ.UBW Data Transfer Method

Data transmission employs two different methods:

1. Ultra-short pulses within the picosecond range, covering all frequencies simultaneously (also known as pulse radio).

2. Dividing the entire UWB bandwidth into a set of wideband orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) channels.

The first method is cost-effective but leads to a decreased signal-to-noise ratio. Generally, pulse radio transmission does not require the use of carriers, which means reduced complexity compared to traditional narrowband transceivers (i.e., simpler transceiver structures), as the signal is radiated directly through the UWB antenna.

The second method allows for more efficient spectrum utilization, providing better performance and data throughput, albeit with increased complexity (i.e., requiring signal processing) and power consumption.

The choice between these two methods depends on the application.

Ⅴ.Look Ahead

Today, many flagship smartphones and smartwatches incorporate UWB technology, and an increasing number of consumer products and automotive manufacturers have already implemented or are in the process of adopting this technology for digital keys and occupancy detection. Other existing applications include ultra-precise indoor positioning/navigation, retail and industrial space asset tracking, and "find my device" features for consumer devices.

These initial applications merely scratch the surface of UWB's potential. Future developments will encompass vehicle-to-vehicle communication, enabling safer and lower-latency coordination for autonomous vehicles. Additionally, UWB technology will find widespread use in short-range detection, driving features such as smart parking, pedestrian and cyclist collision avoidance, and wireless in-car communication with vehicle sensors (such as tire pressure monitoring systems).

Disclaimer: This article is excerpted from the TechPlus Workshop on the internet. The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not represent the views of Jinhangbiao or the industry. It is for republishing and sharing purposes only, supporting the protection of intellectual property rights. Please indicate the original source and author when reprinting. If there is any infringement, please contact us for removal.

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