Navigating the Future: ÂÜÀòÓ°ÊÓ’ Type 1WL Module's Role in Advanced Indoor and Outdoor Geolocation
The once clear-cut division between outdoor and indoor tracking technologies is blurring as the demand for devices capable of seamless transition between environments grows. Outdoor tracking, traditionally dominated by Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) constellations, and indoor tracking, which has relied on Wi-Fi, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), or Ultra-Wideband (UWB), are converging. This shift towards multi-technology geolocation solutions is not without its challenges, as it requires the integration of diverse radio frequency (RF) technologies into a single, multi-faceted device, as well as additional functions like complex edge processing for onboard sensors.
The sophisticated interplay of these technologies introduces considerable complexity to the engineering process. Moreover, the quest for system optimization, especially in battery-powered applications, is relentless, with engineers needing to achieve a delicate balance between power consumption and accuracy.
As the industry evolves, the integration of these technologies becomes increasingly critical, necessitating sophisticated power management and a strategic approach to technology sequencing. Thankfully, new modules from ÂÜÀòÓ°ÊÓ like the Type 1WL (LBEU5ZZ1WL) simplify this by offering pre-integrated building blocks, as well as white label apps that streamline development.
The Challenges of Multi-technology Geolocation
The integration of diverse RF technologies in a single device presents considerable challenges for multi-mode trackers. These include managing RF interference between different technologies like Wi-Fi, BLE, and GNSS, and optimizing power consumption to ensure long battery life.
Trackers must also seamlessly transition between indoor and outdoor tracking without user intervention, which requires sophisticated software algorithms. Additionally, the physical integration of multiple technologies into a compact device design is a significant hurdle, as is ensuring compliance with various international standards. Furthermore, despite these complexities, the devices must be cost-effective and user-friendly, providing accurate location data in a straightforward manner.
Improving Outdoor GNSS Performance
A key challenge with GNSS is achieving accuracy without excessive power consumption. Let’s consider a moving vehicle carrying a container. In this instance, the container’s location is relayed every 10 minutes, resulting in positional fixes separated by 10 kilometers or more; therefore, a 50-meter accuracy is sufficiently precise.
In this scenario, performing a full GNSS resolution would not be optimal and would lead to increased power consumption. Alternatively, utilizing solely the unprocessed pseudorange data — the relative timing of signals from GNSS satellites — and subsequent cloud-based processing (Assisted-GNSS) achieves energy savings exceeding 90% compared to conventional GNSS methods.
However, in other situations, this level of accuracy would not be sufficient, so you also need to be able to perform a full GNSS resolution and use the latest satellite-based augmentation system (SBAS) correction technologies. This only briefly touches on the complexities of modern low-power GNSS geolocation, and sophisticated trackers use many more strategies, such as early indoor detection, to avoid wasting energy on unnecessary GNSS receiver activity
Enhancing Indoor BLE and Wi-Fi Performance
Significant hurdles in BLE and Wi-Fi geolocation include the efficient filtering of extraneous signals from numerous beacons and hotspots and the establishment of effective communication patterns that prioritize essential RF data transmission while minimizing payload size to conserve energy for back-end processes.
Triangulation and fingerprinting, based on signal detection, are the standard methods employed in BLE and Wi-Fi geolocation. Alternatively, in certain applications, active beaconing with specialized preambles, leveraging external infrastructure for Angle of Arrival (AoA) geolocation, may be preferable.
Complexity of Integration
Today’s devices require the integration of multiple geolocation technologies, with effective power management being essential in battery-powered devices. Battery life is commonly influenced by spikes in power consumption, particularly in batteries intended for prolonged use, such as Lithium-Thionyl varieties. These batteries are notably susceptible to capacity reductions, potentially up to 50%, when exposed to high power demands, as depicted in Figure 2.
Thus, RF and GNSS activity must be strategically timed to prevent high-power peaks and reduce interference between technologies. In most scenarios, technologies that use less power are employed initially. This usually means starting with Wi-Fi or BLE and only resorting to the more energy-intensive GNSS geolocation if these methods do not succeed. However, it’s important to note that there is a wide range of use cases, each with its requirements.
ÂÜÀòÓ°ÊÓ’s End-To-End Geolocation Solutions
Multi-technology geolocation modules like the ÂÜÀòÓ°ÊÓ Type 1WL come with all the necessary RF components modern tracking devices require, already integrated into a small package, measuring just 17mm by 17.5mm.
The core components include a cutting-edge ST Microelectronics STM32WB55 dual MCU with integrated BLE 5.2 radio, a power-efficient Airoha MT3333 GNSS multi-constellation receiver, and a Semtech LR1110 transceiver offering Wi-Fi passive scanning and ultra-low-power GNSS scanning. Additionally, Abeeway’s SDK, designed for ultra-low-power multi-technology tracking, includes all necessary drivers, modules, and edge logic, enabling engineers to begin development immediately.
Low Power Wide Area Network Connectivity
Unlicensed LPWAN technology has raised the bar for energy efficiency in long-range, two-way communication. Currently, LoRaWAN is the leading standardized technology, having been developed by the LoRa Alliance, and it’s now employed by millions of low-power devices across the globe.
LoRaWAN is especially suited to tracking that needs to work both indoors and outdoors in expansive areas like construction sites, farmland, airports, oil and gas facilities, and industrial estates. In these environments, the ability to operate a fully autonomous communication system is crucial, and LoRaWAN is ideal for its capability to function as a private network.
The Type 1WL module comes with pre-integrated LoRaWAN, utilising the high-performing LR1110 transceiver from Semtech. It supports Class A, Class B, and Class C operations and has successfully completed the test suite, ensuring its compliance and performance.
Power-efficient FreeRTOS
Tracker applications often require complex processing at the edge, using multiple threads and event-driven communication across various state machines. Integrating this intricate logic with transceivers, accelerometers, and other peripherals in a way that conserves power is challenging, especially with the time-sensitive nature of the LoRaWAN stack, which is dictated by precise downlink reception windows.
The Type 1WL module's Software Development Kit (SDK) eases this complexity by including pre-integrated FreeRTOS, necessary drivers, and the LoRaWAN stack, offering a solution that's both pre-integrated and optimized for low power use. It features a ready-made, event-driven communication system that serves as a foundation for further customization and extension of the application logic. This includes a bootloader, parameter management, and a serial command-line interface, which are invaluable for configuration, testing, and troubleshooting, among other functionalities that help engineers to maximize performance and minimize development efforts.
Comprehensive End-To-End Solution
Many applications necessitate a cloud service, particularly for Wi-Fi and BLE-based geolocation, which requires a backend for full resolution. The backend often needs to provide additional functionalities, including the storage of geolocation data over time, managing access to this information, and implementing geofencing. Any applications with user interfaces or mobile applications also need a comprehensive suite of application programming interfaces (APIs) for backend support.
Although ÂÜÀòÓ°ÊÓ's Type 1WL baseline module SDK incorporates just the essential infrastructure to expedite device development, it is backed by an extensive integration framework from Abeeway. This framework includes ready-to-use communication protocols via LoRaWAN or cellular modems, a complete backend system, and a equipped with advanced location tracking features such as device pairing, location sharing, and firmware updates, as shown in Figure 3.
Supporting Evaluation Kit
The Type 1WL Module Evaluation Kit (), is an invaluable tool for assessing the capabilities of the module and expediting the development process for various applications. The accompanying SDK delivers all the necessary drivers related to the board, enabling device manufacturers to concentrate on crafting their application firmware.
The evaluation kit is designed to support the full range of functionalities offered by the Type 1WL module and provides access to all radio systems through SMA connectors, including LoRaWAN, Wi-Fi scanning, BLE, and GNSS. It also features a suite of digital interfaces, such as I2C, LPUART, UART, and SPI, alongside general-purpose input/outputs (GPIOs) that are connected to an Arduino-style connector, complete with buttons and LEDs.
The kit is equipped with a sophisticated power management circuit that includes a low-dropout (LDO) regulator and a charger to accommodate an external DC source or a primary or secondary battery. Additionally, it houses a micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) accelerometer and pressure sensor linked to the I2C interface, three USB ports for board power supply, and ST-LINK interfaces for data output.
Supporting Evaluation Kit
Firmware upgrades pose a significant challenge for mass-produced trackers, particularly those operating over LPWANs. In line with the European Cybersecurity Act, IoT devices are required to support field upgrades.
The Type 1WL SDK addresses this by including a built-in bootloader. However, many applications may require additional features, such as the ability to broadcast firmware updates efficiently using LoRaWAN FUOTA with delta compression or to perform updates directly from a mobile app. The comprehensive development environment of the 1WL SDK offers such advanced upgrade capabilities, complete with firmware update servers, that can also be utilized for user applications.
Conclusion
The merging of indoor and outdoor tracking technologies marks a significant leap forward in geolocation capabilities. The ÂÜÀòÓ°ÊÓ Type 1WL module stands at the forefront of this innovation, offering a compact, integrated solution that simplifies the complex engineering process. It addresses the challenges of RF interference, power optimization, and seamless technology transition while also providing essential tools for development and compliance with international standards, helping engineers to expedite their development and cut project costs.
The Type 1WL SDK addresses this by including a built-in bootloader. However, many applications may require additional features, such as the ability to broadcast firmware updates efficiently using LoRaWAN FUOTA with delta compression or to perform updates directly from a mobile app. The comprehensive development environment of the 1WL SDK offers such advanced upgrade capabilities, complete with firmware update servers, that can also be utilized for user applications.
