Low-power radio transceiver knows where it's at

Nanotron Technologies has announced the first low-power radio with high-accuracy, long-range location-awareness capabilities. Responding to industry needs, Nanotron is delivering wireless solutions which can link enterprise databases and applications with location and ubiquitous sensor information. The nanoLOC TRX transceiver is a 2.4GHz ISM-band radio providing flexible datarates from 31.25Kbit/s to 2Mbit/s.

It offers on-chip point-to-point ranging accuracy of better than 1-2m while offering robust, reliable datacommunication with superior transmission range.

The inclusion of a sophisticated MAC controller minimises requirements on the microcontroller and software enabling easy high-level system design.

Other features include RTOF ranging, various wake-up functions and bitrate versus range adjustability and more.

nanoLOC is based on Nanotron's worldwide patented CSS (chirp spread spectrum) technology with its reliable and robust communication proven by its forerunner the nanoNET TRX as well as its implementation into the emerging IEEE802.15.4a standard.

Demanding applications for the nanoLOC TRX include logistics (RTLS/active RFID), industrial monitoring and control, medical, and security networking.

For logistics, nanoLOC's combination of precise location with robust, long-range communication delivered in a single radio is key.

Lead customers also appreciate nanoLOC's SDS-TWR (symmetrical double-sided two-way ranging) capability which enables location-awareness without infrastructure and with no synchronisation required.

Industrial applications rely on nanoLOC's robust, reliable CSS communication link while also benefiting from location-enabled tracking, security and lower installation costs.

Medical applications choose nanoLOC for its low human exposure, reliability and positioning feature.

Security and governmental customers value nanoLOC's low probability of detect (LPD), low probability of intercept (LPI) along with reliability and location-awareness capability.

Nanotron's CEO Dr Jens Albers adds: 'The launching of nanoLOC is another step on our roadmap to satisfy the market demand for USN (ubiquitous sensor network) enabling devices'.

'Key customers as well as our partners worldwide show strong interest in these Chirp-based products'.

'Pilot projects will be announced shortly'.

Sample chips of the nanoLOC TRX as well as development and evaluation kits are already available with mass production starting by the second quarter of 2007.

nanoLOC is the first result of the recently-announced collaboration and second source partnership between Nanotron and STMicroelectronics.

With its unique ranging capability nanoLOC is able to measure the link distance between two nodes with high accuracy at low cost and low power consumption, thus enabling location based services (LBS), RTLS/enhanced RFID and asset tracking.

Ranging is performed during regular data communication and does not require additional infrastructure, power or bandwidth.

Nanotron's SDS-TWR algorithm allows superior ranging accuracy even with the use of low cost crystals for the oscillators.

Neither high frequency nor high accuracy clocks are needed to achieve a resolution of less than one meter.

Location within a network consists of at least three nodes with known co-ordinates (2D).

For 3D localisation, a minimum of four nodes are needed.