Unlock centimeter-level accuracy for asset tracking, predictive maintenance, and secure automation. Bluetooth® Channel Sounding transforms your sensor networks with low-power, real-time distance measurement – built for Industry 4.0.
Unlock centimeter-level accuracy for asset tracking, predictive maintenance, and secure automation. Bluetooth® Channel Sounding transforms your sensor networks with low-power, real-time distance measurement – built for Industry 4.0.
Industrial automation relies on a dense mesh of sensor and actuator networks. But over time, gaps between installation plans and real-world setups lead to inefficient maintenance, drifting sensor accuracy, and increased safety risks.
Bluetooth Channel Sounding offers a new approach: accurate, low-power, secure distance measurement using existing Bluetooth infrastructure.
Bluetooth Channel Sounding, introduced in Bluetooth 6.0, enables centimeter-level distance measurement using Metirionic Advanced Ranging Stack (MARS) and Round-Trip Time (RTT).
Centimeter-Level Accuracy for positioning assets, tools, and personnel
Low Power Consumption, ideal for wireless sensor networks
Security Built-In to prevent spoofing and relay attacks
Works Indoors, where GPS fails
Unlike RSSI-based methods, Channel Sounding processes the Channel Impulse Response (CIR) to isolate direct paths from signal reflections – ensuring precise distance even in multipath environments.
Precisely track parts, pallets, and tools – even in dynamic, high-interference zones such as warehouses or assembly lines.
Bluetooth Channel Sounding ensures real-time location visibility, helping to reduce misplaced assets, optimize space usage, and streamline inventory audits. It also enables integration with warehouse management systems (WMS) for automated inventory updates.
Locate faulty sensors or actuators in real-time and dispatch technicians directly – minimizing downtime and boosting uptime.
By combining precise location data with performance metrics, maintenance teams can transition from reactive to condition-based servicing, reducing unnecessary interventions and extending equipment lifespan.
Enable safe human-robot collaboration and efficient AGV navigation through precise distance estimation.
Bluetooth Channel Sounding helps robots maintain safe operating distances, avoid collisions in shared workspaces, and adapt to layout changes – improving safety and flexibility in mixed-automation environments.
Restrict entry based on physical proximity – enhancing both safety and compliance.
Personnel access to sensitive zones can be managed with location-based authentication, ensuring only authorized individuals within a defined radius can interact with equipment or enter restricted areas. This improves auditability and reduces the risk of human error or unauthorized intervention.
Bluetooth Channel Sounding is powerful – but Metirionic Advanced Ranging Stack (MARS) goes further. It uses the full Round-Trip CIR for superior precision in complex environments like factories and tunnels.
| Feature | RTT | PBR | MARS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accuracy (Indoor) | ~5 m | ~1.5 m | ≤1 m (with RT-CIR) |
| Multipath Handling | Poor | Moderate | Excellent |
| Customizability | Low | Low | High (modular stack) |
| Integration Options | Basic | Basic | Cross-protocol support |
| Security | Moderate | Good | Enterprise-grade |
MARS is available as an evaluation kit and integrates with Bluetooth, and more.
Hardware Readiness: Devices must support Bluetooth 6.0 and have signal processing capabilities.
Deployment Strategy: Plan anchor placement to optimize coverage and multipath mitigation.
Training: Maintenance teams should understand CIR analysis and troubleshooting workflows.
Thanks to Bluetooth SIG, developers have the freedom to build proprietary algorithms for distance estimation – offering innovation and flexibility.
Channel Sounding sets the stage for the next generation of industrial IoT:
IoT & AI Integration: Real-time data meets predictive analytics for smarter decisions.
Edge Computing: Process CIR data at the edge to reduce latency and bandwidth needs.
Sustainable Design: Low-energy, long-lifetime sensors for greener operations.
Standardization: Global initiatives are shaping interoperable, secure industrial wireless networks.
Bluetooth Channel Sounding is more than a specification update – it’s a precision enabler for smart factories, logistics, and safety-critical operations. Combined with MARS, it transforms how we locate, track, and maintain assets in real time.
Ready to unlock cm-level accuracy in your network?