Cooperation deal for next-gen micro-location tech

20th July 2018

Nanotron

Enaie Azambuja

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Nanotron Technologies and DecaWave have announced that they have signed an IP License and Co-operation Agreement, which will enable the development of next-generation micro-location technologies. Nanotron is licensing its patented IP (Intellectual Property), namely symmetrical double-sided two-way ranging (SDS-TWR). This technology is being used with DecaWave’s integrated circuits, including its DW1000 ultra-wideband (UWB) location chip.

SDS-TWR stabilises precise ranging over the entire temperature and supply voltage range independent of the underlying radio technology, which is invaluable for all ranging-based micro-location use cases.

Micro-location is a multi-billion-dollar market, with applications in areas as diverse as indoor navigation for shoppers, location-based services, healthcare, logistics and security. DecaWave’s technology enables location to be determined within a tight range of only 10cm.

Dr. Jens Albers, CEO of nanotron, said: "DecaWave has developed Ultra-Wide Band (UWB) location controllers that deliver unprecedented precision for indoor position tracking. Their products complement nanotron’s own long-range Chirp Spread Spectrum (Chirp) radio location technology. By offering our location awareness with either DecaWave's silicon or with nanotron’s chirp radios, customers are able to match longer range or higher precision. This agreement will reduce anticipated R&D spend for customers and enable them to offer more competitive solutions.”

Ciaran Connell, CEO of DecaWave, added: "Nanotron has platforms, technology and expertise that perfectly leverage the competitive advantage of our chips, and I look forward to leveraging this synergy to create many new and innovative solutions together."

Nanotron utilises UWB technology from DecaWave in its swarm bee family of smart RF tag-ready modules. By using these products, developers no longer need to deal with GHz RF design and low-level chip drivers.

This cuts time-to-market by 9 to 12 months, and lets developers focus on creating applications. Also, the cooperation reduces nanotron’s R&D spend by not having to deliver an in-house designed UWB controller.

DecaWave’s customers are able to quickly prototype their UWB applications with nanotron’s swarm bee product and development tools. Once proven and in volume production, they can migrate their solutions to a chip-based design.

As well as collaborating on technology, the two companies will also be working together to jointly promote and market their new solutions, including co-marketing at tradeshows.