Location-Aware IoT Sensors
Location-Aware IoT sensors target the growing market for autonomous smart devices and cuts time to market for location-aware IoT products by 12 months. Very precise low-cost location and sensor technology can now be used without the need for RF-design capabilities or experience on low level drivers.
Location-Aware IoT Sensors feature Location, Proximity and Sensor Information.
swarm Product Family
Developers focus on application design. swarm bee modules are available with Chirp or UWB radio technology.
Both versions mainly consist of a transceiver and a microcontroller and are sharing the common swarm API, see the functional diagram below.
swarm bee modules have a compact footprint providing a convenient form factor for customized tag designs. An antenna, a battery and housing are the only necessary external components to rapidly construct low power tags.
The swarm API command language eliminates the need for low level firmware. Higher level functions like ranging or messaging can be executed by API commands.
nanotron delivers one common platform (Location-Aware Industrial IoT) for Chirp as well as UWB. swarm bee modules offer one common API and the same Pin-Out. This shortens Time-To-Market by supporting one convenient and repeatable integration process for both modules. Both radio technologies follow the exact same location concept. Hence, the same radio signal type initiates ranging as well as TDOA supporting distance and tracking related applications within one deployment and radio technology
swarm bee LE V3
swarm bee LE V3 integrates nanotron’s location RF-Chip, nanoLOC, and is complemented with embedded accelerometer and temperature sensors. With low external component requirements, the swarm bee LE V3 is an ideal choice for personnel, equipment and asset tracking products, where in- and outdoor location sensing is critical.
swarm bee LE V3 based tags, when deployed with nanoANQ anchors and our IoT Platform, provide the most comprehensive real-time location system (RTLS) on the market today.
- Engage markets with a small footprint module – suiting wearables, asset tags or cap lamps
- Deliver higher performance applications by extending the range (+4dB RF Pout)
- Cut integration time with the tag ready swarm bee design
The swarm bee LE V3 is based upon the nanoLOC transceiver chipset. With a configurable transmission power output, the module is capable of radio range up to 1,000 m. Typical applications are 300 – 500 m. The increased output power further stabilizes the communication reliability and connection robustness.
Product Specifications
| Product Specification swarm bee LE V3 | |
| Features | |
|---|---|
| RF standard | Chirp, 2.4 GHz, ISM band |
| RF frequency range | 2.4 to 2.4835 GHz, (80 MHz BW) |
| RF transfer rates | 1 Mbps 80/1, 250 Kbps 80/4 |
| RF output power | Configurable, -12 to +20 dBm |
| RF sensitivity | 80/1 mode: -89 dBm typ. 80/4 mode: -95 dBm typ. |
| MCU type | ARM Cortex M4 |
| Software | |
| Firmware update | FOTA, over UART |
| Ranging and positioning | |
| Typ. airtime per ranging cycle | 1.8 ms |
| Ranging accuracy1 | 1 m |
| Range | TApp2.: 300-500 m, Cap3.: 1,000 m |
| Interfaces | |
| Host interface | UART (115 kbps to 1 Mbps) |
| RF interface | 50 Ohm RF Port |
| Other | 4x GPIOs, 1x ADC |
| Electrical data | |
| Supply voltage | 3.3 V to 5.5 V |
| Current consumption | |
| TX mode, active (+20 dBm) | max. 230 mA |
| RX mode, active | max. 55 mA |
| Standby mode | 6.5 mA |
| Nap mode | max. 20 µA4 |
| Snooze mode | max. 3 µA |
| Deep sleep | max. 3 µA |
| Package and dimensions | |
| Dimensions | 22 mm x 23 mm x 4.4 mm |
| Weight | 4 grams |
| Environmental and quality | |
| Operating temperature | -30°C to +85°C |
| 190%, 1-hour static, 10m distance, RSSI -65 dBm | |
| 2Typical Applications | |
| 3Range Capability |
|
| 4Mode dependent | |
swarm bee LE V2
swarm bee LE (Low Energy) V2 is a 2.4 GHz autonomous radio module based on nanotron’s second generation ranging and communication transceiver chip nanoLOC. It combines flexibility and integration with enhanced power management and includes simultaneous support for collaborative and fixed location systems.
The LE version serves applications for reliable distance or location information between 10 and 500 meters with an accuracy of about 1 meter. The integrated MEMS sensor can detect 3D acceleration as well as temperature.
Product Specifications
| Product Specification swarm bee LE V2 | |
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Frequency range | ISM band 2.4 GHz (2.4 – 2.4835 GHz) |
| Modulation | Chirp Spread Spectrum (CSS) |
| Transmission modes | 80 MHz, 1 Mbps or 250 Kbps (80/1 or 80/4 mode) |
| TOA capture accuracy | < 1 ns (better than 30 cm) |
| Typical air time per ranging cycle | 1.8 ms |
| RF output power | configurable – 22 t0 16 dBm |
| RF sensitivity | -89 dBm typ. @80/1 mode -95 dBm typ. @80/4 mode |
| RF interface | 50 Ω RF port (for external antenna) |
| Host interface (UART) | 500 bps ~ 2 Mbps |
| Power supply | 3 – 5.5 V |
| Max. supply voltage ripple | 20 mVpp |
| Active power consumption* | 120 mA during transmission, 60 mA during receive in 80/1 mode |
| Power consumption in sleep mode* | 5.5 mA (transceiver disabled, all peripherals on) |
| Power consumption in snooze mode* | 4.5 µA (transceiver disabled, all peripherals off, wake-up by timer) |
| Power consumption in nap mode** | 4.5 ~ 600 µA (transceiver disabled, all peripherals off, wake-up by interrupt) |
| Power consumption in deep-sleep mode* | < 1 µA (device completely disabled) |
| Operating temperature range | -30 ∼ 85 °C |
| Dimensions | 40 mm x 24 mm x 3.5 mm |
| Weight | 7 g |
| *Power consumption in all modes is measured at 20°C, 3.3 V. | |
| **Power consumption in nap mode depends on interrupt sources (GPIO pins or MEMS or both). | |
swarm bee ER
swarm bee ER (Enhanced Resolution) module combines nanotron’s technology-independent swarm family that cuts time-to-market for location-aware products with UWB technology for low-cost micro-location.
The ER version serves applications for very precise (10 cm) and reliable distance or location information between 0 and 50 meters. The integrated MEMS sensor can detect 3D acceleration as well as temperature.
Product Specifications
| Product Specification swarm bee ER | |
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Key Frequency Bands | 6 bands with fc from 3.5 to 6.5 GHz |
| Data rates | 110 kbps, 850 kbps, 6.8 Mbps |
| Packet size | up to 1023 Bytes |
| TOA capture accuracy | < 0.33 ns (10 cm) |
| Ranging distance | 50 m |
| RF output power | -14 or -10 dBm |
| Transmit power density | -41.3 dBm / MHz |
| RF sensitivity @110 Kbps | -100 dBm typ. * |
| RF sensitivity @6.8 Mbps | -90 dBm typ. * |
| RF interface | 50 Ω RF port (for external antenna) |
| Host interface (UART) | 115 kbps to 1 Mbps |
| Power supply | 3 – 5.5 V |
| Active power consumption TX | max. 170 mA |
| Active power consumption RX | max. 130 mA |
| Power consumption in sleep mode | 6.5 mA (transceiver disabled, all peripherals on) |
| Power consumption in snooze mode | max. 6 µA (transceiver disabled, all peripherals off, wake-up by timer) |
| Power consumption in nap mode | max. 20 µA (transceiver disabled, all peripherals off, wake-up by MEMS-interrupt) |
| Power consumption in nap mode | max. 500 µA (transceiver disabled, all peripherals off, wake-up by GPIO-interrupt) |
| Power consumption in deep-sleep mode | < 1 µA (device completely disabled) |
| Operating temperature range | -30 ∼ 85 °C |
| Dimensions | 40 mm x 24 mm x 3.5 mm |
| Weight | 7 g |
| * mode dependent | |
swarm API
swarm API is a hardware-independent Application Programming Interface (API) to realize the ranging functionality of swarm radio nodes. It provides high-level commands which act as interface with the hardware and can be used to develop complex applications in an easy and rapid way. One of them for instance returns the distance to a specified node.
The swarm API supports three protocols: ASCII, BINARY and AIR. The ASCII and BINARY options provide direct communication between an optional host controller and swarm radios using their serial interface. The AIR option provides wireless reconfiguration for swarm radio nodes.
There are several low power modes reducing the active stand-by consumption below 5 µA.
The API User Guide describes the API commands and how to use them.
swarm bee Development Kit Plus
The swarm bee Development Kit Plus (“DK Plus” for short) consists of several DK Plus Boards with antennas and PC software which includes swarm PC Tool and sniffer GUI. The kit helps users to get familiar with the functionalities of swarm bee module and develop their own applications rapidly. It is available as Chirp (LE) or UWB (ER) version.
Proven Wireless Technology
In our technology section you will find in-depth details about nanotron’s wireless technologies.