DigiKey-emag-IoT-Vol-2

Explore IoT innovations like 5G, Wi-Fi 6, and Ultra-Wide Band, transforming smart homes with smarter, faster, and more connected wireless technologies.

We get technical

IoT I Volume 2

Taking Matter into your own hands 5G putting the smart in today’s smart homes Is Ultra-Wide Band the next big wireless technology Wi-Fi 6 offering smart connections to smart homes

we get technical

4 Taking Matter into your own hands 12 5G putting the smart in today’s smart homes 18 Is Ultra-Wide Band (UWB) the next big wireless technology 26 Wi-Fi 6 offering smart connections to smart homes 32 How to use multiband embedded antennas in IoT designs 38 How to use GNSS modules to create location-aware smart city solutions 44 Connecting IoT nodes to Amazon AWS and Microsoft Azure Clouds 50 Use multiprotocol wireless modules to simplify IoT product design and certification

Editor’s note The Internet of Things (IoT) has emerged as a transformative and revolutionary concept, reshaping the way we interact with technology and the world around us. At the core of IoT is the seamless communication between devices, which enables them to work in tandem, share information, and make intelligent decisions without human intervention. Through the use of sensors, IoT devices can perceive their environment, gather data, and react accordingly, leading to a level of automation and efficiency that was once only imagined in science fiction. The applications of IoT are vast and diverse, permeating almost every aspect of our lives. In smart homes, IoT technology allows us to remotely control lighting, thermostats, and security systems, enhancing comfort and energy efficiency. In industrial automation, smart factories leverage IoT to optimise manufacturing processes, predict maintenance needs, and improve overall productivity. Whether you’re an entrepreneur seeking innovative solutions, a developer diving into IoT projects, or an individual curious about the evolving tech-driven world, this practical guide will equip you with a comprehensive understanding of the Internet of Things and its far-reaching implications.

For more information, please check out our website at www.digikey.com/ IoT .

we get technical

Taking Matter into your own hands: Increasing compatibility among smart home products

Written by: Paige West, Editor at Electronic Specifier

we get technical

Matter (formerly Project Connected Home over IP, or Project CHIP) is a new, royalty-free connectivity standard that promises to increase the compatibility among smart home products

Matter was founded in 2019 by the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA) with the goal of simplifying development for manufacturers and increasing compatibility for consumers It is built around members’ shared belief that smart home devices should be secure, reliable, and seamless to use. Matter has the potential to transform the Internet of Things (IoT) from a plethora of disconnected devices to an interoperable, ‘plug-and-play’ network. How does Matter work? To fully grasp the implications of Matter on the IoT, specifically smart home technologies and the working principle of this novel IoT standard, this section begins by exploring the several layers of the Open System Interconnection (OSI) reference model. The OSI reference model describes the tasks and conventions that network systems require to communicate with one another [1] . The specifications

Layer 7 - Application

Layer 6 - Presentation

Layer 5 - Session

Layer 4 - Transport

Layer 3 - Network

Layer 2 - Data Link

Layer 1 - Physical

Figure 1 presents the seven layers of the OSI reference model. The application layer, which doubles as the highest in the OSI model, is the closest to the end user. In other words, this layer allows users to directly interact with the software application that initiates communication between client and server. This first layer offers several communication functions, including file sharing, database access, and message handling through common protocols such as File Transfer Protocol (FTP), Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), Trivial File Transfer Protocol (TFTP), Server Figure 1. The seven layers of the OSI Reference Model

of the model includes assisting vendors and communications software developers to produce interoperable network systems. The structure of the OSI reference model relies on a widely accepted technique known as layering. This technique partitions communication functions into a vertical set of layers, with each performing a related set of functions while enriching and utilising the services of the next layer below. The ITU-T X.200 standards detail seven specific layers for the OSI reference model, including the physical, data link, network, transport, session, presentation, and application layers, in ascending order [2] .

of this conceptual model remain available for public

consumption, hence the term ‘open system’. The key objective

Message Block/Common Internet File System (SMB/CIFS), and Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP). A key distinction of the application layer from its counterparts is its ability to differentiate between the application entity and the application [3] . This distinction is evident in an e-transport website that incorporates the ride ordering logic into the application while using HTTP to communicate with customers and a remote database protocol to store orders. Moreover, end users can improve their interaction with the website through the protocol by simply clicking on a button. Matter utilises the OSI application layer-based working principle to enable communication between devices in smart homes due to the inability of the devices to rely on user interpretation. For instance, Matter can allow seamless communication between a smart light switch and light bulb and a thermostat and furnace. Figure 2 presents the Matter IoT standard architecture overview. The Matter standard defines several functionalities for its application layer. However, these functionalities fit into three primary areas: ■ Device installation and setup for customers ■ Sending and receiving messages among smart devices and message content

Project Connected Home over IP Application Layer

TCP

UDP

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IPv6

Network

Thread

IPv6 for BLE (TED)

Physical and Media

WiFi

DOCSIS DSL

Cellular

Ethernet

802.15.4

Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE)

Figure 2. Matter Standard Architecture Pyramid. Credit: GitHub

Device security requirements

defined standards, smart device manufacturers can incorporate relevant features and user controls into user interface devices such as an Alexa voice-activated speaker, iPhone, and so on (see application section). With its advanced security capabilities, Matter ensures secure over-the-air software updates across all devices in the smart home network. Put briefly, Matter will ensure the reliable and seamless connectivity between devices in smart home applications. When a customer receives a device designed with the Matter standard, that device will come preloaded with relevant sets of credentials and software that prove its unique certification status. The user can then add this Matter- incorporated device by scanning a QR code with their smartphone and pressing the pair button on

Matter promises device-to- device interoperability, which can significantly boost customer confidence by defining a standard for each of the above areas. In terms of device installation and setup, Matter involves a few steps: these include the secure installation of the device to the home network, naming the device, pairing the device with other smart devices within the network and setting up normal operations. Note that the user can add the device to the smart home network via a simple pairing mechanism supported by Amazon, Apple, Google, and other manufacturers. Moreover, Matter defines application-level messaging, security, as well as data types and formats. Due to Matter-

we get technical

Taking Matter into your own hands

the device. After verifying the initial credentials of the device, the smartphone will then set up the user network. After this, the device comes online and is ready for use, enabling seamless control with a smartphone or any other smart device in the smart home network (for example, a speaker or a smartwatch, smart refrigerator, and so on). Figure 3 outlines the steps for adding a Matter-incorporated device to a smart home network. Matter components Matter deploys its application layer on devices, controllers, and IPv6 (internet protocol version 6)-based networks to enhance the interoperability architectural goal. Moreover, the standard supports Wi-Fi and Thread for core, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), and operational communications for device setup and commissioning simplification. The main features of the Matter application layer include the following [4] : The application, which supports the high order business logic of a device The data model that describes the functionalities of devices The interaction model represents a set of actions for interaction with the devices Action framing, which frames the action initially constructed

Figure 3. Adding a Matter-incorporated device to a smart home network. Credit: Infineon Technologies

Application

Figure 4. Main components of matter application layer. Credit: GitHub

Data Model Structure

Interaction Model Actions

Action Framing

Security: Encryption & Signing

Message Framing & Routing

IP Framing & Transport Management

Figure 5. A map that shows how Wi-Fi and Thread devices will connect in a Matter network, as well as how Z-Wave devices could be bridged into the Matter network. Z-Wave (and Zigbee) networks have IP at the gateway level enabling cloud connectivity to Matter. Credit: Z-Wave Alliance

categories include lightbulbs, light switches, lighting controllers, plugs and outlets, door locks, thermostats and HVAC controllers, blinds and shades, home security sensors, garage door controllers, wireless access points, bridges, televisions, streaming video players, and smart home control devices. Matter 1.1 enhances support for Intermittently Connected Devices (ICDs). Sometimes called ‘sleepy devices,’ these are typically battery- powered devices like contact, motion, and temperature sensors as well as door locks and switches that need to conserve power for optimal operation and lifespan. The additional support reduces the likelihood that a device will be reported as offline when users or platforms interact with it. Smart lighting Smart lighting is arguably one of the most popular aspects of a smart home, allowing users to dim, brighten and even change the colour of their lights wirelessly. Smart lighting company WiZ was one of the first to update all its smart bulbs, lamps, and plugs manufactured in early 2021 or later to Matter. The latest version of the company’s app, WiZ v2, introduces a convenient feature that allows users to seamlessly transfer any compatible product to the new smart home standard within the app itself. Once migrated, these products can be easily integrated

by the interaction model into a prescriptive packed binary format Security layer that receives the encoded action frame for further encryption, ensuring data security and authentication Message framing and routing layer for payload format construction and message properties and routing information specification The IP framing and transport management layer sends the constructed payload to the underlying transport protocol for data IP management The project has set a goal of a twice-yearly release cycle. Matter 1.1 was released in May 2023 – the updates in 1.1 make it easier for device makers and developers to get started with Matter, and to more easily certify products they’ve developed and get them to users faster. There is also enhanced support for battery-operated devices which is an important feature across many smart home categories. Developers interested in learning more about these enhancements can access the software development kit (SDK) on GitHub [4] or download the specifications from the Alliance website [5] . Benefits of Matter Key benefits that Matter bring to smart home technology include advanced security, universal interoperability, seamless user

experiences, reliable connectivity, state-of-the-art control and compute, and intuitive sensing [6] . The development of the Matter standard has experienced the incorporation of a proven, robust, and pervasive security against data and privacy breaches. Moreover, Matter ensures that products from all project members will work seamlessly together, allowing easy control with a preferred system. Matter also enables the co-existence of several low-power wireless solutions to ensure reliable connectivity for the smart home network. Additionally, this new IoT standard ensures advanced control and computation through low-power, high-performance microcontrollers (MCUs) that utilise human-machine interface (HMI), AI, display, sensing, and security, and ensure intuitive sensing through highly accurate and reliable smart device situational awareness. Smart home applications This section looks at some of the Matter-enabled products currently on the market and how some of the biggest brands in consumer electronics have deployed the new technology, which runs on supported IP networks like Wi-Fi and Thread (Figure 5). Matter’s 1.0 version supports a subset (albeit a significant one) of smart home product categories and the features within each. These

we get technical

Taking Matter into your own hands

into any Matter-compatible platform, such as Apple Home. Philips Hue users will be able to benefit from greater interoperability when the Philips Hue Bridge smart lighting hub is automatically enriched with Matter. The smart lighting hub connects and controls all Philips Hue products, from indoor and outdoor lights to entertainment features, smart accessories, and more. Once Matter has been incorporated, users will benefit from a simplified connected experience when integrating with other smart home devices. Smart security Smart security systems are an integral part of the smart home. Perhaps one of the most significant announcements in this area comes from Netatmo which announced its first Matter product in 2022: a smart security sensor. Designed to improve home security, the sensor is equipped with a contact sensor and infrared motion detector and can be placed on windows and doors to detect their opening. With Matter and Thread compatibility, the sensor can interact with other connected products around the house regardless of the given brand. Amazon Alexa Amazon had previously limited the activation of Matter-over-Wi-Fi to

Figure 6. Amazon is bringing Matter to Alexa devices. Credit: Amazon

Google Assistant, the Google Home app, Android Power Controls, and compatible Google devices. Devices with Thread built-in like Nest Wi-Fi, Nest Hub Max and the second-generation Nest Hub will become connection points for Matter devices. All Nest displays and speakers (the Nest Hub and Nest Mini) will automatically update to control Matter devices. This will create stronger and faster connectivity across the smart home and give users a more reliable experience. Google has also partnered with Samsung to build a smoother Multi- Admin experience. When launching the Google Home app, users will now have the ability to view Matter devices that have been configured using Samsung SmartThings. Users can effortlessly incorporate these devices into the Google Home ecosystem, and vice versa, enabling seamless integration between the two platforms.

a selection of its smart speakers, and the configuration of a Matter device with Alexa was restricted to Android phones. However, Amazon has expanded its support for Matter by enabling it on all second-generation smart speakers, including the Echo Plus, Echo Dot, and Echo. This brings the total count of Amazon Alexa Matter controllers to 20, providing users with more options for controlling their smart home devices. Amazon has said that it will extend its Frustration-Free Setup (FFS) to make Matter set up even easier with Alexa. No device side software development kit (SDK) is needed to support Frustration-Free Setup for Matter devices. Google Nest and Android Google has brought Matter to its Nest and Android products. Users can control Matter devices instantly via Matter-enabled Android apps,

specification with 1,135 new products certified by the Alliance. Matter’s momentum has resulted in more than 60 members joining the Alliance since the specification’s release. Members are now focused on making Matter easier to use and getting products to market. An Interoperability Testing Facility (ITF) has opened in Portland, Oregon providing interoperability testing services to members of the Alliance. It includes a range of Matter controllers, hubs, and end devices configured to check the most typical sets of devices and installation configurations found in residential settings. The next version of Matter, with new features and device type support, is expected late 2023.

Can Matter deliver on its promise? As this discussion has illustrated, Matter is well on its way to becoming the common language for all smart devices. Despite being delayed three times, the promise of a more safe, reliable, and seamless network for smart devices can now be visualised. Tobin Richardson, CEO of the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA), believes that Matter will signify “the end of walled gardens in the smart home” and “open the field for better experiences by any manufacturer” supported by a global, secure, and open standard for interoperability. Since the release of Matter 1.0 in October 2022, there have been 17,991 downloads of the

Samsung SmartThings Samsung has unveiled a Matter- certified smart home hub that serves as a central device capable of connecting and configuring multiple smart home devices from various brands. The Samsung SmartThings Station allows users to connect various devices such as thermostats, lighting fixtures, and power outlets, among others, all from a convenient mobile app. Moreover, the Station hub includes a dedicated button that can be programmed with different tap patterns to activate personalised and specific routines according to the user’s preferences. For Samsung Galaxy device owners, the Station offers an additional benefit of tracking registered products like their phone or a Galaxy SmartTag. SmartThings is an open platform that brings together devices, developers, and services into a large integrated ecosystem. Matter-enabled devices will join other products and brands already available within the SmartThings’ ecosystem, including devices from Google, eve Systems, Honeywell Home by Resideo, Linksys, Nanoleaf, Philips Hue, Schlage, Wemo, and Yale.

References: 1. Jasud, Ms. Priti V. The OSI Model: Overview on the Seven Layers of Computer Networks International Journal for Innovative Research in Science & Technology 2.ITU-T X.200 standard International Telecommunications Union 3.Tomsho, Greg. Guide to Networking Essentials, 7th Edition 2016 Cengage Learning 4.Project CHIP, Connected Home IP Github 5. Matter 1.1 Specifications Connectivity Standards Alliance 6. The new revolutionary standard for smart home: Matter Infineon Technologies

we get technical

5G putting the ‘smart’ in today’s smart homes

Written by: Sam Holland, Editor at IoT Insider

5G is a crucial and ever-more prevalent communications technology throughout urban

This is vital as it is a flawed notion that a home becomes a smart home as soon as its Internet capabilities have successfully facilitated the use of one or more smart devices, such as voice- activated systems like smart speakers (discussed later). Again, while smart speakers are an increasingly common feature of traditional modern homes, they are not a prerequisite for, or even necessarily a defining characteristic of, a smart home. With the importance of connectivity, reliability, and automation in mind, this discussion will consider the value of 5G in wearable technologies and other smart devices in smart homes. The next pages will cover 5G’s technical specifications before going on to discuss the technology’s chief features that facilitate smart device performance, miniaturisation, automation, and more.

areas, particularly smart cities. Far from simply a boost in smartphone Internet speeds, 5G is purpose- built for on-the-go activities such as location services, augmented reality, and even mission-critical applications like driver assistance systems What is less well known, however, is that 5G is also suited to smart homes and their applications. As the following sections will discuss, 5G can offer functionality that is similar to that of Wi-Fi, along with even higher reliability and security. This is particularly when compared to the iterations that precede Wi-Fi 6 (namely the most recent version of Wi-Fi that is discussed elsewhere in this ebook). Defining smart homes in the context of 5G To detail the benefits of 5G in a smart home, it is important to consider the particular way in which the word ‘smart’ will be used to consider the value of 5G and its applications. The word ‘smart’ will be used in this discussion to qualify a level of Internet connectivity that facilitates the reliable interoperation of connected consumer devices. This is to the point that such smart devices can collectively achieve a degree of automation that cannot be supported by traditional Internet-connected homes.

from 8 to 10 milliseconds. However, industry leaders such as Verizon have reported a 5G latency of 30 milliseconds during its early deployment. Various observations have identified a reduced 5G latency of 10 to 20 milliseconds close to 5G towers and an increased 5G latency of 50 to 500 milliseconds during handovers. 5G also leverages an adaptive modulation and coding scheme to maintain an ultra-low bit error rate. For low-band, mid-band, and high- band 5G, the estimated ranges are respectively: ■ 600 to 900 megahertz

5G technical specifications

5G technology offers improved capabilities compared to preceding communications technologies in terms of speed, latency, error rate, and range. With an estimated speed ranging from 50Mbit/s (megabits per second) to over 1,000Mbit/s – in other words 1 gigabits per second – 5G technology has the capacity to be 10 times faster than 4G. On top of this, 5G offers a theoretical air latency that ranges

■ 1.7 to 4.7 gigahertz ■ 24 to 47 gigahertz

The high speeds of 5G do still require a consideration of users’ network infrastructure to be best utilised, however. Reflective of this, the next section discusses the concept of 5G network slicing [1] . Network slicing 5G technology has the capability of supporting several smart home

we get technical

5G putting the ‘smart’ in today’s smart homes

block, which manages all of the three above-mentioned layers to ensure the efficient coordinated coexistence of multiple slices The service layer interfaces with 5G network business entities that share the underlying physical network (such entities may be mobile virtual network operators and third-party service providers, for instance), and it also provides appropriate service requirements. The network function layer ensures the development of each network slice in line with the service instance requests from the upper layer. The infrastructure layer, on the other hand, provides the physical network topology required for 5G network multiplexing and the physical network resources needed to host several network functions in each slice.

applications, many of which will be covered throughout this discussion. Correspondingly, users are increasingly incorporating a network slicing concept into their smart home systems to achieve the high efficiency and reliability that is required of their interconnected smart devices. 5G network slicing is the process by which a network architecture allows virtual and independent network multiplexing, all within the same physical network infrastructure. In the context of smart homes, such a use of 5G network slicing ensures that the network slices meet various requirements for specific smart home applications by establishing an isolated end- to-end network. The following paragraphs explore the following: A generic 5G network slicing framework A typical 5G network slicing case for a smart home network To address the former, Figure 1 [2] presents an architecture that maps out common elements of different solutions into a unified, generic framework. The framework comprises two blocks: A three-tier architecture block, which includes the service layer, network function layer, and infrastructure layer

The following subsection presents a 5G network slicing use case that reflects the capability of 5G to boost the efficiency of smart home systems. Figure 2 [3] illustrates a typical 5G network slicing framework for smart homes. To meet the security requirements of smart home security systems, engineers specialised in 5G will usually isolate the system into a dedicated end-to-end network slice. Such engineers assign an AUSF (Authentication Server Function) for the system to carry out the device authentication before granting access to a network slice. The network slice for eMBB (enhanced Mobile Broadband) network slice, moreover, ensures the connectivity of high data rate-intensive devices,

Service Layer

Virtual mobile operator

3rd party service provider

Network Layer Function

Network function

Network operation

Infrastructure Layer

Radio Access network

Transport Network

Core network

Figure 1. A diagram that covers the generic framework for 5G network slicing. Credit: Foukas et al. (2017)

The network slice controller

Access Network

Core Network

Figure 2. Smart home 5G network slicing Credit: Dzogovic et al.

Smart Home Security Slice

AUSF

RAN

UPF DN AF

Fixed Access

UDM

AMF

NRF

SMF

AUSF

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NEF

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Massive IoT Slice

UPF DN

including tablets, smartphones, cameras, and laptops. Users can gain access to this network slice through a single, comprehensive subscription for home and mobile devices for individuals or an entire household. In contrast to eMBB, the Massive IoT network slice ensures lower data rate connectivity for low- power devices, such as sensors (smoke/gas detectors, motion sensors, proximity sensors, and so on), and other home appliances, including coffee machines, washing machines, air conditioners, electric cookers, and refrigerators. The next section discusses the benefits of 5G’s capacity to accommodate both high data rate- intensive and low-power devices.

wearable sensor adoption, and the potential for device miniaturisation (discussed later). Existing smart home devices face significant challenges [4] in terms of their ability to communicate and interact with each other. Providing a solution to these limitations, 5G offers a unified wireless standard [5] , which offers users’ smart home ecosystems a significant boost in interoperability. Moreover, the low latency of the technology allows users and stakeholders to see rapid improvements in smart home functions, some of which are covered in the following subsections.

Benefits of 5G for smart home applications 5G exhibits faster broadband speeds than Wi-Fi 5 and its preceding iterations. It offers a LPWAN (low-power wide-area network), making it suitable for smart home products that rely on reliable and constant connectivity. With its high capacity and wireless infrastructure, the technology respectively allows the connection of more devices than a local network-enabled smart home system and limited reliance on existing wired infrastructure. 5G technology also offers other benefits in a wide range of smart home applications, including improved interoperability, low latency, enhanced encryption, advanced connectivity, increased

we get technical

5G putting the ‘smart’ in today’s smart homes

intensive it is for the IVAs’ software to digitally process their users’ voice data, largely due to the complexity of both human speech patterns and natural language itself. Currently, smart speaker manufacturers attempt to counteract this challenge by focusing on moving their products’ voice processing capabilities from the Cloud to the Edge, but the speed of such a system is still flawed owing to most users’ Wi-Fi limitations. When compared to both 4G and Wi-Fi 5, the low latency of 5G has the potential to bring a marked increase in the speed of all manner of voice- controlled systems – not just those in stationary smart speakers, but those in on-the-go interfaces such as the iPhone-based version of Siri.

to patients in the comfort of their homes. The collective term for devices that enable users to experience a remote or virtual location as if they are physically present in that location is ‘telepresence’, which will be vital to the accuracy and safety of remote healthcare diagnoses and treatments. Aided by a rise in wearable sensors, 5G may offer the precision needed for telepresence which preceding technologies will not be able to achieve. 5G-enabled Cloud computing is also facilitating the migration of processing power to conventional hardware systems, which is bringing a significant level of miniaturisation to existing devices. This is leading to greater viability for lightweight and compact devices that may ensure a better experience for smart home users. This is particularly important for at-home patients whose wearable sensors would otherwise be uncomfortable and unwieldy. Considering the future of smart homes As this discussion has covered, the connectivity, reliability, and accuracy of 5G offer technological benefits that range from network slicing to advancements in medical technology.

Speed and security in voice-activated smart home systems

In a smart home, 5G-enabled voice-activated systems (such as smart speakers) can receive voice commands from its user and achieve a near-instantaneous response, translating to higher user safety and security. Consider that hackers can exploit the vulnerability of existing smart home systems, particularly when their devices are both connected by and reliant on the 128-bit encryption of 4G. By offering a security standard with twice as many bits as its predecessor, 5G’s 256-bit encryption means that it is far better designed than its latest predecessor for protecting smart home devices from cyber attacks. (Malicious agents will require 2,256 different combinations to break a 256-bit encryption system, which renders the hacking process virtually impossible.) 5G also offers smart speakers, such as Amazon Echos and Google Homes, the ability to expedite the rate at which intelligent virtual assistant (IVA) software, such as Alexa, can respond to a user’s spoken commands. Smart speakers, which are connected to traditional Wi-Fi routers, are in increasing use throughout modern (not even necessarily smart) homes. However, they are restricted in terms of their response times. This is owing to how compute-

Healthcare Wearables and Hardware Miniaturisation

5G offers wide-scale connectivity improvements compared to previous networks. Such enhancements from 4G mean that the technology can significantly boost the adoption of smart home systems across several areas. For instance, industry predictions [6] refer to a notable boost in 5G-enabled wearable sensors adoption, which is beneficial for monitoring the wellbeing of users both in and out of the smart home. 5G allows medical personnel to offer effective communication and remote medical assistance

These advantages, among many others, mean that there are innumerable smart home capabilities offered by the

fifth generation of cellular communications. The question does arise, however: how will 5G support what are (at the time of writing) only prospective commercial smart devices? To revisit the earlier discussion of defining a smart home, consider once more that the term ‘smart’ hinges on how much automation is offered by the user’s domestic devices. In view of this, perhaps the future of the 5G-connected smart home will involve commercial home robots that offer users a level of home automation [6] that cannot be realised by even the most efficient smart devices on the market today.

References: 1. Shunliang Zhang. An Overview of Network Slicing for 5G 2019 Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 2. Xenofon Foukas, Georgios Patounas, Ahmed Elmokashfi, Mahesh K. Marina. Network Slicing in 5G: Survey and Challenges 2017 Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 3.Linh-An Phan and Taehong Kim. Breaking Down the Compatibility Problem in Smart Homes: A Dynamically Updatable Gateway Platform 2020 National Library of Medicine 4.Everything you need to know about 5G. Qualcomm 5.5G, the Internet of Things (IoT) and Wearable Devices GSMA 2019 6.Revolutionizing Wearables for 5G: 5G Technologies: Recent Developments and Future Perspectives for Wearable Devices and Antennas 2017 Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)

we get technical

Is Ultra-Wideband (UWB) the next big wireless technology for smart homes?

The absence of highly accurate indoor location technologies is currently hindering the smart home from becoming truly interconnected and fully automated [1] . Ultra-wideband (or UWB) has the potential to solve this problem – it is a fast, secure, and low power radio technology used to determine location with precise accuracy. UWB is not a new technology (Figure 1): it was originally used for military radar applications but for various reasons, such as power restrictions, it was unable to succeed. However, it has recently re-emerged and since 2019, UWB has evolved and expanded into mainstream consumer technology. With the help of organisations like the UWB Alliance and the FiRa Consortium, who are dedicated to the promotion and growth of the technology, it has been predicted that by 2025 there will be over one billion annual device shipments of UWB technology [1] . Due to its high-accuracy, reliability, and robustness, UWB can offer a

much more seamless, automated and personalised experience within the smart home which will be the focus for the remainder of this article.

Written by: Paige West, Editor at Electronic Specifier

How UWB works

One key difference between conventional radio transmissions

and UWB is the nature of information transmission.

Conventional systems transmit information by varying several elements, including the phase of a sinusoidal wave, power levels, and frequency. UWB-based transmissions, on the other hand, generate radio energy at specific time intervals, occupy large bandwidths, and enable time modulation or pulse position. UWB can also encode pulse polarity and amplitude or use orthogonal pulses to transmit information. Industry leaders are increasingly incorporating this technology into several devices for a wide range of applications, including security, patient monitoring, entertainment, and general smart

UWB History

1960-1990s

2000s

2007

2020

Restricted to Military Radar G. Marconi’s first experiments with UWB on spark-gap transmitters in transatlantic radio communication and its use for military radar applications

Orthogonal Frequency- Divinsion Multiplexing (OFDM) Adapted for use as an OFDM technology and standardised in IEEE.802: 15.3 as an ultra-high data rate transfer method

Ranging and Low Power Consumption

Secure Fine Ranging

Specified in IEEE 802.15.4z and in standardisation process by FiRa Consortium

Figure 1: The history of UWB. Credit: ABI Research

Specified in IEEE 802.15.4a UWB has been resurrected as an impulse radio technology used for ranging

we get technical

Is Ultra-Wideband (UWB) the next big wireless technology for smart homes?

motion tracking by ensuring the UWB radio- equipped devices could carry out the following: ■ localise themselves to each other ■ track the changes in the channel impulse response of each communication channel ■ fuse each observed change into a position estimate of a nearby person

to digital bits, modulates it in the UWB pulse generator, and transmits it through the UWB antenna. The energy detection receiver then demodulates the received data and uploads it to the middleware at the receiver side, ensuring adequate temperature monitoring in smart homes. Since users prefer to access environmental parameters measured by the sensor nodes through a hardware- independent interface in smart home applications, this use case incorporates a software infrastructure. Figure 4 presents the software framework. The image to the left shows the software infrastructure layout, while the right represents the measured temperature layout. A dedicated interface of the software framework receives all the information coming from the wireless sensor nodes (WSNs). Relevant information (i.e., temperature measurement) remains available for the end- user to view and manage in the application-client layer of the framework. This UWB- enabled software-hardware integration aids the deployment

Figure 2: Schematic for UWB Radio-Equipped Devices for Smart Home Applications. Credit: Ledergerber & D’Andrea (2020)

To further explore the working principles of a UWB- equipped smart home system, the remainder of this section explores a use case: one that incorporates a low-energy UWB sensor node software and hardware design into room temperature monitoring. Figure 3 presents a typical UWB system architecture and refers (left to right) to the UWB signal transmitter and receiver within the sensor node and the control system, respectively. To summarise the working principle of the UWB system architecture, the sensor node converts the physical information, e.g., room temperature,

home applications [2] , e.g., light and temperature monitoring and control (see applications section). To further consider monitoring applications, UWB radio-equipped devices can track movements within their surroundings by detecting channel impulse response changes of each communication channel and intersecting their corresponding multi-static radar network. Figure 2 presents a conceptualised UWB-based monitoring application. Designers of this simplified UWB- based system achieved adequate

Figure 3: UWB System Architecture. Credit: Khajenasiri et al. (2014)

Controller & Interface

Micro Controller

Sensor

UWB Rx

UWB Tx

Middleware

UWB Signal

Power Supply

large channel capacity of UBW signals on the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) allows them to thrive in noisy environments. Carrier-free signal The capability of UWB technology to directly modulate data in the form of pulses during transmission significantly minimises hardware requirements for incorporating this technology into smart home systems. Moreover, this capability results in lower implementation costs given that UWB does not require advanced equipment such as equalisers, frequency mixers, shaping filters, and digital to analogue converters.

of adequate solutions for overall energy management in smart homes, depending on customer requirements. Other smart home applications will be explored later in this article. Table 1 compares some existing wireless connection standards, alongside UWB. The table shows that UWB offers the lowest energy per bit and the highest maximum bit rate. Moreover, UWB is widely associated with high data rates, low power consumption, and wide bandwidth. Other key characteristics of the ultra- wideband technology include large channel capacity, carrier-free signalling, innovative modulation techniques, and resistance to multipath fading and jamming [3] .

to create pulses and minimise interference in UWB signals. While PPM shifts the pulses in the time domain to result in small time duration pulses (approximately 1ns), CDMA and OFDMA prevent the possible interception of signals by nearby users and eliminate signal interference, respectively. Resistance to multipath fading and jamming The wide bandwidth of a UWB signal makes it resistant to multipath fading, which is a common occurrence in narrowband signals. Moreover, unlike narrowband signals that jamming devices can easily block, these devices cannot completely block UWB signals. Benefits of UWB UWB is beneficial in smart home applications for access control, real-time location systems (RTLS), device tracking, indoor navigation, point-and-trigger control, etc [4] . UWB can track the exact locations of smart home users when they enter or exit their homes, allowing them instant and hands-free access after verifying their security credentials. This wireless tracking capability of the technology makes it ideal for access control in smart home systems. Incorporating UWB technology into smart home systems allows

Technical specifications of UWB

Standard Energy per bit (nJ/bit)

Maximum bit rate (Mb/s)

Maximum range (m)

ZigBee

296

0.25

Bluetooth 34

Wi-Fi UWB

130

100

Table 1: Comparison of Various Wireless Standards. Credit: Khajenasiri et al. (2015)

Large channel capacity The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) describes any signal with a bandwidth of over 500MHz as an ultra-wideband signal. The independence of the

Modulation techniques

UWB uses Pulse Position Modulation (PPM), Code-Division Multiple Access (CDMA), and Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) techniques

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Is Ultra-Wideband (UWB) the next big wireless technology for smart homes?

LinkSmart Application Client

Early Morning

Day

Night

Figure 4: Software Framework for the UWB Temperature Monitoring Application. Credit: Khajenasiri et al. (2014)

Internet

Gateway

LinkSmart web-services

Database

TelosB Interface

cc2530 Interface

STM300 Interface

UWB Interface

10 Time (hour)

TelosB WSN

cc2530 WSN

STM300 WSN

UWB WSN

(a)

(b)

caregivers to track patient movements within their homes through a Real-Time Locating System (RTLS). This application is possible due to the capability of UWB to deliver centimetre- level location accuracy, ultra-low latency, and robustness in harsh environments. Users can also track personal items by incorporating a UWB tag into them (see application section). This technology offers higher accuracy, directional, and lower latency positioning than other alternatives, such as the Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) solution, which has a significant dominance in this space. Moreover, designers can integrate UWB and BLE solutions into a single personal tracking device for initial pairing and handover.

provide accurate positioning within buildings and exceptional performance in non-line-of-sight scenarios makes it ideal for indoor smart home navigation. Although voice-activated commands are the de-facto standard for simple tasks, several home automation and control tasks are hard to describe. However, with the high accuracy and direction capabilities of UWB signals, users can use smartphones to detect the specific

smart home device or appliance and perform specific operations using the relevant control panel in the smartphone display. This ‘point-and-trigger’ functionality is ideal for turning off and on a TV, changing radio stations, turning up the thermostat, casting audio or video from a smartphone to the TV or speaker, selecting the colour or brightness of a smart light bulb, etc.

Figure 5: UWB for Point- and-Trigger Control. Credit: NXP

The capability of UWB to

Figure 6: UWB smart lock application. Credit: NXP

VBAT

Level Shifter

VDD

Level Shifter

PC PC SPI SPI

VBAT

SPIFI

UWB Module

BLE Module

Flash

INT

SPP

VDD

Level Shifter

VBAT

SPI

SE + NFC

PMIC

Level Shifter

VBAT

VBAT VDD

NXP Technology

Non NXP Technology

Optional Technology

smartphone, adding an additional layer of security, and interactions can range from something as simple as status LEDs to LCD panels with touchscreen control. NXP provide a variety of connectivity options like UWB and supply analogue components to complete the design of the smart lock (Figure 6).

recognition location has been reduced from 50cm to under 10cm. The more precisely a digital car key module detects the location of a smartphone, the more diverse and more convenient functions can be implemented. A similar application has been developed by Bosch: its perfectly keyless system, based on UWB technology, has a 20cm localisation accuracy and, similarly to the

Smart home applications Charlie Zhang, Board Chair of the FiRa Consortium and Senior Vice President, Engineering, Samsung Research America, sees many exciting new applications that can benefit from UWB technology, and this section explores some of the most promising in more detail – namely, residential access control and the tracking of personal devices, as mentioned in the previous segment. Smart lock Physical and information security is a growing concern in the connected world. Smart locks are one piece of the puzzle in controlling access to both information and physical spaces.

Smart keys

Digital car keys allow users to unlock/lock their car door or start the engine using a smartphone. LG Innotek has developed a digital car key module that utilises UWB technology. The digital key can detect the location of a smartphone five times more precisely than existing key modules. The module’s error range between the actual smartphone’s location and the

Figure 7: Perfectly keyless system uses UWB technology to automatically unlock a car. Credit: Bosch

A smart lock can use UWB to communicate with a user’s

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Is Ultra-Wideband (UWB) the next big wireless technology for smart homes?

Figure 8: SmartThings Find uses Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) and ultra- wideband (UWB) technologies to help people find select Galaxy smartphones, tablets, smartwatches and earbuds. Credit: Samsung

Smart sensing One of UWB’s unique aspects is that is can be used in radar type functions. NOVELDA, developer of the world’s most accurate and reliable human presence sensor, released a UWB sensor for the smart home that uses impulse radar to give any device the ability to accurately sense human presence. By detecting the tiny movements humans make when we breathe, the sensor can detect human presence even if subjects are lying under a duvet or wearing layers of clothing. This level of presence detection will provide more accurate touch- free interaction with smart home devices such as touchless-screen displays, lighting, HVAC control and wireless health monitors.

above, can unlock the user’s car automatically as they approach, start the engine, and even guide users to their car in large parking areas. The smartphone only connects with the digital system when it is within the communication range of the vehicle (Figure 7). Smartphone Smartphones are set to lead the UWB market [1] . The first company to apply the technology was Apple, which integrated UWB into its U1 chip for the iPhone 11 in September 2019. The technology can also be found in Apple’s AirDrop. With AirDrop, UWB provides spatial awareness capabilities, enabling two UWB- enabled iPhones (or other devices in the future) to register that they are pointed at each other, allowing for wireless data transfer. Apple is also expected to release UWB- enabled personal trackers, AirTags, which will allow users to locate lost items with an UWB-enabled iPhone.

applications, Samsung’s Galaxy Note20 Ultra features UWB technology. The smartphone contains NXP’s Secure UWB fine- ranging solution, bringing users powerful tools to help maximise their time and simplify their daily routines. UWB is also enhancing Samsung’s Nearby Share app for device-to- device file transfers. Users simply need to point their phone at another UWB-equipped device and Nearby Share automatically lists that device at the top of their sharing panel. Samsung has also integrated UWB into its SmartThings Find application (Figure 8) which uses augmented reality (AR) to show users the exact direction, distance, and location of other UWB-equipped devices. For example, the Galaxy SmartTag+ is currently being equipped with UWB technology so it can pinpoint the location of items such as bags, keys, and purses with greater accuracy.

The future of UWB

As this discussion has highlighted, UWB is ideally suited for the high-precision ranging, low power consumption, high data rates and wide bandwidth requirements for next generation consumer electronic devices and smart home appliances.

However, whilst the technology is

Now switching to Android

not new, consumer awareness is still lacking. This need for greater awareness is just one of many hurdles the technology still needs to overcome – others include standardisation, interoperability and widespread chipset and device availability. Having said that, UWB is on its way to becoming the next big wireless technology for smart homes. A major milestone was reached in August 2020 with the publication of the next-gen IEEE 802.15.4z UWB standard. The standard saw improvements in ranging integrity and multiple other technical advances with updates to the High Rate PRF (HRP), and Low Rate PRF (LRP) UWB PHY Physical layers, as well as the MAC layer clauses in the IEEE 802.15.4 standard. 2021 saw the FiRa Consortium launch the initial phase of its certification programme. The programme is the first to provide baseline testing and certification focused on UWB’s pinpoint location and spacing capabilities, one of the key steps needed to facilitate interoperability of devices. The first products were certified at the end of 2021 and many more are expected to be certified over the coming years. In 2022, SPARK Microsystems, a Canadian fabless semiconductor company specialising in next- generation UWB, and the UWB Alliance, an international non- profit organisation dedicated to the promotion and growth of the

UWB industry, initiated a joint effort to test the coexistence and aggregation capabilities of UWB technology in environments where other UWB or other wireless protocols and radio devices are in use. Preliminary results of phase one with multiple UWB devices indicate generally good coexistence performance, with the tested devices showing no measurable performance impact from other interfering UWB devices.

In summary, it has been noted by Zhang that “UWB is fast becoming a pillar of wireless local connectivity technology alongside Wi-Fi and Bluetooth” and it has been predicted that UWB’s adoption within smartphones and vehicles will be a catalyst for large scale adoption across a range of IoT applications [1] .

References: 1. Zignani, Andrew; Tomsett, Stephanie. Ultra-Wideband (UWB) For The IoT - A Fine Ranging Revolution ABI Research 2.Iman Khajenasiri; Peng Zhu; Marian Verhelst; Georges Gielen Low- energy UWB transceiver implementation for smart home energy management Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 3.P.S, Sharma; Vijay Sandeep; Shukla, Manoj. Ultra-Wideband Technology: Standards, Characteristics, Applications Research Gate August 2020 4.Zignani, Andrew How UWB Expands Into the IoT - Where We Stand Today NXP Semiconductors

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