UWB new market insights
Insights into UWB Technology from a survey within 60 companies regarding the main priorities, trend and development of UWB
Recent market insights into Ultra-Wideband (UWB) technology have surfaced through a survey conducted by Ulink Media, based in Shenzhen, China, renowned as the organizer of the IoT Expo (IOTE EXPO) in China. This survey engaged 60 prominent companies, shedding light on the prevailing trends within the UWB technology market.
The results gathered from this survey offer several insights into the trajectory of UWB technology, encompassing emerging trends, potential advancements, and crucial market dynamics.
The main points that have caught my attention are:
The Chinese Android phone makers set for rapid UWB chip adoption and Qualcomm is estimated to integrate UWB in 5G chipset by 2024 to propel Android uptake. This point is very clear as UWB has to face a limited adoption on Android smartphones. Qualcomm's integration of UWB across various Android devices is crucial, fostering widespread implementation and triggering a rapid adoption curve among Android smartphone manufacturers. Once Qualcomm starts to integrate UWB into its 5G platform chipsets, then the roadmap will be clearer accordingly. Additionally, it is important to consider that also Qualcomm’s competitor, Mediatek, may follow and might propose UWB technology into its mobile platform chipset.
Industry demands cost-effective and low-power UWB solutions; manufacturers are urged to lower prices and prioritize power efficiency to meet market needs. UWB chipsets have to be much more competitive in terms of power consumption and pricing. UWB in order to acquire new uses and market share have to be attractive, enhancing precision with a good pricing balance. To satisfy these needs there are already made several improvements, such as: improving the process node of the UWB transceiver (now the major competitors are at 40nm, compared to 90nm of 1st generation), a gradual introduction into the market of UWB module with different format (with antenna integrated, SiP, etc..), with easier integration and development kits.
UWB products need indoor-outdoor fusion, driving multi-mode development for diverse applications. The UWB and GNSS fusion not only resolves the challenges posed by transitioning between indoor and outdoor spaces but also enhances the overall positioning accuracy and reliability. Applications such as real-time location services, asset tracking, and navigation systems can benefit immensely from this mixture, ensuring seamless performance regardless of the environment. Moreover, this pairing presents opportunities for complementary data integration, enabling a more comprehensive understanding of a user's location. More details could be found in my recent article related to the Real Time Location Service technologies overview with the concept of hybrid localization indoor/outdoor.
UWB radar stands out as a complementary technology to mmWave, showcasing advantages that extend beyond the cost-effective integration for car digital keys. For example Its application in patient, elder and infant care outlines its versatility and potential impact in enhancing healthcare solutions. Additionally, UWB radar could be a good fit for all presence detection sensors industries, like: HVAC, lighting, security, RTLS, etc.
The distinguishing properties of UWB radar, including superior penetrability, lower power consumption, and reduced costs compared to mmWave technology, underscore its attractiveness across multiple domains. These characteristics position UWB radar as a compelling choice for various applications, as highlighted in the article: “UWB and AI overview”. Its adaptability and lower operational costs make it an ideal candidate for widespread adoption, especially when paired with UWB RF for covering sensing use cases, and potentially with Bluetooth Channel Sounding technology, amplifying its utility as a great add-on technology for in-cabin monitoring.
Major car manufacturers foresee UWB car keys as future; however a gradual adoption is estimated due to development cycles, smartphone necessity, and costs. This point is very interesting and that could be a reason for initial discussion by the Car Connectivity Consortium (CCC) to integrate Bluetooth Channel Sounding into their initiatives. I have already outlined this point in the December 2nd post of "How does Bluetooth Channel Sounding impact on the momentum from UWB?"