The availability of new FiRa MAC, PHY, and UCI Technical Specifications, Version 2.0 to prescribe hardware, RF communications, ultra-wideband (UWB) ranging protocols, and behavior of ranging devices, represent a step forward in achieving an interoperable UWB ecosystem across chipsets, devices, and services infrastructures. The FiRa 2.0 Technical Specifications guide developers on the enablement of UWB technology in products used for a variety of use cases.
Specifically, these updated specifications focus on three new use cases:
Untracked Indoor Navigation – Allows users of UWB-enabled smartphones or tablets to find their way in malls, airports, museums, or any other indoor location with centimeter-level accuracy in real-time while maintaining location privacy.
Find Someone/Something – Helps users of UWB-enabled devices to easily find acquaintances in crowded areas, or to quickly be located by ride-share drivers. Also, finding missing keys or luggage is now part of the new possibilities formally addressed by the FiRa 2.0 Technical Specifications.
Point and Trigger – Lets users seamlessly control UWB-enabled connected home devices like televisions, lights, or thermostats by simply pointing at them with their personal UWB-enabled devices, such as smartphones or smartwatches.
Using the FiRa 2.0 Technical Specifications and the updated Test Specifications related to MAC and PHY technical requirements, manufacturers can work toward product interoperability. FiRa members can submit their products for FiRa certification based on the defined processes for validating candidate devices that meet FiRa Consortium Test Specifications. Compliant implementations are eligible to obtain FiRa Certified status and display the FiRa Certified logo.
"The FiRa 2.0 Technical Specifications are built on the foundation we first established in 2020," states Clint Chaplin, FiRa Consortium board chair. "The updated specifications help FiRa members to develop UWB-enabled products in support of new use cases that illustrate the technology’s immeasurable potential."
FiRa 2.0 Technical Specifications, along with the related Test Specifications, are available to FiRa Consortium members here.
The FiRa Consortium is a member-driven organization dedicated to transforming the way we interact with our environment by enabling precise location awareness for people and devices using the secured fine-ranging and positioning capabilities of Ultra-Wideband (UWB) technology. FiRa does this by driving the development of technical specifications and certification, advocating for effective regulations, and by defining a broad set of use cases for UWB.
www.firaconsortium.org
