- The Bosch Group has chosen Rohde & Schwarz’s R&S CMP200 radio communication tester to validate automotive ultra-wideband (UWB) applications in production.
- This project is a continuation of the cooperation between the two German companies in the field of wireless connectivity.
“This cooperation promotes the implementation of standard technologies such as UWB for vehicle-to-smartphone communications. It is important to test the performance of UWB devices in the lab and on the production line to ensure compatibility and proper functioning,” says Markus Hetzel, production engineer at Bosch.
In the automotive sector, UWB (Ultra Wide Band) technology opens the door to new applications, such as access to the vehicle using the smartphone as a digital key. Other functions are envisaged such as valet parking, occupancy detection and even monitoring the vital signs of babies in car seats.
UWB technology, based on IEEE 802.15.4a and 802.15.4z standards, enables centimeter-level location measurements over short distances (up to 70 meters). Secure data communication is achieved at up to 27 Mbps while consuming little power. The very wide bandwidth of 500 MHz, combined with the very low power spectral density, allows UWB signals to share the spectrum with other technologies without causing interference.
Devices using UWB transmission technology must be tested in the laboratory and in production to ensure that they meet regulatory requirements, function properly and that the location accuracy meets the needs of the application.
Rohde & Schwarz offers a range of UWB test solutions for the R&D, certification, electronic circuit characterization and production phases. These solutions enable the measurement of parameters such as time of flight (ToF) and angle of arrival (AoA). In addition, the German company is a member of the FiRa and Car Connectivity Consortium to support the development of global cross-industry standards for UWB interoperability.
Rohde & Schwarz has integrated UWB test capabilities into its R&S CMP200 radio communication tester, providing the necessary test capabilities for UWB technologies as well as for 5G devices operating in the mmWave / FR2 frequency band. It can be used in R&D as well as in production. The tester combines analysis and signal generation capabilities in a single instrument. Combined with the shielded chambers and the German company’s WMT test automation software, the R&S CMP200 tester enables transmitter, receiver, ToF and AoA measurements in both conducted and radiated modes in accordance with the IEEE 802.15.4a/z specifications.
