nrf52811 AoA/AoD DF is coming, What can I do, before a reference design is released to reduce workload?

[sina]

Hi,

I have read all around DevZone that more details about AoA/AoD based direction-finding feature were expected to be released around Q4 of this year. This is very exciting and It has been months I have been checking this forum to find out how I could try this out. Today is the last day of 2019 and unfortunately, there are no updates in this regard. 
I am sure this is a difficult goal to achieve and it is not possible to give an accurate date for release of a reference design, but in the meantime, I wonder if nordic has any guidance on what enthusiasts could do to be prepared so that when the date comes once could try direction finding feature with minimum effort.

I really don't need to use any Bluetooth features to transfer data and I wonder what functionalities of the chip I could work on such that I'm prepared to try the direction-finding feature later?

[bjorn-spockeli]

Hi Sina, 

Yes, unfortunately the release of the AoA/AoD SW and antenna array design has slipped in to 2020. We are working on a add-on board with an antenna array and RF switches for our development kits that have a Bluetooth 5.1 SoC as well as the software algorithm to estimate the angle from the IQ measurements. As far as I know this should be available sometime during the first half of next year. Please contact your local Nordic Regional Sales Manager for a more information on our Direction Finding roadmap. 

As for resources, i am afraid that we do not have much to share at the moment. My recommendation would be to wait for the SW and HW release from us. As mentioned above, the idea is to use DKs and add-on boards/shields with the antenna array, so it should be very easy to setup. 

Best regards

Bjørn