Does nRF52811 come with software which will handle multipath and interference for direction finding?

[raheel_syed01]

I am trying to create an application where two or more  transceivers can each be moving around with different people and each would know the location of the others relative to its own position.  Does nRF52811 have software which will handle interference or multipath in an indoor or outdoor environment?  I would prefer to use something off the shelf for this as opposed to creating my own solution so I can concentrate on building the application instead.  Thank you!

[Simonr]

Hi

None of our nRF52 devices come with software like this from the factory, and will have to be implemented as part of your application. Our sample applications in the nRFConnect SDK doesn't have much in terms of specifically handling interference/multipath fading, but the locator sample does handle as part of the CTE (constant tone extension) interference by implementing the guard period. This is mentioned in the sample's README.rst file. The multipath and interference handling would have to be part of the AoA/AoD algorithm that we don't deliver unfortunately.

Regarding your use case there are a few other problems as well, as two moving units tracking each other like this is not what the BLE direction finding is designed for I'm afraid.

Best regards,

Simon

[raheel_syed01]

Hello Simon,

Thank you for your reply.

I read about IOSEA software as a solution for direction finding on the nRF52833 SoC which handles multipath.  Is this still a valid solution on Nordic chips and if so how would I be able to deploy it? 

Also, if the signal amplitude between 2 or more transceivers are known and we have a decent solution for multipath, shouldn't BLE direction finding on moving transceivers be possible even if it was not the design intent?

Thanks!

[Simonr]

Hi again

Yes, I would assume the IOSEA software is usable for (at least nRF52833) and, depending on its size, the nRF52811. As the RAM and Flash memory is rather restricted on the nRF52811 larger applications are not likely to fit though. I would suggest contacting IOSEA for more information, as this would be their software, not ours to share.

Regarding the use case, I'm seeing the "tracking each other" part as most problematic, as the Direction Findiing is based on specifically locator and transmitter devices, and so only one of the boards would locate the other. I don't see a good way of the two to track each other I'm afraid.

Best regards,

Simon