Hardware setup for nRF52811 on PTR9611 for arduino

[Henry Jiu]

Hello,

I am a university student that is currently working on a project regarding an indoor RTLS proposed using BLE beacon system to track down an object.

After some research, i got my hands on the ptr9611 module with the NRF52811 Soc. Im thinking is it possible for me to interface with the module using the an arduino uno to extract RSSI value and AoD/AoA for distance and angle between devices as the PTR9611 actually includes an pcb antenna on board. Through triangulation method with location of multiple beacons known, eventually come out with a result for the location of the tracked device is applicable right? So how should i connect my arduino and the PTR9611 module so that i can make use of the SDK provided to configure it later? 

[Elfving]

Hello Henry, sorry about the delay.

This does sound like a plan, though it would depend a bit on the ptr9611 module and what it includes. Does it come with the code for a complete AoA/AoD solution, and what your project focuses on is mainly combining it to do a triangulation? Or are you making your own AoA/AoD solution as well?

Best regards,

Elfving

[Henry Jiu]

the ptr9611 datasheet provides the specification of the module only. Example code and connection are not found, I emailed the manufacturing company and they recommend me to find solutions from nordic. Below attached the datasheet of ptr9611. So now my priorities are to set up the module to make 3 of them to be beacon nodes and 1 that is on a moving object that will be receiving these signal from the nodes and analyze the location of itself. afterwards the signals from the 3 nodes must be identified correctly so once the 3 nodes are placed accordingly around the room with just the distance between each node and the tracked module known given the rssi value, simple triangulation method can be used to find its location. Until this part the AoA/AoD then steps in to further increase the accuracy of the result by the angle between the modules to be found out. So to start things off which pins of the module do I connect them to my arduino so that i can configure it to be the beacons and which for collecting the data of the signal connection once its made since theres 36pins on the module 32 of them are GPIO pins. Is it necessarily to have all of them connected to the arduino? if just few of them are needed then which few are recommend to allow the usage and control of the anthena array used in the Aoa/AoD method? 

UM-4803261.pdf

[Elfving]

It is unfortunately not that easy. 

Henry Jiu said:

and 1 that is on a moving object that will be receiving these signal from the nodes and analyze the location of itself

Are you planning on basing this one locator node on the same module? It seems to me that these ptr9611 modules are only Beacons (transmitters). You would need a locator as well, with which you would also need an antenna matrix/array (though you did get one of those?). The nRF52833 is what we would recommend to use as a Locator.

And when it comes to our solutions for direction finding you can have a look at our beacon and locator samples available in the nRF Connect SDK. However, what we provide in these samples is a way of getting the I/Q data, not the algorithm for processing it. In order to get the angles themselves you need to work on the I/Q values using the information available in our whitepaper on DF. 

This is possible, but it seems to me that what you are looking for is a complete plug-and-play AoA solution, which is not what we are providing. 

Regards,

Elfving

[Henry Jiu]

OK. As for the locator, is it posible for the same module to be used if an antenna matrix/array externally is provided? Other than that, is there a way to hook up the module straight to a pc to program/configure it? 

[Elfving]

Henry Jiu said:

As for the locator, is it posible for the same module to be used if an antenna matrix/array externally is provided?

It would depend a bit on the module. I believe it would at least need more RAM to be used for it. I would recommend you to use an nRF52833DK instead.

Henry Jiu said:

Other than that, is there a way to hook up the module straight to a pc to program/configure it? 

The datasheet from ABLUE Technology explains that you would have to use the SWD interface, though I think this is a question you could ask them. Did you get an external programmer along with it?

Have you had a look at the UBLOX AoA solution btw? That might be a bit more ready-made and closer to what you are looking for.

Regards,

Elfving

[Henry Jiu]

the nRF52833DK price is over my project budget. Are there other ways that can make up the process power needs to run the algorithm? Like another microcontroller to capture the data and do the algorithm process? I look up for other types of compatible AoA/AoD locator and found the Simplelink CC1312 by Texas instrument does it function similar to nRF52833DK? 

Regarding the PTR9611 programming interface using SWD adapter i didnt bought that, ill make an inquiry to them which will be suitable.Thanks for the reminder.

As for the UBLOX AoA kit, i looked it up as u suggest, but it seems like that supply full ready-made hardware and software kit of the indoor RTLS using the Nordic SOC in their product. But as mentioned earlier im doing this project for my university project and the objective of mine was to develop the system and evaluate whatever results that I got. But I guess I could take reference of UBLOX AoA solution.

[Elfving]

Henry Jiu said:

I look up for other types of compatible AoA/AoD locator and found the Simplelink CC1312 by Texas instrument does it function similar to nRF52833DK? 

Well the direction finding standard is a part of Bluetooth and is the same for all products, so you could potentially combine their locator with our beacons. Using our samples on their chips however, I am less sure about. You would have to ask them, but I don't think they support Zephyr. I would recommend sticking to the nRF52833DK.

But no matter whos locator SoC you use, you would also need an antenna matrix.

Regards,

Elfving

[Henry Jiu]

Thank you, I'll ask again if have more question. Again, much appreciated for all the help and suggestion.

[Elfving]

No problem! :)