TDK launches STRIDE, a low-power, real-time positioning software for wearables and IoT

• Pedestrian Dead Reckoning software brings continuous indoor/outdoor location to smart watches, glasses, helmets, handhelds and compact devices—without added hardware

• STRIDE delivers seamless, sensor-agnostic positioning for the wearables market

January 5, 2026

TDK Corporation (TSE:6762) announces Trusted Positioning STRIDE, an embedded Pedestrian Dead Reckoning (PDR) software solution engineered specifically for wearables – including smart watches, head-mounted devices, glasses, and compact sensors. As OEMs push for more intelligent, context-aware wearable experiences, STRIDE provides reliable positioning without the power and hardware demands traditionally required for GNSS-based tracking.

Wearables today face a critical challenge: adding high-quality positioning typically requires bulky antennas, high-drain GNSS, or costly custom hardware—barriers that limit form factor, battery life, and user experience. STRIDE overcomes these constraints with a low-power, sensor-agnostic software engine that fuses inertial data with GNSS and opportunistic wireless signals, delivering continuous location tracking indoors, outdoors, and everywhere in between.

“Wearable devices demand positioning that is compact, efficient, and dependable—without sacrificing battery life,” said Chris Goodall, President of Trusted Positioning. “With STRIDE, OEMs can integrate real-time indoor/outdoor positioning into devices of all shapes and sizes. It enables smarter fitness products, safer lone-worker solutions, more immersive AR experiences, and wearable-driven applications that were previously impossible due to power or hardware limitations.”

STRIDE runs as embedded software, giving OEMs freedom to deploy positioning without redesigning hardware or relying on cloud connectivity. STRIDE processes sensor data in real time, ensures low latency, and can be configured for on-device, companion-device, or cloud-assisted architectures. This flexibility helps manufacturers balance performance, power, and form-factor constraints based on their device strategy.

For integration questions or technical documentation, contact our team for guidance.

STRIDE is available immediately for trial evaluation, OEM integration, or companion-device implementations.

Glossary

• PDR: Pedestrian dead reckoning

• OEM: Original equipment manufacturer

• GNSS: Global navigation satellite system, such as GPS, used for global positioning

Main applications

• Fitness tracking devices: Enables route tracking and performance insights using low-power sensors on the wearable, enhanced through companion apps or cloud-based processing

• Lone-worker tracking devices: Provides accurate location in remote or GNSS-challenged areas, improving safety and situational awareness

• Personnel tracking: Ideal for head-mounted or wrist-worn devices used by delivery teams, field staff, and operational personnel who require continuous movement tracking

• Augmented reality experiences: Enhances AR glasses and helmet-mounted devices by anchoring movement to the physical world without relying on constant GNSS

• Dismounted operations: Supports real-time tracking of military or emergency personnel to enhance safety and reduce the likelihood of “lost” operators in the field

Main features and benefits

• Low-power on-device mode: Enables continuous PDR in platforms constrained by power, memory, or thermal limits

• Geofencing mode: Allows location-based alerts and boundaries—ideal for children’s wearables, personnel safety, or activity zones

• Tethering of sensors: Seamlessly uses GNSS and sensors from a companion phone, reducing hardware demand on the wearable

• Off-device processing: Supports computation on a smartphone or in the cloud for advanced analytics or battery savings

• GNSS duty-cycling: Dramatically extends battery life by activating GNSS only when necessary

• Flexible mounting support: Works across watches, smart glasses, helmets, chest-mounted devices, and more

• Embedded & real-time: Runs directly on the device with low latency—no dedicated infrastructure, no specialized hardware

• Hardware-independent & sensor-agnostic: Integrates easily with a broad range of IMUs and GNSS receivers