u-blox announces the smallest Bluetooth Angle-of-Arrival (AoA) antenna board for commercial tracking solutions

The ANT-B11 compact antenna board offers accurate direction finding and indoor positioning supported by u-blox latest technology.

Thalwil, Switzerland – December 8, 2022 – u-blox (SIX:UBXN), a global provider of leading positioning and wireless communication technologies and services, has announced the u-blox ANT-B11 compact antenna board. By combining Bluetooth technology with the company’s unique expertise, this board delivers high-precision direction finding and 2D indoor positioning. ANT-B11 can be integrated into commercial tracking solutions, ideal for direction-finding applications and indoor positioning in mid-size spaces.

Indoor direction-finding, positioning, and convenience

ANT-B11, like ANT-B10 launched early this year, contributes to solving the ongoing indoor location challenge, where technologies such as GNSS find difficulties in performing effectively. ANT-B11 is equipped with u-blox NINA-B411 Bluetooth 5.1 module and runs the u-connectLocate software, which executes the unique u-blox angle calculation algorithm. In conjunction with an application board, ANT-B11 functions as an indoor Angle-of-Arrival (AoA) anchor point. The angle calculated by the antenna board does not require any additional processing. Thus, it is ready for use at the application level.

Depending on its orientation, ANT-B11 outputs the final azimuth or elevation angle with high accuracy in fractions of a second. With this information, it is possible to track assets and plot their positions in applications aiming at 2D visualization. For 3D visualization, our customers can keep relying on ANT-B10.

ANT-B11 combines the accuracy of ANT-B10 with the smallest possible package. Thanks to its 29.5 x 93.5 mm compact size, ANT-B11 easily fits existing enclosures or casings. Furthermore, one main challenge in the positioning industry is to provide affordable indoor solutions. With u-blox unique technology, indoor positioning systems with high precision at a reasonable cost are now a reality.

A wide spectrum of applications

Following u-blox tradition, this product can thrive in any direction-finding application. It can be used to follow assets in indoor areas, grant building access, and avoid collisions, making it ideal for industrial, retail, and medical environments. In addition, it can be used in indoor spaces for positioning purposes wherein showing the location of an asset in 2D may suffice.

“ANT-B11 is the smallest Bluetooth AoA antenna board in production. A perfect building block for indoor position infrastructure, highly reliable and affordable,” says Giorgos Marakis, Product Strategy, Short Range Radio, at u-blox.