Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) Beacon is an emerging proximity-based wireless communication technology that broadcasts identifiable signals using Bluetooth Low Energy to enable indoor positioning and location-based services.
A BLE beacon is a small BLE transmitter that is battery-powered and can run for months or years on a single charge. It broadcasts a signal containing a unique identifier at regular intervals that can be detected by compatible mobile devices or receivers within its transmission range. When a smartphone or other device comes within range, it receives the signal and recognizes the beacon’s ID.
The underlying principle for indoor positioning based on beacons involves calculating the distance between the smart device and each beacon, typically using Received Signal Strength Indication (RSSI). If an indoor area has multiple beacons set up, a mobile device can keep tracking its changing distance from each of them to calculate its own physical location in real time. This is more precise than GPS for indoor environments.
BLE beacon technology is already seeing adoption in retail stores, logistics asset tracking, exhibitions and events, hospitality, smart homes and more. As costs of beacon hardware fall and precision increases across devices, BLE beacons are likely to penetrate further into indoor venues and spaces. This promises innovative location-based services for both users and managers in the near future.
Some of the most impactful applications include: indoor navigation in airports and museums to guide visitors, proximity-based promotions in retail stores, finding lost luggage based on the last scanned beacon, personalized tours and information in tourism sites, occupancy sensing and automation triggering for smart buildings, item finder tags for frequently misplaced objects at home and so on. The possibilities for creative usage cases are truly endless.
In summary, BLE beacon technology has immense potential with its advantages of compact hardware, long battery life, wireless connectivity and high accuracy. As it continues to develop and be deployed in creative ways across different industries, people can expect a growing wave of new applications that take location-awareness to the next level especially indoors through this promising technology.
The TS-1105 is a portable, card-like Bluetooth iBeacon device that uses a Bluetooth low-power chip design and features low power consumption and small size.
It is equipped with a CR2032 battery that can last up to two years at 1s broadcast frequency.