Automotive applications for ultra-wideband wireless technology set to expand in the coming five years

IHS Markit research finds that more OEMs will increase the use of ultra-wideband (UWB) in applications such as smartphones as a key, vehicle-to-everything (V2X), and occupant detection. The adoption is also likely to be supported by the falling cost of the technology.

UWB is a short-range wireless communication system that employs radio waves, similar to Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. UWB can enable the very accurate measurement of time of flight (ToF) of the radio signal, leading to centimeter accuracy of distance and location calculations. In the United States, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) authorized the unlicensed use of UWB in 2002.