Nov. 17, 2025 –
By John Koon, embedded.com
While demand for proximity detection continues to grow across IoT, automotive, and logistics applications, current solutions remain hindered by insecurity and imprecision. Bluetooth Channel Sounding represents the next leap, delivering higher accuracy, enhanced security, and scalable deployment. This article explores the underlying signal-processing techniques, highlights key implementation considerations, and evaluates performance benefits across use cases such as secure distance measurement and indoor positioning. A step-by-step design example is included to guide developers through integrating Channel Sounding into Bluetooth-enabled devices.
What is Channel Sounding?
Bluetooth Low Energy (LE) has been incorporated into billions of electronic devices, including mobile phones, laptops, gaming controllers, and in-vehicle entertainment systems worldwide. In September 2024, the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) announced a breakthrough feature called Bluetooth Channel Sounding, designed to increase accuracy and security in distance measurement, part of the Bluetooth Core Specification 6.0 release.