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While outdoor navigation using GPS technology is seamlessly integrated into everyday life, effective indoor navigation still presents a challenge. GPS signals are typically weaker or even non-existent inside large buildings, shopping malls, hospitals, airports, and industrial complexes.
However, the emergence of alternative technologies for indoor positioning is opening up new possibilities. At the heart of many of these solutions is low power Bluetooth technology. Indoor navigation systems rely on a network of fixed devices known as beacons that broadcast, for example, Bluetooth LE signals at regular intervals. Smartphones, tablets, or other receivers detect these signals and use them to determine their location.
The growth of indoor navigation systems is being accelerated by the evolution of innovative Bluetooth LE SoCs from leading chipmakers like Nordic Semiconductor.
Bluetooth LE improves accuracy, efficiency and performance
Because Bluetooth LE is designed for minimal energy consumption while maintaining robust connectivity, it is ideal for battery-operated devices like beacons that are needed for indoor navigation. Wireless chips that support Bluetooth LE play a crucial role in making this process accurate, responsive, and scalable. That’s because not only are the most advanced Bluetooth LE SoCs small and energy-efficient, they are also highly sophisticated.
Advanced power management is another important factor. Indoor navigation systems often require large numbers of beacons to cover extensive areas. Power efficiency is critical because replacing or recharging batteries across hundreds or thousands of devices is not practical.
Furthermore, modern Bluetooth LE chips offer improved RF performance, allowing devices to communicate effectively in environments with heavy wireless interference. Features like adaptive frequency hopping, low latency, and robust signal processing make navigation smoother and more reliable.
Real-world applications of indoor navigation
The capabilities of the most advanced Bluetooth LE chips—such as Nordic’s industry-leading nRF54L Series ultra-low power wireless SoCs—have unlocked a wide range of indoor navigation applications across industries.
In retail stores, for example, Bluetooth LE beacons guide users with real-time directions, improving convenience and increasing sales opportunities. In hospitals and healthcare campuses, indoor navigation solutions powered by Bluetooth technology help users find departments, clinics, or patient rooms quickly.
Large transportation hubs benefit from indoor navigation as well. Bluetooth LE-enabled apps help passengers find gates, check-in counters, restrooms, or baggage claim areas without confusion, leading to a better traveller experience and reducing congestion. And in industrial settings, Bluetooth LE navigation aids in asset tracking and workforce management. Forklift operators, for example, can receive optimized routing within a warehouse, and managers can monitor worker movements to improve safety and productivity.
nRF54L15 SoC provides Edge AI/ML software support
Reliable wireless connectivity is necessary for continuous position updates in these dynamic environments. The Nordic nRF54L15 SoC's enhanced radio capabilities make this feasible. In addition, the ultra-low power consumption of the nRF54L15 allows for tiny, battery-powered tags or sensors that can run for years or operate on harvested energy. This makes it practical to deploy large-scale indoor navigation systems, such as wearable tags for hospital staff or patients, asset tracking in logistics centers, or navigation aids in airports or malls.
Moreover, indoor navigation systems benefit from ultra-efficient and easy-to-use machine learning (ML) on the edge. This capability has been unleashed by Nordic’s recent acquisition of Neuton.AI and existing partnership with Edge Impulse – two leading providers of ‘TinyML’ platforms. The combination of Nordic’s groundbreaking nRF54L Series SoCs with Neuton.AI’s revolutionary neural network framework brings scalable, high-performance AI to even the most resource-constrained devices such as beacons. Thanks to Edge Impulse tools, Nordic’s Bluetooth customers were already able to add AI and ML features to their applications, allowing them to model and understand their indoor operating environments and make intelligent decisions based on that information.
Such Edge AI/ML software solutions enable on-device sensor fusion (for example, combining inertial measurement unit (IMU) data with Bluetooth LE signals for more accurate tracking), local anomaly detection such as identifying unexpected movement or behavior, and efficient handling of complex navigation algorithms directly on the chip, reducing dependence on external processors and minimizing latency.
- Read more: AI and machine learning goes mainstream
A Nordic-powered beacon for navigation applications
One example of the latest Bluetooth technology being used for indoor navigation applications is a beacon solution powered by the Nordic nRF54L15 SoC. Developed by leading IoT device manufacturer, MOKO SMART, the L03 Bluetooth 6.0 beacon enables room-level positioning applications in large venues. The nRF54L15 provides the low power Bluetooth LE wireless connectivity enabling highly reliable positioning across wide indoor (and outdoor) areas.
The L03 beacon is also hardware-compatible with Bluetooth Channel Sounding to increase the accuracy and reliability of distance measurements. The nRF54L15 offers support for Bluetooth Channel Sounding, which enables accurate and secure distance measuring with built-in security features and seamless interoperability.
Future interactions with indoor spaces
The integration of ML algorithms, edge computing, and sensor fusion with Bluetooth LE will further refine location accuracy, context awareness, and user personalization.
The latest wireless SoCs are transforming how people interact with complex indoor spaces. As this technology continues to mature, indoor navigation will become as intuitive and indispensable as GPS is for the outdoors, creating smarter, more responsive environments for everyone.
