Evaluation of a Non-Coherent Ultra-Wideband Transceiver for Micropower Sensor Nodes

Spatial and contextual awareness has the potential to revolutionize sensor nodes, enabling spatially augmented data collection and location-based services. With its high bandwidth, superior energy efficiency, and precise time-of-flight measurements, ultra-wideband (UWB) technology emerges as an ideal solution for such devices. This paper presents an evaluation and comparison of a non-coherent UWB transceiver within the context of highly energy-constrained wireless sensing nodes and pervasive Internet of Things (IoT) devices. Experimental results highlight the unique properties of UWB transceivers, showcasing efficient data transfer ranging from 2 kbit/s to 7.2 Mbit/s while reaching an energy consumption of 0.29 nJ/bit and 1.39 nJ/bit for transmitting and receiving, respectively. Notably, a ranging accuracy of up to +/- 25cm can be achieved. Moreover, the peak power consumption of the UWB transceiver is with 6.7 mW in TX and 23 mW in RX significantly lower than that of other commercial UWB transceivers.