The group behind the Bluetooth standard says it has developed a new feature that will allow companies to track items down to the centimeter. The group is combining Bluetooth object tracking technology with another technology, radio steering, to obtain the accurate measurements. This could radically change tracking technology, such as Tile’s solution for locating lost items.
At this time, Bluetooth systems track items by measuring their signal strength, but they have a wide range of accuracy of one and 10 meters. Now, the Bluetooth Special Interest Group is adding the ability for gadgets to know exactly which direction the signal is coming from, not just its distance, to make the measurement more accurate.
With this feature turned on, Bluetooth trackers could tell users where an item is located down to the centimeter, the group says. That’s great for locating missing devices, but could also be used to improve tracking accuracy indoors where Bluetooth beacons are used to help people navigate. In general, if you are using Bluetooth tracking it could be useful, but I am also nervous when a company can know exactly where I am at any time.
