What is Bluetooth AoA? What is the difference between it and GPS?

[ilianaboone]

Bluetooth AOA (Angle of Arrival) is a positioning technology in Bluetooth technology, commonly used for indoor positioning and precision tracking applications. It is very different from GPS (Global Positioning System), mainly in terms of its working principle, application scenarios and positioning accuracy.
What is Bluetooth AOA (Angle of Arrival)?

Bluetooth AOA is a technology that achieves location positioning by calculating the angle at which Bluetooth signals arrive at the receiving device. It usually relies on multiple antenna arrays (such as multiple antennas on the receiving device) to determine the direction of the signal source by measuring the difference in signal arrival time, thereby determining the relative position of the device.

Difference from GPS:

Working principle:
GPS: GPS uses satellite signals to determine the location of the device. GPS devices determine their exact position in three-dimensional space (longitude, latitude and altitude) by calculating the distance to at least four satellites.
Bluetooth AOA: AOA relies on a multi-antenna array to receive signals from Bluetooth devices and infers the relative position of the device by the angle of arrival of the signal. It does not rely on satellite signals, but is based on the relative position relationship between devices.

Positioning accuracy:
GPS: GPS can usually provide meter-level or even centimeter-level accuracy, but this accuracy will drop significantly indoors or where the signal is blocked.
Bluetooth AOA: AOA's positioning accuracy is usually higher than GPS, especially in indoor environments. It can provide sub-meter or even higher accuracy, suitable for application scenarios that require precise positioning, such as indoor navigation and asset tracking.

Applicable environment:
GPS: GPS needs to communicate with at least four satellites, so it is suitable for open outdoor environments, especially where there are no buildings blocking it.
Bluetooth AOA: AOA does not rely on satellite signals and is suitable for indoor environments, especially in crowded places or complex buildings where GPS signals are difficult to receive.