Bluetooth has become an important driving force for IoT (Internet of Things) as the primary technology for short-range, low power, and wireless communication between devices.
Being part of an old technology that has been used from decades ago, Bluetooth’s application range and market acceptance are increasing. This rise is inspired and driven by the long-term evolution that the technology has undergone from its introduction in May 7th 1998.
In the complex landscape of IoT, Bluetooth technology continues to emerge as a pivotal enabler of devices transforming how they connect and communicate.
Key features of Bluetooth driving its further adoption in the IoT realm are;
Energy efficient
Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) solves the problem of excessive Bluetooth power consumption. As power consumption is the core indicator in IoT devices.
BLE is designed to consume minimal power while maintaining reliable connectivity, extending the battery life of battery-powered devices like sensors, beacons etc. There is also a positive significance in reducing costs.
The emergence of BLE has enabled a variety of smart homes and wearable devices to begin to transmit using Bluetooth technology.
Scaling & Network
Bluetooth technology supports mesh networking allowing interconnection of devices. Mesh can also solve the problem of network coverage as compared to the cost of selecting a separate AP or gateway for network coverage is high, and with Mesh technology can solve multiple devices in at a low cost.
Scaling is essential for applications in industrial IoT where there is a network of devices operating seamlessly together.
Interoperability
The crucial advantage of Bluetooth technology is in its widespread adoption across different devices & manufacturers. This ensures that devices from various brands/Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) can communicate without any issues with compatibility to foster a more integrated IoT ecosystem.
Location & Positioning
High-precision positioning opens up a larger application market. As a basic data dimension, location data has broad application prospects in the future.
More than two-thirds of IoT devices will collect location data in the future, and in terms of positioning, accuracy is one of the most core indicators.
In the latest version 5.1 of Bluetooth, the AOA positioning technology has been added, and the accuracy has been increased from the meter level to the centimeter level compared to the conventional RSSI positioning.
The Future of Bluetooth
With various applications from smart homes, smart cities where the technology plays an increasingly paramount role in facilitating seamless connectivity between devices & sensors, Industrial IoT where Bluetooth allows for data exchange and control of devices without the need for complicated setups with all at a cost efficient, flexible and reliable manner.
The power of the Bluetooth Legion is gradually expanding. With the increasing number of wireless communication technologies in the market, Bluetooth still maintains its strong vitality.
Shipments of Bluetooth devices have also steadily increased. The number of low-power Bluetooth devices is increasing day by day where in 2018, shipments of Bluetooth devices were 3.8 billion units, and this number is expected to reach 7.5 billion units by 2028 worldwide.
The future of Bluetooth in IoT is promising with a room for continuous advancements and evolutions to meet the IoT ecosystem complexity demands for reliable, secure, and efficient connectivity.
Integration of Bluetooth with other emerging technologies such as edge computing are paving the way for new IoT applications.
With such advancements enhancing the real-time data processing & decision making which ultimately drives innovation across various sectors.
