UWB Guide on the purchase of a DMW1000 mini module

[raym3d]

Hello, I need a guide in the purchase of a module for UWB indoor positioning.

I already bought this module: ESP32 UWB(Ultra Wideband) | Makerfabs It works perfectly.

I also bought this module: Decawave now Qorvo DWM1000 | Symmetry Electronics When I make the connections to an ESP32, it also works perfectly.

My problem? The ESP32 is very big compared to that DWM1000 module.
I want 3 big anchors (with the anchors I don't care about the size), but I want the tag to be as small as possible. The tag needs a small battery + 5V voltage regulator + microcontroller + charger.

I thought of buying one of these modules (mini ESP32): https://www.amazon.com/-/es/development-Bluetooth-Fully-functional-Compatible/dp/B08FWXFSVN/

But, perhaps there are more elegant ways to do it.

I want it to measure less than 3cm. I am seeing this: https://es.aliexpress.com/item/1005002284315770.html

I think it has the microcontroller, voltage regulator and UWB module (everything I need to make it portable), but I'm not sure. (the information is in Chinese, literally)
I open this topic in case someone can help me with a good purchase advice, of some all-in-one module that is very small.

I also saw this one: Ultra-Wideband (UWB) Unit Indoor Positioning module (DW1000) | m5stack-store
But it is bigger than the previous one.

[Icebuster]

Very small ESP32 board: M5Stack Stamp Pico. This is from the M5Stack docs: 18 * 24 * 4.6mm. It does not breakout all the ESP32 pins so you will have decide if enough pins are available for your application. I ordered from Digikey and Mouser but I have not ordered recently.

Another small ESP32 board. QT Py ESP32 Pico V3 first revision complete! « Adafruit Industries – Makers, hackers, artists, designers and engineers!

[jremington]

@raym3d

The tag needs a small battery

Keep in mind that the peak current of the ESP32 is 500mA, average is 200~300mA; the peak current of the DW1000 is 130mA, average is 30~80mA, say 300 mA for both.

AA cells, or an 18650 cell, will last less than 10 hours at that rate.

[raym3d]

@raym3d

I want it to measure less than 3cm. I am seeing this: UWB Sensor de posicionamiento interior para personas que caminan, banda ultraancha, DWM1000, D DWM PG de rango|Piezas para aire acondicionado| - AliExpress

What do you think about that module?

I still don't know if I can use it with Arduino or not or if it needs a microcontroller, the seller still doesn't respond. He says it only draws 160mA.

What is your opinion?

---

Thank you, I'm still studying what is the ideal for me:

@Icebuster

Very small ESP32 board: M5Stack Stamp Pico. This is from the M5Stack docs: 18 * 24 * 4.6mm. It does not breakout all the ESP32 pins so you will have decide if enough pins are available for your application. I ordered from Digikey and Mouser but I have not ordered recently.

@jremington

Keep in mind that the peak current of the ESP32 is 500mA, average is 200~300mA; the peak current of the DW1000 is 130mA, average is 30~80mA, say 300 mA for both.

[jremington]

@raym3d

I want it to measure less than 3cm.

You can't, using those modules, unless you are willing to calibrate each module very carefully, and do a lot of averaging.

What is the accuracy and standard deviation of the distances that you measure using those UWB modules, out of the box and with no averaging?

[raym3d]

@jremington

What is the accuracy and standard deviation of the distances that you measure using those UWB modules, out of the box and with no averaging?

I said that I want the module to have a measurement/dimension of 3cm, I did not say that I want to measure the distance of 3cm (I know that the measurement range is 10 cm for the DW1000 UWB modules).

Honestly, I want to know about this module (so I know if I can use it or not, and if not, I can look for another alternative): https://es.aliexpress.com/item/1005002284315770.html

What can you tell me? I believe that it is my solution since I believe that it has the integrated microcontroller, but I am not sure.

Back:

@raym3d

Front:

@raym3d

[jremington]

Try that module and let us know how well it works!

[raym3d]

Another thing...

I would like to know if DWM1000 and DW1000 are compatible. That is, if I have a DW1000 as a tag and a DWM1000 as an anchor, will it work?

Example:

This DW1000: ESP32 UWB(Ultra Wideband) | Makerfabs
With this DWM1000: Decawave now Qorvo DWM1000 | Symmetry Electronics

[jremington]

See reply #7. You are in the best possible position to do the experiment.

[lalbea]

Hey raym3d! Could u send me the ESP32 to DWM1000 connections u did please? I would be grateful if u do. Thanks for everything!!