Alternatives for short range low power wireless communications

The three leading contending standards for short-range low-power wireless communications (Bluetooth, Zigbee, Ultra-Wideband) are compared as to viability and practicality for implementation. The three standards all operate completely or partially in the largely unregulated ISM band with transmission ranges varying from a few meters to a maximum of around 15 meters. An ongoing case-study involves the development of a hybrid wireless automotive harness. The decision process leading to the choice of Bluetooth over the other two contenders is presented. Ongoing work with the wireless automotive harness includes a restructuring of the software to function as a layer under a controller area network (CAN). Computer models are also being developed to provide extensive studies of the performance, reliability, and security implications.