Introduction

This module guides you in developing Angle of Arrival (AoA) Bluetooth 5.1 compatible targets. In a localization system, the targets are the devices being located by the locators.

It is assumed that the reader has a basic knowledge of embedded C tool chains and general C and Python programming concepts. Knowledge of the localization techniques is a plus but is not mandatory.

This lab will show how to leverage the code examples and tools provided within the SimpleLink™ CC13X2 / CC26X2 SDK to develop and test your Bluetooth 5.1 AoA target.

Prerequisites

Hardware required

This module requires two SimpleLink™ CC26x2R LaunchPad™.

Recommended reading

These chapters in the TI BLE5-Stack User's Guide

• TI BLE5-Stack Quick Start
• The CC13x2 or CC26x2 SDK Platform
• Application
• BLE5-Stack (especially the sections dedicated to periodic advertising)
• RTLS Toolbox

Software for desktop development

• SimpleLink CC13X2-26X2 SDK 5.20 and those listed under the Dependencies section of the CC13x2-26x2 SDK Release Notes
• A working Python 3.7 environment with the packages required by the RTLS Node Manager

If you are missing one of these, please read the next section. Otherwise, you can directly start the Task 1.

Install required Software

Install the CC13X2 / CC26X2 SDK

The following steps will install the SDK and all its dependencies.

1. Download the SimpleLink™ CC13X2 / CC26X2 SDK
2. Run the SimpleLink CC13X2 / CC26X2 SDK installer.

The SDK with TI-RTOS included is installed at <SIMPLELINK_CC13X2_26X2_SDK_INSTALL_DIR> which defaults to C:\ti\simplelink_cc13x2_26x2_sdk_x_xx_xx_xx.

Install Python 3.7

The following steps will install Python 3.7 and all the packages required by the RTLS Node Manager.

1. Install Python 3.7 from the Python Download page.
2. Setup the Python environment as described in the README.md in <SimpleLink CC13X2 / CC26X2 SDK> → tools → ble5stack → rtls_agent folder.
3. If a bash environment doesn't exist on your system, install Git bash

Task 0 – Goals setting

Let's take a moment to understand what we need to do.

The goal is to enable a device to be located using Bluetooth 5.1 Angle of Arrival (AoA). This device will then be called target. For this lab, the locator - i.e. the device locating the target - will be considered as already implemented.

Bluetooth 5.1 AoA requests the target to send out packet with an appended Constant Tone Extension (CTE). The constant tone extension is a section of consecutive 1's without whitening. In the Bluetooth Core Specification Version 5.1, both connection packets and periodic advertising packets can contain a constant tone extension (CTE) after the CRC. When CTEs are appended to connection packets, we talk about connection AoA. When CTEs are appended to periodic advertising packets, we talk about connectionless AoA.

In this lab, we will enable the target to be localizable both using connection and connectionless AoA. It means we will enable the target to append CTEs to connection packets and to periodic advertising packets.

Task 1 – Load the rtls_responder example

The rtls_responder project available in <SimpleLink CC13X2 / CC26X2 SDK> → examples → rtos → CC26X2R1_LAUNCHXL → ble5stack → rtls_responder can be directly leveraged.

1. Open CCS.
2. Import the rtls_responder project.
3. Build the project.
4. Flash the project on the CC26x2R LaunchPad™.

You're done! The target is now configured to be localizable both in connection and connectionless mode.

• when in a connection, the target can answer the requests of the central device (acting as a locator) requiring to append a CTE to the connection packets.
• the target is sending out periodic advertisements with appended CTE. If a device (locator) synchronize with these it will then be able to locate the target.

Task 2 – Test the target

In this task we will verify if the target appends CTEs to the proper Bluetooth LE packets.

• For connection AoA, we should verify if the CTEs are appended to the connection packets after the central device (i.e. locator) requests it.
• For connectionless AoA, we should verify if the target sends out periodic advertisements with appended CTEs.

To run these tests, we are going to leverage tools provided within the CC13X2 / CC26X2 SDK, especially the RTLS python scripts. These scripts require to attach a device flashed with the rtls_coordinator example to the computer to run properly - the way to do this is described in Step 1. Step 2 describes how to run the python scripts. Step 3 shows how to interpret the results.

Step 1 – Setup the rtls_coordinator

The rtls_coordinator project available in <SimpleLink CC13X2 / CC26X2 SDK> → examples → rtos → CC26X2R1_LAUNCHXL → ble5stack → rtls_coordinator can be directly leveraged.

1. Open CCS.
2. Import the rtls_coordinator project.
3. Build the project.
4. Flash the project on the second CC26x2R LaunchPad™.
5. Reset the device (by pressing the reset button on the launchpad)

By default, the rtls_coordinator project supports both connection and connectionless AoA.

Step 2 – Run the python scripts

For connection AoA

1. Open the file <SimpleLink CC13X2 / CC26X2 SDK> → tools → ble5stack → rtls_agent → examples → rtls_connected.py with a text editor.

2. Modify the COM port used for the rtls_coordinator

   Select text

   coordinator_comport="COM27",
   

3. Save the changes and close the file.

4. Open a terminal. Move to the directory <SimpleLink CC13X2 / CC26X2 SDK> → tools → ble5stack → rtls_agent → examples.

   Select text

   cd <rtls_agent folder>/examples
   

5. Run the python script named rtls_connected.py

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   c:\Python37\python.exe rtls_connected.py
   

The script will let the rtls_coordinator and the rtls_responder form a connection. Once the connection formed, the rtls_coordinator asks the rtls_responder to append a CTE to some connection packets. If the CTE is properly appended, the rtls_coordinator reports IQ data (extracted from the CTE). Here are ways to verify if the rtls_coordinator reports IQ data (i.e. if the rtls_responder properly appends a CTE to the connection packets).

• In the console, the python script displays messages telling you some IQ data is available.

  Select text

  [08:03:2021 10:02:54:421870] : Added new set of IQ into C:\ti\simplelink_cc13x2_26x2_sdk_5_20_00_52\tools\b   le5stack\rtls_agent\examples\rtls_connected_log\rtls_raw_iq_samples_806fb01e55f7_0_loop1.csv
  [08:03:2021 10:02:54:786872] : Added new set of IQ into C:\ti\simplelink_cc13x2_26x2_sdk_5_20_00_52\tools\b   le5stack\rtls_agent\examples\rtls_connected_log\rtls_raw_iq_samples_806fb01e55f7_0_loop1.csv
  

• The Python script creates a log file and a .csv file containing the IQ data. By default, these files are stored in <SimpleLink CC13X2 / CC26X2 SDK> → tools → ble5stack → rtls_agent → examples → rtls_connected_log and are named after the date and time the script get executed.

  • Here how the .csv file should looks like

    

  • Here are a line in the log file showing the rtls_coordinator reports some IQ data

    Select text

    [2021-08-03 10:02:53,798]      root -     INFO - COORDINATOR  : 80:6F:B0:1E:55:F7 --> {'type': 'Event', 'command': 'RTLS_CMD_AOA_RESULT_RAW', 'payload': {'connHandle': 0, 'rssi': -36, 'antenna': 1, 'channel': 24, 'offset': 0, 'samplesLength': 45, 'samples': [{'i': 35, 'q': -99}, {'i': 97, 'q': 43}, {'i': -45, 'q': 98}, {'i': -95, 'q': -51}, {'i': 55, 'q': -90}, {'i': 86, 'q': 62}, {'i': -63, 'q': 89}, {'i': -91, 'q': -57}, {'i': -83, 'q': -68}, {'i': -66, 'q': -83}, {'i': -51, 'q': -94}, {'i': -31, 'q': -103}, {'i': -30, 'q': -102}, {'i': -11, 'q': -108}, {'i': 8, 'q': -106}, {'i': 17, 'q': -106}, {'i': 38, 'q': -98}, {'i': 53, 'q': -91}, {'i': 64, 'q': -87}, {'i': 66, 'q': -83}, {'i': 81, 'q': -71}, {'i': 93, 'q': -50}, {'i': 97, 'q': -41}, {'i': 104, 'q': -25}, {'i': 107, 'q': -8}, {'i': 107, 'q': 5}, {'i': 104, 'q': 18}, {'i': 97, 'q': 47}, {'i': 94, 'q': 53}, {'i': 80, 'q': 71}, {'i': 77, 'q': 74}, {'i': 66, 'q': 86}]}}
    

For connectionles AoA

1. Open the file <SimpleLink CC13X2 / CC26X2 SDK> → tools → ble5stack → rtls_agent → examples → rtls_connectionless.py with a text editor.

2. Modify the COM port used for the rtls_coordinator

   Select text

   coordinator_comport="COM27",
   

3. Save the changes and close the file.

4. Open a terminal. Move to the directory <SimpleLink CC13X2 / CC26X2 SDK> → tools → ble5stack → rtls_agent → examples.

   Select text

   cd <rtls_agent folder>/examples
   

5. Run the python script named rtls_connectionless.py

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   c:\Python37\python.exe rtls_connectionless.py
   

The script will let the rtls_coordinator synchronize with the periodic advertisements sent by the rtls_responder. Once the synchronization established the rtls_coordinator samples the CTE appended to the periodic advertisement packets and report the IQ data. No IQ data is reported if the rtls_responder does not send out periodic advertisement or if these are not appended with a CTE. Here are ways to verify if the rtls_coordinator reports IQ data.

• In the console, the python script displays messages telling you some IQ data is available.

  Select text

  [08:03:2021 09:57:17:289245] : Added new set of IQ into C:\ti\simplelink_cc13x2_26x2_sdk_5_20_00_52\tools\ble5stack\rtls_agent\examples\rtls_connectionless_log\rtls_raw_iq_samples_806fb01e55f7_0_loop1.csv
  [08:03:2021 09:57:17:524198] : Added new set of IQ into C:\ti\simplelink_cc13x2_26x2_sdk_5_20_00_52\tools\ble5stack\rtls_agent\examples\rtls_connectionless_log\rtls_raw_iq_samples_806fb01e55f7_0_loop1.csv
  

• The Python script creates a log file and a .csv file containing the IQ data. By default, these files are stored in <SimpleLink CC13X2 / CC26X2 SDK> → tools → ble5stack → rtls_agent → examples → rtls_connectionless_log and are named after the date and time the script get executed.

  • Here how the .csv file should looks like

    

  • Here are a line in the log file showing the rtls_coordinator reports some IQ data

    Select text

    [2021-08-03 09:57:17,134]      root -     INFO - COORDINATOR  : 80:6F:B0:1E:55:F7 --> {'type': 'Event', 'command': 'RTLS_CMD_CL_AOA_RESULT_RAW', 'payload': {'syncHandle': 0, 'rssi': -35, 'antenna': 1, 'channel': 17, 'offset': 0, 'samplesLength': 45, 'samples': [{'i': 122, 'q': -17}, {'i': 19, 'q': 119}, {'i': -119, 'q': 5}, {'i': 11, 'q': -120}, {'i': 121, 'q': 22}, {'i': -26, 'q': 117}, {'i': -113, 'q': -37}, {'i': 46, 'q': -111}, {'i': 59, 'q': -102}, {'i': 93, 'q': -75}, {'i': 106, 'q': -54}, {'i': 120, 'q': -10}, {'i': 118, 'q': 20}, {'i': 106, 'q': 56}, {'i': 85, 'q': 84}, {'i': 62, 'q': 103}, {'i': 25, 'q': 118}, {'i': 2, 'q': 122}, {'i': -42, 'q': 115}, {'i': -60, 'q': 104}, {'i': -96, 'q': 73}, {'i': -114, 'q': 41}, {'i': -121, 'q': 6}, {'i': -115, 'q': -30}, {'i': -103, 'q': -60}, {'i': -87, 'q': -84}, {'i': -64, 'q': -100}, {'i': -32, 'q': -112}, {'i': 4, 'q': -116}, {'i': 43, 'q': -109}, {'i': 63, 'q': -100}, {'i': 98, 'q': -65}]}}
    

Task 3 – Use the LPSTK-CC1352R as target

Coming soon! In the mean time you may want to leverage this E2E thread

Task 4 – Disable unwanted AoA mode

So far, both connection and connectionless AoA are enabled. In general, both are not required so it might be interesting to disable one or the other.

Disable connection-AoA

Option 1

Connection AoA can be disabled by not joining any connection (i.e. by not enabling any connectable advertisement). By default, the handle advHandleLegacy is used for the connectable advertisement.

1. In CCS, in the rtls_responder project, open the file rtls_responder.c.
2. Comment out all the occurences of GapAdv_enable(advHandleLegacy.
3. Save, build the code and flash the device.

The solution suggested here is the one requiring the less work, but maybe not the one leading to the most optimized code. If the advertisement corresponding to the advHandleLegacy is never used, all the code refering to it could be commented out.

Option 2

Connection AoA can be disabled by not appending CTE to the connection packets even if the other device requires it. Here how to proceed.

1. In CCS, in the rtls_responder project, open the file rtls_responder.c.
2. Find the line RTLSSrv_setConnCteResponseEnableCmd(pPkt->connectionHandle, TRUE); This line enables the BLE stack to append a CTE to the connection packets when the connected device requires it.
3. Replace the line by RTLSSrv_setConnCteResponseEnableCmd(pPkt->connectionHandle, FALSE);
4. Save, build the code and flash the device.

Disable connectionless AoA

Connectionless AoA can be completely disabled by not sending out the periodic advertisements. This can be done by removing the line -DUSE_PERIODIC_ADV in the file rtls_responder_app.opt. Here are the detailed steps:

1. In CCS, in the rtls_responder project, open the file Tools → Defines → rtls_responder_app.opt
2. In this file, find and remove the line -DUSE_PERIODIC_ADV
3. Save and close the file.
4. Right click on the project and click "Rebuild All"
5. Once done, re-flash the device.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.