Bluetooth Ranging Vehicle Access Enablement System With the KW47 MCU

NXP’s Bluetooth® Ranging Vehicle Access System delivers a secure, convenient and innovative approach to automotive access. This solution leverages Bluetooth Channel Sounding (BCS) to enable precise distance measurement and accurate localization, ensuring reliable keyless entry and enhanced user experience.

BCS is an advanced Bluetooth Low Energy (LE) 6.0 feature that enables highly accurate distance measurement by analyzing the physical characteristics of the wireless signal rather than relying on traditional received signal strength indicator (RSSI) based estimation. In vehicle access systems, BCS allows a car to determine a user’s proximity with much higher precision, improving the reliability of keyless entry while reducing vulnerabilities. This enables secure “phone as a key” experiences, offering enhanced convenience and authentication for next generation smart vehicles.

Watch the video showcasing NXP’s Bluetooth Ranging Vehicle Access demo, utilizing the KW47 Automotive Bluetooth MCU.

Designed for next-generation smart vehicles, NXP’s Bluetooth Ranging Vehicle Access solution supports “phone as a key” functionality, digital key standards and secure authentication through the Car Connectivity Consortium (CCC) framework. With ultra-low-power architecture, multi-anchor Bluetooth LE coverage and robust threat mitigation, NXP’s solution provides superior security and performance for automotive applications.

Authors

Wenbo Qi

Application and Systems Engineer - Edge Processing, NXP Semiconductors

Wenbo Qi is a software application engineer at NXP focusing on wireless MCUs. He supports the automotive market with his expertise in Bluetooth LE and Channel Sounding. Based in Caen, France, Wenbo provides technical support for NXP's KW4x family.

Martin Cuvelier

Software Systems Engineer, NXP Semiconductors

Martin Cuvelier is a Software Systems Engineer at NXP with expertise in Bluetooth LE connectivity and Channel Sounding. Based in Caen, France, Martin is focused on embedded system architecture and solutions. He brings technical insight into designing scalable, high-performance connected solutions for next-generation connected devices.