Renesas & Altran Release First Low‑Rate‑Pulse UWB Wristwatch for Social Distancing

Renesas Electronics Corporation and Altran have co‑developed a wearable chipset platform that leverages ultra‑wideband (UWB) technology licensed from 3db Access, a fabless semiconductor firm that specializes in secure, low‑power UWB chips to enhance Renesas microcontrollers.

The joint solution represents the first UWB wearable that uses a low‑rate‑pulse (LRP) architecture for precise distance measurement, making it uniquely suited for social‑distancing applications.

Designed as a wristwatch, the platform pairs the Renesas Synergy S128 MCU, featuring an HMI capacitive‑touch interface, with the licensed secure ranging UWB technology. Unlike BLE‑based wearables, Renesas’ LRP UWB chipset consumes 10× less power while delivering sub‑10 cm accuracy—critical for real‑world distancing.

The device allows users to set a personal safe‑distance threshold. When another UWB device enters that zone, LEDs and haptic feedback provide instant alerts. Renesas will commence UWB chipset sampling in the second half of 2021.

Altran, acting as system integrator, will build on the UWB platform to create additional social‑distancing wearables and location‑based solutions for a broad range of clients. The wristwatch will be demonstrated in Altran’s innovation lab.

“After months of global pandemic shutdowns, people will want to feel safe when they return to work, school and social settings in close proximity to others. I’m pleased our collaboration with Altran is about responding to the Covid‑19 pandemic with the first LRP UWB social distance wristwatch solution,” said Roger Wendelken, senior vice president, and head of Renesas’ MCU IoT and infrastructure business units. “Renesas plans to expand to more use cases in the future such as access control, asset tracking and geofencing.”

Altran’s president of its semiconductor & electronics, industrial & consumer business, Scott Houghton, said, “This has been a unique and rewarding project, collaborating with Renesas to bring the first LRP UWB‑based social distancing wristwatch to market. We’re excited to introduce this platform to other markets; its form factor, power efficiency and accuracy make it an excellent fit – in both Covid and non‑Covid applications– across our vertical industries.”