Bluetooth trackers like Tile and Apple’s AirTag have become popular accessories for those who want to keep track of easy-to-lose items. If there’s a tracker on the keychain of your missing car keys, you can use an app on your smartphone to find its last known position.
The average consumer Bluetooth tracker has 3 primary components:
1. The microcontroller —Like a computer’s CPU, the microcontroller handles all the processing. This component manages various functions, including transmitting and receiving signals, executing commands, providing user feedback, and storing data.
2. The Bluetooth module - A dedicated Bluetooth module handles seamless communication with Bluetooth-enabled devices like smartphones and tablets. Modern trackers utilize Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), also known as Bluetooth 4.0, which optimizes battery life. AirTags are also equipped with Apple’s Ultra Wideband (UWB) chip.
3. The power source - Power is usually provided by a standard dry-cell battery, although some models include rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. The Apple AirTag, for instance, houses a flat, disc-shaped battery that the user can easily replace.
Finding what you lost
Bluetooth trackers not only assist in finding lost items but also act as a reliable safety net to prevent you from misplacing your belongings. With trackers like Tile and AirTag, users receive a prompt if they’ve left something behind.
Users can also use the app to find the tracker’s last known location. In some cases, this can be enabled by a worldwide network of people using the same device. Currently, there are more than a billion iPhone users worldwide. Their phones can detect a tracker’s signal and report it to a central server without any intervention from the user.
If the item is nearby, you can use Bluetooth or Apple’s UWB chip to zero in on the location and issue a command to the tracker to sound an alarm.
