Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be demoed at CES 2026

Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be demoed at CES 2026 Calterah, a global leader in chip design for CMOS single-chip millimeter-wave radar sensors, together with Rohde & Schwarz, a world-leading company in test and measurement, has successfully demonstrated its next-generation solution for digital car keys based on the Dubhe-UWB-SoC chip (Ultra-Wideband; System-on-Chip). This is the world's first UWB chip to fully comply with the new IEEE 802.15.4ab standard. For the first time, the industry presents at CES 2026 a complete ecosystem for the new technology, combining state-of-the-art standards, advanced chip technology, and official verification.

The functional demonstration and parallel verification of the Dubhe-UWB-SoC chip were carried out using Rohde & Schwarz radio communication testers

At the heart of the innovation is the Dubhe-UWB-SoC series. It is the world's first UWB-SoC chip featuring an architecture with two transmit and four receive channels (2T4R), integrating positioning and radar functions into a single SoC. The use of BLE-Assisted-MMS technology (Bluetooth Low Energy-Assisted Multi-Millisecond) is key for wireless distance measurement, offering greater range, higher accuracy, and increased stability. Thanks to optimized connectivity, the maximum range for reliable distance measurement increases to over 400 meters, and stable positioning is possible - even through five vehicles in underground garages. This addresses the well-known limitations of traditional UWB. With 22-nm process technology and energy-efficient design, power consumption is reduced by 32 percent during transmission and 56 percent during reception compared to similar solutions, which is ideal for applications with long standby times, such as Sentry Mode.

The functional demonstration and parallel verification of the Dubhe-UWB-SoC chip were carried out using the CMP200 and CMP180 radio communication testers from Rohde & Schwarz. As a FiRa Consortium-certified test platform, the CMP200 was used to comprehensively verify the chip's UWB functionality at the physical level and confirm compliance with IEEE 802.15.4a/z/ab standards. The CMP180 was used to capture and verify BLE signals. Together with the CMP200, it was employed to demonstrate the full BLE-Assisted-MMS dual-mode functionality.

For Calterah, the collaboration with Rohde & Schwarz brings strategic advantages. Joint verification with a leading test equipment provider accelerates the development and adoption of the new IEEE 802.15.4ab standard and the BLE-MMS ecosystem. Calterah also offers customers in the broader value chain a ready-to-use, reliable, and officially verified solution for Automated Test Equipment (ATE) and production testing, significantly reducing development hurdles and risks for these customers. At the same time, the global recognition of Rohde & Schwarz in test and measurement greatly increases customer confidence in the performance and reliability of the Dubhe chip, paving the way for market adoption.

The Dubhe-UWB-SoC chip combines communication and sensing functions in a single architecture, providing the foundation for various applications. In addition to digital car keys, this includes radar-based features such as kick-to-open for the tailgate, detection of vital signs in the interior (for example, Child Presence Detection, CPD), and intrusion detection. This combination in one chip significantly reduces complexity, further advancing automotive intelligence.

The collaboration with Rohde & Schwarz was crucial for the successful verification of the Dubhe-UWB-SoC and has significantly shortened the time to market. We thank them for the excellent cooperation. In the future, we aim to further expand the ecosystem with partners from the industry, says Peter Wiese, EMEA Managing Director at Calterah.

Interested parties can find more information in a detailed technical whitepaper available here.

Rohde & Schwarz USA is located at booth 4567 in the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC).

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