UWB vs BLE for Indoor Positioning: Choosing the Right Technology

BLE AoA (Angle of Arrival) and UWB are both used for real-time location systems (RTLS), but the trade-offs differ. A BLE AoA system like Blueiot's BA3000 anchor reaches 0.1–0.3 m accuracy with sub-100ms latency — precise enough for personnel and asset tracking in hospitals or factories.

Pure UWB pulls ahead when targets move very fast or need absolute centimeter accuracy, such as robots and AGVs on a production floor. BLE AoA is generally cheaper to deploy at scale, though, since it needs a lower anchor density.

The right choice depends on what you're tracking: general staff and assets are well served by BLE AoA, while high-precision robotics call for full UWB.