BodyWave™ Wearable Antenna
The only antenna specifically designed for wearables and body-worn applications
BodyWave™ solves the root causes of poor wireless performance in wearable and body-worn applications.
Antennas placed close to the body suffer three compounding problems: poor radiation efficiency, increased detuning, and body blocking. BodyWave™ solves all three, delivering Non-Line-of Sight (NLoS) link margin improvement from Sub-GHz to Channel 9 UWB.
Trusted by category leaders in industrial IoT, connected healthcare, sports and audio.
What makes BodyWave™ "made for wearables"?
Other antennas may claim to be "for wearables" but normally this refers only to the form factor. BodyWave™ is the result of over a decade of research at Queen's University, Belfast, where co-founders Dr Gareth Conway and Dr Matthew Magill set out to solve four distinct failure modes that affect every standard antenna placed close to, or on the body. And in doing so unlocking a new generation of wireless wearables by reducing the causes of dropouts, and delivering robust, reliable and repeatable wireless performance.
On-body impedance stability
BodyWave™ maintains stable resonance regardless of body proximity, tissue type, or position.
No detuning, no unpredictable frequency shift, ensuring consistent impedance from bench to deployment, across every user.
On-body radiation efficiency
Designed to radiate efficiently in the presence of tissue, not just in free space.
On-body radiation efficiency stays within 3-4dB of free-space performance, a standard no chip or printed antenna meets.
Unique BodyWave™ propagation
BodyWave™ creates an electromagnetic wave which creeps around the body, shrinking the impact of body blocking (or body shadowing), maintaining reliable NLoS links regardless of body position. The result: 360° on-body coverage and typically 6-12 dB of extra link margin.
Consistent performance across users
Body shape, size, and tissue properties vary between individuals. BodyWave™ delivers predictable performance across different users, body types, and environments, so you can have confidence that the performance of your product will hold up to real-world user experience.
SEE IT IN ACTION: BodyWave™ vs Standard Chip antenna - UWB localization accuracy
In this demonstration of the improved localization accuracy achieved with BodyWave™ antennas, Charlie, our engineer, walks away from two UWB receivers wearing two location tags on his chest, one with a BodyWave™ antenna, one with a standard chip antenna.
Same device. Same environment. Same person. The only difference is the antenna - see the results for yourself.
RF Performance Testing: Viviana Pebble vs. Whip Antenna
Pyers Easton from Raycom joined our CTO, Dr. Matt Magill, at Cambridge Science Park to test the BodyWave™ antenna in a specialist RF anechoic chamber. Using 3D RF measurement, they compared the Vivana Pebble against a traditional whip antenna for body blocking, RF absorption, radiation efficiency, and non-line-of-sight coverage.
The BodyWave™ Antenna Range
360° Coverage
BodyWave™ helps reduce drop-outs, giving excellent range and reliability for body-mounted devices subject to shadowing in unpredictable and dynamic applications.
Efficiency
The antenna maintains high radiation efficiency for its miniature size, even when close to the human body or mounted on very small ground planes.
Repeatability
Designed for wearable applications which can cause unpredictable wireless performance, the antenna is resistant to detuning caused by human body proximity.
Power
BodyWave™ dramatically reduces power consumption when compared to high transmission (Tx) power-hungry amplifier solutions currently used to address body shadowing.
Real-time Data
BodyWave™ antenna technology offers reliable real-time data acquisition, enabling full-story analysis and comprehensive reporting for critical applications.
Rapid Deployment
Fully compatible with existing chipsets, our seamless integration process and product support enable rapid deployment with minimal radio frequency (RF) expertise.
Compact Size
A compact form factor enables easy incorporation into miniaturized, low-profile wearable devices, ensuring seamless compatibility and optimal performance.
Cost
A single antenna system reduces materials by eliminating the need for amplifiers, simplifying design and enabling cost-effective production for wearables.
Enabling the Next Generation of Wearables
By reducing detrimental Non-Line-of-Sight effects, BodyWave™ facilitates many previously impossible applications with enhanced range, reliability, and 360-degree coverage for real-time data acquisition and wireless localization.
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BodyWave™ Wearable Antenna Applications
We are here to help you bring your products to market faster.
Highly regarded for our seamless integration capabilities, our proven assessment to deployment process ensures excellent user experience for both product teams and end users.
- Support with integration and layout recommendations
- Customer equipment test and measurement characterisation using in-house wireless wearable testbeds to help improve wireless performance
- Matching network, transmission line, RF circuitry, and product design services