Follow zdnet: Add us as a preferred source on Google.
ZDNET’s major takeovers
- The Challenger UWB is powered by the Raspberry Pi Pico 2040 chip.
- This allows tracking accuracy up to 10 cm.
- Low power consumption makes it perfect for mobile applications.
Asset tracking is a big deal, whether it’s vehicles, tools, or even people moving around a site, and while there are several off-the-shelf solutions available— with Apple’s Airtag being very commonly used—some want to build their own systems.
And you can. You just need the hardware, some software knowledge, and you’re good to go. A bit of kit I’ve been experimenting with recently is the ILABS Challenger RP2040 UWB Terrain
Also: Best Raspberry Pi Alternatives in 2025: Expert Recommended
As the name suggests, this board is an Adafruit Feather-format microcontroller board equipped with a DWM3000 ultra-Wideband (UWB) module and is powered by a Raspberry Pi Pico 2040 chip with 8MB of flash storage and 264KB of RAM.
Perfect for small-scale systems
These boards aren’t cheap at around $65 to $75 each , but they’re a great option for small-scale systems or something custom that would otherwise cost a lot of money (or simply wouldn’t be doable).
ILABS Challenger RP2040 UWB board.
Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/Zdnet
The DWM3000 allows object tracking to an accuracy of up to 10 cm/4 inches. The module is compatible with Apple’s U1 and U2 first and second generation ultra-wideband chips, as well as FIRA-compliant devices.
Also: Wireless Heart Rate Monitor Powered by Raspberry Pi and Wi-Fi – How it Works
The board is designed to be portable and can be powered by a Lipo battery with a JST connector or USB-C. Power consumption is very low at only 75 mA when in sleep mode and a tiny 1.5 μA. This means you can run for a long time on a small battery.
The board is a great piece of kit. But it’s just a board.
You need to add smells
This means knowing how to work with Arduino code. Much of the code you need is available from ILAB, and if you’re new to Arduino, there are some great primers to get you started.
Also: 7 Useful Things Flipper Zero Can Do
If you’re used to getting elbow deep into Raspberry Pi and Arduino projects, this will be all you need. If you’re a beginner and interested in learning, this is a great project to sink your teeth into.
But if you’re not interested in coding and messing with batteries and possible soldering, you’re best off sticking with off-the-shelf solutions—either consumer finder tags for iOS or Android (or both ) where the cost is in the tens or hundreds of dollars, or going full pro and spending several hundred to several thousand dollars.
