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Interoperable Access Control via Aliro and Matter Reference Designs
Nordic Semiconductor releases a certified reference design for the Aliro 1.0 specification, enabling developers to replace physical keys with secure, standardized mobile credentials.
www.nordicsemi.com
The fragmentation of mobile credential systems has historically forced manufacturers to develop proprietary, incompatible solutions for digital keys. To solve this, the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA) developed Aliro, a communication protocol designed to standardize how mobile devices interact with access readers. Nordic Semiconductor’s new reference design provides a certified foundation for this standard, integrating it with the Matter protocol to allow for simultaneous local access and remote smart home management.
Technical Architecture and Multi-Protocol Support
The reference design is optimized for the nRF54L Series, leveraging its ultra-low power consumption and processing capabilities to handle multiple wireless stacks concurrently. The solution supports the three core technologies defined by Aliro:
- Bluetooth® Low Energy (LE): Used for initial discovery and communication between the mobile device and the reader.
- Ultra-Wideband (UWB): Enables precise "intent" detection and spatial awareness, ensuring the door only unlocks when the user is at the threshold.
- Near Field Communication (NFC): Provides a fallback mechanism for "tap-to-enter" scenarios or when a device's battery is depleted.
Converging Aliro and Matter
While Aliro handles the secure credential exchange for physical entry, Matter manages the broader ecosystem integration. By supporting both protocols on a single chip, developers can implement:
While Aliro handles the secure credential exchange for physical entry, Matter manages the broader ecosystem integration. By supporting both protocols on a single chip, developers can implement:
- Standardized Access: A single mobile credential that works across different reader brands and smartphone vendors.
- Remote Command-and-Control: Using Matter to perform remote locking/unlocking and user provisioning via smart home hubs.
- Reduced Complexity: Eliminating the need for separate hardware components to handle "access" versus "automation" functions.
Development Resources and Availability
Nordic has integrated this complete hardware-software foundation into its nRF Connect SDK. The "Door Lock and Access Control Add-on" includes certified software stacks and hardware descriptions, significantly reducing the R&D time required to bring Aliro-compliant products to market. This release aligns with the official Aliro 1.0 launch, ensuring that manufacturers can adopt the standard as it becomes the new industry benchmark for digital keys in both commercial and residential sectors.
www.nordicsemi.com
Nordic has integrated this complete hardware-software foundation into its nRF Connect SDK. The "Door Lock and Access Control Add-on" includes certified software stacks and hardware descriptions, significantly reducing the R&D time required to bring Aliro-compliant products to market. This release aligns with the official Aliro 1.0 launch, ensuring that manufacturers can adopt the standard as it becomes the new industry benchmark for digital keys in both commercial and residential sectors.
www.nordicsemi.com
