ESP32S3 + MaUWB UWB Module BREAKTHROUGH: Unlimited Anchors & Smart Tracking!

Last Updated on August 11, 2025 by Engr. Shahzada Fahad

Description:

ESP32S3 + MaUWB UWB Module BREAKTHROUGH: Unlimited Anchors & Smart Tracking! – today I have got a really cool update to share with you about the MaUWB_ESP32S3 UWB modules; and if you are working on real-time tracking or smart positioning systems, you are going to want to read this.

In my first article, I showed how two of these MaUWB modules could talk to each other; simple setup:

One was the Anchor, one was the Tag. The Anchor’s OLED display gave us real-time distance from the Tag. Pretty neat, right?

But… something was missing.

We could see how far the Tag was; but not where it was. We had no idea which direction it was in.

That’s because with just two anchors, you only get one coordinate; the X-axis.

To track position in a space; not just a line; you need at least 3, ideally 4 anchors.

For my initial experiments, I only had these two modules, which I used as Anchors A0 and A1. To complete the setup, I made a custom Tag using the MakerFabs MaUWB DW3000 chipset and my newly designed ESP32S3-based development board.

I have already explained in my previous article how to solder the wires with the MaUWB DW3000 chipset and how to interface it with the ESP32S3.

The problem with using only two anchors was that we only had the X-coordinate; the Y-coordinate was missing.

That’s why, when I moved the tag forward or backward, it still showed the position of the tag on a straight line.

So, if someone was working on a project where they needed to track the position of something on a straight line or, let’s say, only along the X-axis, then two anchors were sufficient.

But for precise measurement of the position of an object or human in an area, at least 3 to 4 anchors were needed.

The number of anchors could be increased to track the position within an irregular area. Initially, I started with 3 to 4 anchors.

To demonstrate this, I created two more anchors, A2 and A3. That time, I used simple ESP32 Dev Modules.

At that point, I was able to track the position of Tag T0 in the XY plane.

I could change the coordinates in the code to track the tag within a larger area. I am sure you got the idea of how to build a real-time human, object, or pet position tracking system.

Although the application was quite impressive, the only thing I didn’t like was that Anchor A0 had to be connected to the system, which made the entire setup feel somewhat unprofessional. Every time I wanted to track the position of a human, pet, or object, I had to connect Anchor A0 to my laptop or PC. So, I decided to make the system completely wireless.

I had already installed all the required packages, including the Flask package.

Anyways; at that point, I was able to precisely track the position of a human, object, or pet wirelessly; not only on my laptop, but also on my cell phone.

I no longer needed to sit in front of the laptop.

This was a quick overview of what I already explained in my last two articles and videos.

It was important so you can understand how powerful the MaUWB_ESP32S3 UWB modules and the MakerFabs MaUWB DW3000 chipsets are; and where you can use them in your own projects.

Now, speaking of powerful updates; just recently, I got an email from Makerfabs.

They appreciated the video I made about their MaTouch Parallel TFT 5” display, and along with that, they also shared some exciting news about the MaUWB module that I really wanted to share with you all.

So here’s what’s new:

With the latest firmware version V1.1.3, MaUWB now supports unlimited anchors;

Yes, unlimited!

But instead of overwhelming the system, the Tag now automatically detects and selects the 8 nearest anchors in real time for positioning.

That means no matter how many anchors are deployed; 16, 24, or even more; the system stays smart, stable, and responsive.

This makes the MaUWB module way more flexible, especially in large or complex environments where anchors might be spread unevenly or when devices are moving between different zones.

To make this work, they have introduced something called Anchor Class Logic Anchor_ID % 8.

Here’s how it works:

Every anchor has a unique ID like 0, 1, 2, and so on.

Anchors with the same remainder when divided by 8 belong to the same class.

The Tag communicates with only one anchor from each class, and always chooses the nearest one.

So, for example; if anchors 0, 8, and 16 are all from class 0, the Tag will talk to whichever is closest.

This smart filtering avoids signal interference and ensures accurate positioning, even in dense deployments.

And the accuracy? Still solid; with less than 0.5 meters deviation under standard indoor conditions (within 500 meters range).

So whether you’re working on:

• Indoor personnel tracking
• Industrial asset tracking
• Warehouse robotics navigation
• Or large-area research testbeds

This update makes MaUWB even more powerful and scalable.

I would have definitely made a video on this update; but honestly, I have already explained this topic in detail, from the basics to the advanced level, in my previous videos and articles.

And to be very frank, I don’t have that many anchors available to practically test this new feature.

Anyway; this update is mainly on the firmware side.

You can download the new firmware and update instructions from Makerfabs’ official GitHub.

Trust me, this is a game-changer for anyone building smart positioning systems.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Why is a two-anchor UWB system not enough for precise position tracking?
A: A system with only two anchors can only measure distance along a single coordinate (the X-axis). It can tell you how far away a tag is, but it cannot determine its specific position or direction in a 2D space (the Y-coordinate is missing).

2. How many anchors are needed for accurate 2D position tracking?
A: To precisely measure the position of an object or person in a 2D area, you need a minimum of 3, and ideally 4, anchors to calculate both X and Y coordinates.

3. What is the main new feature in the MaUWB firmware update (V1.1.3)?
A: The key breakthrough in firmware V1.1.3 is that the MaUWB system now supports an unlimited number of anchors, making it highly scalable for large and complex environments.

4. How does the system handle “unlimited” anchors without getting overwhelmed?
A: The Tag doesn’t communicate with all anchors at once. Instead, it intelligently and automatically detects and selects only the 8 nearest anchors in real-time to perform its positioning calculations, ensuring the system remains stable and responsive.

5. What is the “Anchor Class Logic” (Anchor_ID % 8)?
A: It is a smart filtering method where each anchor is assigned to one of 8 classes based on its ID. The Tag communicates with only the single nearest anchor from each class, which prevents signal interference and ensures accuracy even in dense anchor deployments.

6. What is the positioning accuracy of the MaUWB system with the new firmware?
A: The system maintains solid accuracy, with a deviation of less than 0.5 meters under standard indoor conditions.

7. What are some ideal applications for this scalable MaUWB tracking system?
A: It is excellent for indoor personnel tracking, industrial asset tracking, warehouse robotics navigation, and large-area research testbeds.

8. Where can I download the new firmware for the MaUWB module?
A: You can download the new firmware and the necessary update instructions from the official Makerfabs GitHub repository.

Watch Video Tutorial: