How Shared Bike Smart Locks Communicate: IoT, GPS, Bluetooth, and NB‑IoT Overview

Shared bicycles rely on a smart lock that integrates an embedded chip, a communication module, a GPS module and an IoT SIM card. The SIM card connects via 2G/3G/4G to the cloud, reporting location and lock status.

The lock’s power comes from a dynamo coil driven by the rider’s pedaling, which charges an internal battery.

Each bike has a unique QR code. Users scan it with a mobile app, which sends the unlock request to the cloud; the cloud then pushes a command to the lock’s controller to open the electromechanical lock.

If cellular coverage is poor, the system falls back to Bluetooth: the cloud sends the unlock key to the user’s phone, which pairs with the lock and triggers unlocking locally.

The cloud platform calculates usage time and charges the user through WeChat or Alipay.

GPS provides real‑time positioning, though accuracy may suffer in dense urban areas, leading to incorrect geofencing.

Overall, shared‑bike IoT uses three communication technologies: 2G/3G/4G modules, Bluetooth, and NB‑IoT, with NB‑IoT offering wide coverage, low power consumption, and massive device support.