Lab-Based Evaluation of Device-Free Passive Localization Using Multipath Channel Information

The interconnection of devices, driven by the Internet of Things (IoT), enables a broad variety of smart applications and location-based services. The latter is often realized via transponder based approaches, which actively determine device positions within Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN). In addition, interpreting wireless signal measurements also enables the utilization of radar-like passive localization of objects, further enhancing the capabilities of WSN ranging from environmental mapping to multipath detection. For these approaches, the target objects are not required to hold any device nor to actively participate in the localization process. Instead, the signal delays caused by reflections at objects within the propagation environment are used to localize the object. In this work, we used Ultra-Wide Band (UWB) sensors to measure Channel Impulse Responses (CIRs) within a WSN. Determining an object position based on the CIR can be achieved by formulating an elliptical model. Based on this relation, we propose a CIR environmental mapping (CIR-EM) method, which represents a heatmap generation of the propagation environment based on the CIRs taken from radio communication signals. Along with providing imaging capabilities, this method also allows a more robust localization when compared to state-of-the-art methods. This paper provides a proof-of-concept of passive localization solely based on evaluating radio communication signals by conducting measurement campaigns in an anechoic chamber as a best-case environment. Furthermore, shortcomings due to physical layer limitations when using non-dedicated hardware and signals are investigated. Overall, this work lays a foundation for related research and further evaluation in more application-oriented scenarios.

Robust Statistical Detection of GNSS Multipath Using Inter-Frequency C/N0 Differences

Multipath detection and mitigation are crucial issues for global navigation satellite system (GNSS) high-precision positioning. The multi-frequency carrier power-to-noise density ratio (C/N0)-based multipath detection technique has achieved good results in real-time static and low-dynamic applications, and shown better practicability because of the low computational load and the requirement for little additional hardware. However, the classic multipath detection method based on inter-frequency C/N0 differences directly employs the 3σ rule to determine the threshold without considering the distribution of detection statistics and their variation characteristics with elevation angle, and ignores the interference of outliers to the reference functions. A robust multipath detection method is proposed in this paper. The reference functions of C/N0 differences are fitted using least absolute deviation (LAD) to obtain more accurate nominal values. According to the skew characteristics of the detection statistics, a medcouple (MC)-based adjusted boxplot is employed to determine the threshold. The performance of the new detection method is verified in the multipath environments. The experimental results show that compared with the classic method, the new multipath detector has strong robustness and can respond more accurately to large changes in multipath (MP) combination values at most elevation angles. It is sensitive to short-delay multipath and diffraction, and is an important supplement to multipath detection techniques.

GNSS Multipath Detection Using Continuous Time-Series C/N0

The reduction of multipath errors is a significant challenge in the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), especially when receiving non-line-of-sight (NLOS) signals. However, selecting line-of-sight (LOS) satellites correctly is still a difficult task in dense urban areas, even with the latest GNSS receivers. This study demonstrates a new method of utilization of C/N0 of the GNSS to detect NLOS signals. The elevation-dependent threshold of the C/N0 setting may be effective in mitigating multipath errors. However, the C/N0 fluctuation affected by NLOS signals is quite large. If the C/N0 is over the threshold, the satellite is used for positioning even if it is still affected by the NLOS signal, which causes the positioning error to jump easily. To overcome this issue, we focused on the value of continuous time-series C/N0 for a certain period. If the C/N0 of the satellite was less than the determined threshold, the satellite was not used for positioning for a certain period, even if the C/N0 recovered over the threshold. Three static tests were conducted at challenging locations near high-rise buildings in Tokyo. The results proved that our method could substantially mitigate multipath errors in differential GNSS by appropriately removing the NLOS signals. Therefore, the performance of real-time kinematic GNSS was significantly improved.