Ultra-wideband position tracking project


Ultra-wideband (UWB) indoor positioning works by measuring range and/or angle estimates from a set of fixed points to a moving tag. The set of measurements is then used to calculate position through multilateration or multiangulation. The principle is the same as that used in the global positioning system (GPS), except the scale is very different. Whereas GPS works on a global scale, UWB position tracking is intended to operate at the scale of a room or building.

The main difference is that operating indoors requires non-line-of-sight propagation of the radio signals. This introduces many problems that reduce the accuracy of the tracking. In this project, we are focused on modeling the noise sources and mitigating their effects via Kalman and particle filtering. See my course ECE 854 for background mathematics on these subjects.

Papers about this project:

Hardware:

Our research uses a UWB system manufactured by Ubisense. In our installs we have found the core accuracy of their system to range from 20-100 cm. Our techniques can improve this accuracy and we continue to try to push the limits.


UWB Project Page / Clemson / ahoover@clemson.edu