WPR.B - Localization and Positioning Techniques

Objectives

Localization and Positioning represent one of the main themes that are being developed in the field of wireless communications. A number of technologies are used in this respect: Global Navigation Satellite Systems like GPS and the forthcoming European GALILEO, cellular-network-based techniques based on delay of arrival/direction of arrival, and finally indoor positioning techniques based on Wi-Fi or on specialized UWB signaling. Positioning can be used at different layers in a wireless network: provision of location-based services (emergency, tourism, infotainment etc.), optimization of network resources, “pure” navigation for transport and guidance. NEWCOM++ will launch a vertical (transversal) action on different research WPs to contribute to the state of the art of such techniques. In particular, one of the main transversal themes will be the design of new processing algorithms and signal formats for optimum integration between positioning/navigation and communications (including parameter estimation, signal synchronization, GNSS/terrestrial data fusion etc.) in the forthcoming beyond-3G wireless communication systems with UWB and/or MIMO technologies.

Another key aspect will be the investigation of cooperative positioning to be used in, and for, cooperative communication networks. In fact, it is apparent that knowledge of the location of the different nodes that cooperate in a network can have an impact on the efficiency/capacity of the different strategies for communications. At the same time, cooperation can be also exploited to enhance the positioning algorithms performance in much the same way as it does for communications.

This WP will finally contribute to the writing of the “Vision Book” as prepared in WPI.5.

Description of work

Task TB.1: Current State of the Art

This activity, performed by all partners, will be focused on a review of the main technologies in use at the start time of the NoE for localization and positioning. Both satellite- and terrestrial-based techniques will be considered, and the relevant fields of applicability (indoor/outdoor, urban/rural) and performance (accuracy, availability, etc.) will be assessed.

Also, the possibility to integrate and share the wireless signals for communications and positioning will be investigated. The issue of integration of different systems will also be tackled.

Main players: All

Task TB.2: Signal Design

In the activity, the impact of the radio (ranging) signals characteristics on the attainable positioning accuracy will be revised and novel signal formats will be proposed and assessed.

The fundamental tools will be theoretical analysis (Cramér-Rao Bound, Gabor bandwidth) and simulation.

Main players: CNIT, ISMB, UCL

Task TB.3: Estimation and Synchronization

Specific algorithms to perform TOA/DOA/AOA estimation will be developed and assessed both for outdoor satellite-based and cellular systems and for indoor UWB systems. The possibility to re-use the same approach for heterogeneous networks will also be investigated.

Such integration will be a key step to attain to the concept of “seamless positioning” with ever-available indication of the user’s position.

Main players: UCL, CNIT, Chalmers, AAU

Task TB.4: Positioning in MIMO and Cooperative Wireless Communications

MIMO and cooperative techniques are finding their way into wireless communications. The same techniques are also being applied (possibly under different names) in the field of positioning: array processing, cooperative positioning, multi-sensor positioning just to cite a few. In this activity, analysis of positioning in MIMO and cooperative networks will be performed and practical algorithms for “cooperation for ranging” will be proposed and analyzed. Different scenarios for the application of such techniques will be envisaged, from conventional hub-spoke networks (cellular, WiFi) to ad-hoc and sensor networks.

Main players: Bilkent, CNIT, ISMB, UPC

Task TB.5: Interoperation and Data Fusion

At present, a number of mutually independent techniques for positioning are available: GNSS, cellular-network-based, indoor. The future of such techniques will be integration and interoperability to attain to the ultimate goal of “seamless positioning”. This calls, at least in a first phase, for advanced data fusion techniques that integrate different indications (at the level of (pseudo-) ranges from the sensors or final user position) coming from different systems. This will be the task of this activity, and the main technologies to be involved will be Particle Filtering (Monte-Carlo sequential estimation), Bayesian estimation and other statistical signal processing techniques. The possibility to integrate non-radio-based positioning devices such as inertial sensors will also be investigated.

Main players: CTTC, ISMB