SDR-based Indoor Positioning with Joint Communications and Localization via OFDM Pilot Carrier Beacons

Presenter

Bao Trong Truong

Group Members

Miguel Chang

Campus

UMass Boston

Sponsor

Michael Rahaim, Department of Engineering, UMass Boston

Schedule

Session 2, 11:30 AM - 12:15 PM [Schedule by Time][Poster Grid for Time/Location]

Location

Poster Board A79, Campus Center Auditorium, Row 4 (A61-A80) [Poster Location Map]

Abstract

Indoor positioning systems enable precise localization of people or objects in indoor environments. These systems differ from well-known outdoor positioning systems, like GPS, in that they typically utilize a deployed infrastructure within a given environment. In this project, we are developing a test system for indoor positioning based on software defined radio (SDR) tools and techniques. The SDR testbed offers flexibility to modify the positioning technique, and automated data collection to enable performance comparison across techniques and/or environment configurations. Our baseline example scheme applies a Beacon-based positioning technique where transmitters (Beacons) send known frequency tones and a receiver uses the fast Fourier Transform to determine power received from each beacon. As the receiver moves, power measurements from Beacons are used to approximate the receiver’s location in a defined grid. Advantages of implementing this technique include minimal computing overhead at the device and minimal interaction needed between infrastructure and devices. To apply joint data transmission and localization, we implement OFDM modulation for data communications, and use the OFDM pilot carriers as localization beacons. To validate the calculated grid location’s accuracy, a high-resolution motion capture system is simultaneously used for comparison. The testbed configuration allows us to configure the beacons in different scenarios to compare performance across configurations. Our extended goal is to have an automated data collection process with mobile nodes. To do this, we aim to configure a Turtle Bot mobile robot that will carry our test equipment and follow defined motion paths in our test environment.  

Keywords

Experimental Testbed, SDR application, Peak detection, Automation, Flexibility

Research Area

Engineering

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