Precise navigation using adaptive FIR filtering and time domain spectral estimation

This paper introduces a new low cost, short range, positioning system based on adaptive finite impulse response (FIR) filtering and time domain spectral estimation. The system can determine absolute positions with a high degree of accuracy and is well suited for real time navigation. The approach is based upon signal processing techniques and a priori knowledge of the system transfer function. The first step is to measure the phase response of the linear transfer function and then using a FIR filter the time response of the system can be determined. The FIR filter computes the time response by performing a deconvolution between the measured phase response, and the complex conjugate of the transfer function. By correlating the known input impulse response with the output of the FIR filter, an error term is generated. The time delay of the system is determined by adjusting the FIR filter coefficients to minimize the error term. Simulated analysis of the system indicates a worst case error of ±16 cm