Ultra-wideband two-cluster tracking system design with angle of arrival algorithm

This paper describes a design effort for a prototype ultra-wideband (UWB) tracking system that is currently under development at NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC). The system is being studied for use in tracking of lunar/Mars rovers during early exploration missions when satellite navigation systems are not available. The UWB technology is exploited to implement the tracking system due to its properties such as high data rate, fine time resolution, low power spectral density and multipath immunity. A two-cluster prototype design using commercially available UWB products is proposed to implement the angle of arrival (AOA) tracking methodology in this research effort. Simulations show that the AOA algorithm can achieve the fine tracking resolution with low noise time difference of arrival (TDOA) estimates. The outdoor tests demonstrate the UWB tracking feasibility.