Self-aware wireless sensor network: A joint localisation and orientation approach

In this paper, a self-aware wireless sensor network is proposed that can provide a joint localisation and orientation of its internal sensor nodes in the network or its external target-of-interests within the network. The proposed algorithm is capable of determining both the localisation estimate and, if necessary, the orientation estimate of the nodes. Apart from that, it is able to cope with the random orientation of the nodes, especially in a randomly scattered sensor network application. Its cooperative approach is applicable whether there is a presence or absence of anchor nodes in the network, operating in a blind asynchronous DS-CDMA system. Many conventional positioning techniques suffer performance degradation in a multipath environment or near-far problem in a sensor network setting, thus compromising the reliability of the system. The approach put forward in this study thus addresses these issues and is also robust against other environmental uncertainties. A representative example is also included at the end to illustrate the idea as well as to highlight the effectiveness of the algorithm.