Simple Wi-Fi-Based Direction Estimation of Subjects Using Directional Antenna

In this paper, we propose a simple and low-cost direction estimation method for a subject (e.g., a photographic subject) by observing the Wi-Fi signal strength using a directional antenna. Our goal is to find a specific person in a crowded environment such as an athletics tournament, where many people are identically dressed and in close proximity to each other. Our method suggests the direction of the moving subject to the photographer. In our system, a compact directional antenna attached to a camera receives Wi-Fi signals that originate from a device attached to the subject, and estimates the subject´s direction on the basis of variances in the signal strength. Through experimental evaluations, we show that 68% of the results estimated on the basis of the variation in signal strength versus the swinging angle of the camera are accurate.