ASAP: A passive single-anchor localization technique for wireless sensor networks

In this paper, we focus on the node localization problem in the context of wireless sensor networks (WSN). By adopting a cross-layer approach, we propose a novel single-anchor localization system that is able of intercepting its neighboring communications and simultaneously identifying (MAC layer) and localizing (Physical layer) the current transmitting node on the channel. The particularity of our proposal is that it does not have any impact on the nodes. The anchor is equipped with an antenna array with large aperture (compared to the wavelength), which allows both traffic analysis and localization of any transmitting node in the covered localization area. The spatial performance of the proposal is evaluated by simulation in all the localization area (ZL) as a function of the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Simulation results show good localization performance, especially near the anchor.