An Iterative Multilateral Localization Algorithm Based on Time Rounds for Wireless Sensor Networks

In many applications of wireless sensor networks, location is very important data. Location data can come from manual setting or GPS device. However, manual setting requires huge cost of human time, and GPS setting requires expensive device cost. Both approaches are not applicable to localization task of large scale wireless sensor networks. In this paper, we propose an accurate and efficient localization algorithm, called iterative multilateral localization algorithm based on time rounds. This algorithm uses time round mechanism and anchor nodes triangle placement scheme to reduce error accumulation caused by iterative localization. And it also reduces location errors caused by trilateral localization through limiting the minimum number of neighbor beacon nodes used in different localizing time rounds. Experimental results reveal that this algorithm has high localizing accuracy, even if large range errors, it can achieve good result.