Ultrawideband-Based 3-D Localization Using Compact Base-Station Configurations

This letter presents theoretical and experimental investigations and analysis on three-dimensional ultrawideband (UWB) localization using compact base-station configurations. A comparative study is performed between the three proposed configurations (Y-shape, L-shape, and mirror-based) and the commonly used cuboid-shape configuration in terms of accuracy and compactness. Results show that the average localization accuracy of the Y- and L-shape configurations is in the range of 3-5 cm, whereas the cuboid- and mirror-based configurations give an accuracy of around 2-5 cm. The Geometric Dilution of Precision (GDOP) values have been calculated for all configurations, which shows a high level of accuracy (i.e., precision values are in the range of 2-4). In addition, a tradeoff regarding occupancy area and complexity is taken into account, and the results show that the proposed configurations have the advantage of compactness as compared to the cuboid configuration and also provide high accuracy in centimeter range, hence making it suitable for various applications such as motion capture in healthcare systems and entertainment.