Scalable, Ad Hoc Deployable RF-based Localization

Nirupama Bulusu, Vladimir Bychkovskiy, Deborah Estrin and John Heidemann
University of California at Los Angeles and USC/Information Sciences Institute

Abstract

Spatial localization or the ability to locate nodes is an important building block for next generation pervasive computing systems, but a formidable challenge, particularly, for very small hardware and energy constrained devices, for noisy, unpredictable environments and for very large ad hoc deployed and networked systems. In this paper, we describe, validate and evaluate in real environments a very simple {\it self} localization methodology for RF-based devices based only on RF-connectivity constraints to a set of beacons (known nodes), applicable outdoors. Beacon placement has a significant impact on the localization quality in these systems. To self-configure and adapt the localization in noisy environments with unpredictable radio propagation vagaries, we introduce the novel concept of {\it adaptive beacon placement}. We propose several novel and density adaptive algorithms for beacon placement and demonstrate their effectiveness through evaluations. We also outline an approach in which beacons leverage a software controllable variable transmit power capability to further improve localization granularity. These combined features allow a localization system that is scalable and ad hoc deployable, long-lived and robust to noisy environments. The unique aspect of our localization approach is our emphasis on {\it adaptive self-configuration}.}

Availability

This paper is available in several formats: abstract web page with pointers and cites, gzip'ed postscript, PDF, paper copies can be obtained by mail to the authors. Copyright terms for this paper appear below.

Reference

Bulusu02a: Nirupama Bulusu, Vladimir Bychkovskiy, Deborah Estrin and John Heidemann. Scalable, Ad Hoc Deployable RF-based Localization. In Proceedings of the Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing Conference 2002, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. October 2002. <http://www.cs.ucla.edu/~bulusu/papers/Bulusu02a.html>.

@inproceedings{Bulusu02a,
	author = "Nirupama Bulusu and Vladimir Bychkovskiy and Deborah Estrin and John Heidemann",
	title = "Scalable, Ad Hoc Deployable RF-based Localization",
	booktitle = "Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing Conference 2002, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. ", 
	year = "2002",
	publisher = "",
	month = "October",
	pages = "xxx",
	keywords = "beacon placement, location, localization,self-configuration, empirical adaptation, wireless sensor networks",
	url = "http://www.cs.ucla.edu/~bulusu/papers/Bulusu02a.html",
	psurl = "http://www.cs.ucla.edu/~bulusu/papers/Bulusu02a.ps.gz",
	pdfurl = "http://www.cs.ucla.edu/~bulusu/papers/Bulusu02a.pdf",
	organization = "University of California at Los Angeles",
}

Copyright

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