Real-Time Noncoherent UWB Positioning Radar With Millimeter Range Accuracy: Theory and Experiment

• Published in: IEEE transactions on microwave theory and techniques Vol. 58; no. 1; pp. 9 - 20
• Main Authors: Cemin Zhang, Kuhn, M.J., Merkl, B.C., Fathy, A.E., Mahfouz, M.R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY IEEE 01-01-2010; Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers; The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Architecture; Dynamical systems; Dynamics; Exact sciences and technology; Indoor environments; Localization; Microwaves; Monitoring; Navigation; noncoherent; Optical sensors; positioning; Radar detection; Radar theory; Radiolocalization and radionavigation; ranging; Reference systems; Robot control; Surgery; Telecommunications; Telecommunications and information theory; Tracking; Ultra wideband radar; Ultra wideband technology; ultra-wideband (UWB); Wireless sensor networks; Positioning; Target tracking; Wireless telecommunication; noncoherent; High precision; ultra-wideband (UWB); Implementation; Robotics; Ultra wide band; ranging; Indoor installation; Reference system; Radar; Distance measurement; Localization; Robot; Monitoring
• ISSN: 0018-9480; 1557-9670
• DOI: 10.1109/TMTT.2009.2035945

In this paper, we propose a novel architecture for ultra-wideband (UWB) positioning systems, which combines the architectures of carrier-based UWB systems and traditional energy detection-based UWB systems. By implementing the novel architecture, we have successfully developed a standalone noncoherent system for positioning both static and dynamic targets in an indoor environment with approximately 2 and 5 mm of 3-D accuracy, respectively. The results are considered a great milestone in developing such technology. 1-D and 3-D experiments have been carried out and validated using an optical reference system, which provides better than 0.3-mm 3-D accuracy. This type of indoor high-accuracy wireless localization system has many unique applications including robot control, surgical navigation, sensitive material monitoring, and asset tracking.