Implementation of a 3D Indoor Positioning System Using MLP-based Distance Estimation for IoT Applications

Sensor positioning is a fundamental block in many location-dependent applications of wireless sensor networks. Although the main objective in localization is primarily enhancing the positioning accuracy, the importance of energy consumption and localization accuracy poses new challenges. The localization is usually assisted with some self-known position sensors called anchor nodes. In this letter, optimal power allocation for the anchor nodes in a sense of minimizing the energy consumption considering estimation errors is investigated. To have a better estimation of the relative distance between the anchor and unknown nodes using received signal strength indicator (RSSI), average energy of the received beacon is introduced as a new decision metric. Based on this, a squared position error bound as an accuracy parameter is derived, and an optimization problem is proposed to maximize the localization performance. More specifically, the optimal power allocation policy is first derived for the case that the anchor nodes estimate their own locations with no error. Since there are unavoidable errors in the positions of the anchor nodes, the optimization problem is then modified by including uncertainty in the positions of the anchor nodes. The results show that a substantial reduction in power consumption can be achieved by optimal allocation of the transmission power.

An indoor localization system in wireless sensor networks has become a hot development area. Received signal strength indicator (RSSI)-based localization is a promising technique since it requires a relatively low configuration, battery power and easy control. However, the received signal strength is influenced by channel interference and propagation environments. This characteristic affects channel stability and location accuracy in RSSI-based localization. As a result, we propose a novel indoor localization system consisting of a preprocessing method and a post-processing method. To improve channel stability, the pre-processing method selects an optimal channel in terms of the smallest distance error. The optimal channel is less affected to IEEE 802.11. To develop location accuracy, the post-processing method performs maximum likelihood estimation-based location tracking scheme considering the reliability of the RSSI value measurement. We apply three methods to the existing MLE to improve the reliability of the RSSI value. By using this indoor localization system with preprocessing and post-processing, the location error can be reduced. We also proved the performance of the indoor localization system by conducting experiments in a real indoor environment.

We proposed a localization algorithm named LSARSSI for mobile node based on RSSI (received signal strength indicator) between locating sensor node with inertia module built-in and the single anchor. Instead of directly mapping RSSI values into physical distance, contrasting RSSI values received from anchor in different visited locations, LSARSSI utilizes the geometric relationship of perpendicular intersection to compute node positions. Given that the values of RSSI among two visited locations are equal, we regard that their distances to anchor node are equal. After obtaining several sets of such visited locations, the relative location of mobile node and anchor node can be calculated. Because of the limitations of LSARSSI, we put forward an improved algorithm named ILSARSSI. Our scheme uses only one location-known anchor which is useful in low density environment without using additional hardware. The simulations show that LSARSSI achieves high accuracy and ILSARSSI performs high stability and feasibility.

This article describes the design, implementation, and evaluation of an indoor localization system based on Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) measurements in wireless sensor networks. While the majority of the literature uses the IEEE 802.15 standard for this type of system, all of the measurements in this study were performed using a test bench operating under the IEEE 802.11ax standard in the 2.4 GHz band. RSSI is widely used due to its simplicity and availability; however, its accuracy is limited by signal attenuation, electromagnetic interference, and environmental variability. To mitigate these limitations, the present work proposes the implementation of advanced techniques, including weighted averages and positioning algorithms such as Min–Max, Maximum Likelihood, and trilateration, aiming to achieve an accuracy of 2 m in controlled conditions. The design also included a specialized test bench to calculate the coordinates and estimate the location of unknown nodes using anchor node positioning. This approach combines the simplicity of RSSI with optimized algorithms, providing a robust and practical solution for indoor localization. The results validate the system’s effectiveness and highlight its potential for future applications in real-world environments, opening new possibilities for optimizing wireless sensor networks and addressing the current challenges in localization systems.

The localization of wireless sensor networks (WSN) is an important field of research study, that is gaining considerable attention. This growth in wireless sensor network installations is expected to expand more in the future. Indoor localization based on the Received Signal Strength Indicators (RSSI) is a well-known localization technique used in WSN systems due to its availability and simplicity. Radio location fingerprinting is one of the most effective of the many indoor positioning techniques due to its accuracy and low cost. In this study, we investigate the possibility of applying RSSI fingerprinting based Artificial Neural Network (ANN) jointly to determine the correct location of an object or person in indoor environments. According to our analysis and experiment result, Fingerprinting techniques can achieve accurate localization with high interference in a computer laboratory. In addition, this research uses a small-structure neural network (one hidden layer) to provide efficient computation with restricted resource requirements.

In this paper, the problem of indoor localization in wireless networks is addressed relying on a swarm-based approach. We assume to know the positions of a few number of sensor nodes, denoted as anchor nodes (ANs), and we aim at finding the position of a target node (TN) on the basis of the estimated distances between each AN and the considered TN. Since ultra wide band (UWB) technology is particularly suited for localization purposes (owing to its remarkable time resolution), we consider a network composed of UWB devices. More precisely, we carry out an experimental investigation using the PulsOn 410 ranging and communication modules (RCMs) produced by time domain. Using four of them as ANs and one of them as TN, various topologies are considered in order to evaluate the accuracy of the proposed swarm-based localization approach, which relies on the pairwise (AN-TN) distances estimated by the RCMs. Then, we investigate how the accuracy of the proposed localization algorithm changes if we apply to the distance estimates a recently proposed stochastic correction, which is designed to reduce the distance estimation error. Our experimental results show that a good accuracy is obtained in all the considered scenarios, especially when applying the proposed swarm-based localization algorithm to the stochastically corrected distances. The obtained results are satisfying also in terms of software execution time, making the proposed approach applicable to real-time dynamic localization problems.

The device-free indoor localization (DFIL) research is gaining attention due to the popularity of location-based service (LBS)-based advertisement. In DFIL, a user or an object does not need to bring any device to be localized. In this paper, we propose the Wi-Fi-based DFIL and the random forest algorithm for the fingerprint-based technique. The simple parameter commonly used in indoor localization is the Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI). We apply the fingerprint technique because of its reliability to handle the RSSI fluctuation and time-varying effect in a static indoor environment. We conducted an actual measurement campaign to observe the DFIL's implementation visibility. The DFIL system works by comparing the database fingerprint in an empty open office with the database in which a person is inside the measurement area without bringing any devices. Thus, we have the device-free RSSI database for fingerprint technique from both empty rooms and RSSI affected by a person inside the room. We validated the random forest algorithm results by comparing them with the k-nearest neighbor (kNN) and artificial neural network (ANN). The results show that our proposed system's accuracy is better than kNN and ANN with a mean error of 0.63 m than kNN with 0.80 m and ANN with 1.01 m. Meanwhile, the precision of the random forest is 0.63 m, whereas kNN and ANN are 0.67 m and 0.80 m, showing that the random forest performed better. We concluded that our simple DFIL system is visible to apply with acceptable accuracy performance.

Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) is used in indoor positioning for measuring object distance to the base station. However, acquiring accurate RSSI values is challenging because wireless interference factors, such as multipath decline interference, make RSSI values of the same object fluctuate over time. Therefore, instead of a single RSSI, RSSI acquisition will collect a set of RSSI values from which the most moderate RSSI is derived. For this purpose, we propose an Enhanced Gaussian Mixture Model (EGMM) to derive a more precise RSSI for improving indoor positioning accuracy. EGMM enhances Gaussian Mixture Model (GMM) by applying Akaike information criterion (AIC) to determine the best K value for GMM to divide RSSI values into K sets representing signals from different paths. Then, EGMM identifies the most appropriate set of RSSI values to derive a more precise RSSI and thus improves the accuracy of indoor positioning. Our EGMM solution performs well in an open indoor space. The experiment is conducted with iBeacon devices, and the average error distance of EGMM is about 64% of those generated by existing Gaussian filtering. The average positioning error of EGMM is about 0.48 meter, which is adequate to indoor positioning accuracy.

In the wireless sensor network (WSN) localization methods based on Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI), it is usually required to determine the parameters of the radio signal propagation model before estimating the distance between the anchor node and an unknown node with reference to their communication RSSI value. And finally we use a localization algorithm to estimate the location of the unknown node. However, this localization method, though high in localization accuracy, has weaknesses such as complex working procedure and poor system versatility. Concerning these defects, a self-adaptive WSN localization method based on least square is proposed, which uses the least square criterion to estimate the parameters of radio signal propagation model, which positively reduces the computation amount in the estimation process. The experimental results show that the proposed self-adaptive localization method outputs a high processing efficiency while satisfying the high localization accuracy requirement. Conclusively, the proposed method is of definite practical value.

Node localization is an important supporting technology in wireless sensor networks (WSNs). Traditional maximum likelihood estimation based localization methods (MLE) assume that measurement errors are independent of the distance between the anchor node and a target node. However, such an assumption may not reflect the physical characteristics of existing measurement techniques, such as the widely used received signal strength indicator. To address this issue, we propose a distance-based MLE that considers measurement errors that depend on distance values in this paper. The proposed distance-based MLE is formulated as a complicated nonlinear optimization problem. An exact solution is developed based on first-order optimal condition to improve the efficiency of search. In addition, a two-dimensional search method is also presented. Simulation experiments are performed to demonstrate the effectiveness of this localization. The simulation results show that the distance-based localization method has better localization accuracy compared to other range-based localization methods.

Localisation methods based on the received signal strength indicator (RSSI) are widely used in wireless sensor networks (WSNs). They offer an energy reduced and cost-effective solutions for wireless localisation. Due to radio irregularity, RSSI localisation is vulnerable to multipath, shadowing, interference and environmental effects, which reduces the accuracy of localisation results. In this paper, a new distance measurement correction algorithm is presented, which is based on feedback filter and hardware characteristic. It implements the feedback filter with consideration of historical values of RSSI. This enables to predict possible values of RSSI and thus nodes positions. Hardware characteristics, such as multiplication and summation capabilities are explored to improve the localisation accuracy. Real experiments were carried out on panStamp sensor nodes at two different temperatures. The new proposed RSSI technique shows a reduced localisation error compared to the simple RSSI method.

Currently, wireless sensor network has important in the role of the short-range wireless communication, especially in, an indoor localization. However, there are more factors of the indoor environment caused to reduce the precise localization and also increase the error of distance. This paper presents a new method to evaluate the wireless sensor network (WSN) technology for the indoor localization. The proposed methods are using received signal strength indicator (RSSI) to compute the error of distance based on weighting algorithms. Whereby the weight range localizer (WRL) and relative span exponential weight range localizer (RS-WRL) is proposed in this paper. As the results, the cumulative distribution function (CDF) probability indicates the error of distance as properly, and this method can help to increase the precision of range based localization method in an application of indoor environment.

Node localisation plays a significant role in wireless sensor networks, as most of the applications require exact location of sensor nodes. To obtain the exact location of sensor nodes, a range‐based localisation method based on Jaya optimisation using received signal strength indicator (RSSI) is proposed. The distance between the target node and the reference nodes is obtained from the measured RSSIs using regression‐based log normal shadowing model. Further, improvement in the localisation accuracy is accomplished by formulating the location of target node as an optimisation problem. Jaya optimisation algorithm is adopted, as it is parameter‐free and efficient. The Jaya algorithm is used for estimating the distance as well as the coordinates of the target node. The proposal is compared with particle swarm optimisation and validated through simulation and hardware experiments. The maximum localisation error using Jaya and particle swarm optimisation through simulation is observed to be 0.08 and 0.37 m, respectively. Real‐time experiments using Jaya algorithm exhibited the maximum localisation error of about 0.14 m for indoor environment and 0.3 m for outdoor environment. The results of the proposed methodology show significant improvement in terms of accuracy.

Towards a better indoor positioning system: A location estimation process using artificial neural networks based on a semi-interpolated database

In the various applications of wireless sensor networks (WSN), the event occurrence information or data sensed by the sensor node has no significance until the location of an event/sensor node is not known. Therefore, localization is an important parameter in WSN for tracking these deployed sensor nodes in the sensing area. To localize these sensor nodes, there are various existing localization models in available detailed literature. One solution to this problem is to deploy a set of static anchor nodes (GPS equipped) in the sensing area, that broadcast their coordination information to help unknown nodes to localize themselves. Another way is to use a single mobile anchor node that will follow a specific path and localize unknown nodes. But a mobile anchor node must follow an optimal path that helps to achieve high accuracy and able to localize a large number of unknown nodes in less computational time. In this paper, the author design and developed a localization algorithm in which a GPS equipped single mobile anchor node follows a new path trajectory i.e. spiral pentagon. Once the target node falls under the communication diameter of the virtual node, six virtual anchor nodes are projected in the shape of a ring around the anchor node and localize all the unknown nodes in the sensing area by using the application of Salp Swarm Algorithm (SSA) for optimization. The hypothesis of six virtual anchor nodes is to avoid the problem of Line of Sight. This proposed method assured that each target node can estimate their node coordinates at least once with a low localization error.