Indoor Cooperative Localization for Ultra Wideband Wireless Sensor Networks

In recent years there has been growing interest in ad-hoc and wireless sensor networks (WSNs) for a variety of indoor applications. Localization information in these networks is an enabling technology and in some applications it is the main sought after parameter. The cooperative localization performance of WSNs is ultimately constrained by the behavior of the utilized ranging technology in dense cluttered indoor environments. Recently, ultra-wideband (UWB) Time-of-Arrival (TOA) based ranging has exhibited potential due to its large bandwidth and high time resolution. However, the performance of its ranging and cooperative localization capabilities in dense indoor multipath environments needs to be further investigated. Of main concern is the high probability of non-line of sight (NLOS) and Direct Path (DP) blockage between sensor nodes, which biases the TOA estimation and degrades the localization performance. In this dissertation, we first present the results of measurement and modeling of UWB TOA-based ranging in different indoor multipath environments. We provide detailed characterization of the spatial behavior of ranging, where we focus on the statistics of the ranging error in the presence and absence of the DP and evaluate the pathloss behavior in the former case which is important for indoor geolocation coverage characterization. Parameters of the ranging error probability distributions and pathloss models are provided for different environments: traditional office, modern office, residential and manufacturing floor; and different ranging scenarios: indoor-to-indoor (ITI), outdoor-to-indoor (OTI) and roof-to-indoor (RTI). Based on the developed empirical models of UWB TOA-based OTI and ITI ranging, we derive and analyze cooperative localization bounds for WSNs in the different indoor multipath environments. First, we highlight the need for cooperative localization in indoor applications. Then we provide comprehensive analysis of the factors affecting localization accuracy such as network and ranging model parameters. Finally we introduce a novel distributed cooperative localization algorithm for indoor WSNs. The Cooperative LOcalization with Quality of estimation (CLOQ) algorithm integrates and disseminates the quality of the TOA ranging and position information in order to improve the localization performance for the entire WSN. The algorithm has the ability to reduce the effects of the cluttered indoor environments by identifying and mitigating the associated ranging errors. In addition the information regarding the integrity of the position estimate is further incorporated in the iterative distributed localization process which further reduces error escalation in the network. The simulation results of CLOQ algorithm are then compared against the derived G-CRLB, which shows substantial improvements in the localization performance

Radio frequency channel characterization for energy harvesting in factory environments

This thesis presents ambient energy data obtained from a measurement campaign carried out at an automobile plant. At the automobile plant, ambient light, ambient temperature and ambient radio frequency were measured during the day time over two days. The measurement results showed that ambient light generated the highest DC power. For plant and operation managers at the automobile plant, the measurement data can be used in system design considerations for future energy harvesting wireless sensor nodes at the plant. In addition, wideband measurements obtained from a machine workshop are presented in this thesis. The power delay profile of the wireless channel was obtained by using a frequency domain channel sounding technique. The measurements were compared with an equivalent ray tracing model in order to validate the suitability of the commercial propagation software used in this work. Furthermore, a novel technique for mathematically recreating the time dispersion created by factory inventory in a radio frequency channel is discussed. As a wireless receiver design parameter, delay spread characterizes the amplitude and phase response of the radio channel. In wireless sensor devices, this becomes paramount, as it determines the complexity of the receiver. In reality, it is sometimes difficult to obtain full detail floor plans of factories for deterministic modelling or carry out spot measurements during building construction. As a result, radio provision may be suboptimal. The method presented in this thesis is based on 3-D fractal geometry. By employing the fractal overlaying algorithm presented, metallic objects can be placed on a floor plan so as to obtain similar radio frequency channel effects. The environment created using the fractal approach was used to estimate the amount of energy a harvesting device can accumulate in a University machine workshop space

Investigation of Indoor Propagation Algorithms for Localization Purposes: Simulation and Measurements of Indoor Propagation Algorithms for Localization Applications using Wall Correction Factors, Local Mean Power Estimation and Ray Tracing Validations

The objective of this work is to enhance the awareness of the indoor propagation behaviour, by a set of investigations including simulations and measurements. These investigations include indoor propagation behaviour, local mean power estimation, proposing new indoor path loss model and introducing a case study on 60 GHz propagation in indoor environments using ray tracing and measurements. A summary of propagation mechanisms and manifestations in the indoor environment is presented. This comprises the indoor localization techniques using channel parameters in terms of angle of arrival (AOA), time of arrival (TOA) and received signal strength (RSS). Different models of path loss, shadowing and fast fading mechanisms are explored. The concept of MIMO channels is studied using many types of deterministic channel modelling such as Finite Difference Time Domain, Ray tracing and Dominant path model. A comprehensive study on estimating local average of the received signal strength (RSS) for indoor multipath propagation is conducted. The effect of the required number of the RSS data and their Euclidian distances between the neighbours samples are investigated over 1D, 2D and 3D configurations. It was found that the effect of fast fading was reduced sufficiently using 2D horizontal’s arrangement with larger spacing configuration. A modified indoor path loss prediction model is presented namely effective wall loss model (EWLM). The modified model with wall correction factors is compared to other indoor path loss prediction models using simulation data (for 2.4, 5, 28, 60 and 73.5 GHz) and real-time measurements (for 2.4 and 5 GHz). Different operating frequencies and antenna polarizations are considered to verify the observations. In the simulation part, EWLM shows the best performance among other models. Similar observations were recorded from the experimental results. Finally, a detailed study on indoor propagation environment at 60 GHz is conducted. The study is supported by Line of Sight (LoS) and Non-LoS measurements data. The results were compared to the simulated ones using Wireless-InSite ray tracing software. Several experiments have confirmed the reliability of the modelling process based on adjusted material properties values from measurements

Comparison of Signal Strength Prediction Models for Indoor-to-Outdoor and Outdoor-to-Indoor Wireless Communications

In wireless communication system, the propagation characteristics of the radio coverage areas such as indoor, outdoor, indoor-to-outdoor and outdoor-to-indoor are very important to acquire the accurate received signal strength. In this paper, the experiments are conducted for both indoor-to-outdoor and outdoor-to-indoor wireless communication environments to investigate how much the received signal strength values are different between them. To obtain the accurate received signal strength between the outdoor-to-indoor and indoor-to-outdoor areas, the COST 231 radio wave propagation model is extended by including additional path loss factors (Af) such as the building parameters, the heights of the transmitter and receiver, the distance between the transmitter and the receiver for each scenario. The proposed received signal strength prediction models for indoor-to-outdoor and outdoor-to-indoor wireless communication are validated by comparing with the experimental and predicted the received signal strength indicator (RSSI) values. According to the comparison results, the received signal power from the outdoor to indoor communication is higher than that of indoor-to-outdoor ones about -2 dBm or -3 dBm

Item level characterization of mm-wave indoor propagation

According to the current prospect of allocating next generation wireless systems in the underutilized millimeter frequency bands, a thorough characterization of mm-wave propagation represents a pressing necessity. In this work, an “item level” characterization of radiowave propagation at 70 GHz is carried out. The scattering properties of several, different objects commonly present in indoor environment are investigated by means of measurements carried out in an anechoic chamber. The measured data have been also exploited to tune some parameters of a 3D ray tracing model

Propagation channel models for 5G mobile networks. Simulation and measurements of 5G propagation channel models for indoor and outdoor environments covering both LOS and NLOS Scenarios

At present, the current 4G systems provide a universal platform for broadband mobile services; however, mobile traffic is still growing at an unprecedented rate and the need for more sophisticated broadband services is pushing the limits on current standards to provide even tighter integration between wireless technologies and higher speeds. This has led to the need for a new generation of mobile communications: the so-called 5G. Although 5G systems are not expected to penetrate the market until 2020, the evolution towards 5G is widely accepted to be the logical convergence of internet services with existing mobile networking standards leading to the commonly used term “mobile internet” over heterogeneous networks, with several Gbits/s data rate and very high connectivity speeds. Therefore, to support highly increasing traffic capacity and high data rates, the next generation mobile network (5G) should extend the range of frequency spectrum for mobile communication that is yet to be identified by the ITU-R. The mm-wave spectrum is the key enabling feature of the next-generation cellular system, for which the propagation channel models need to be predicted to enhance the design guidance and the practicality of the whole design transceiver system. The present work addresses the main concepts of the propagation channel behaviour using ray tracing software package for simulation and then results were tested and compared against practical analysis in a real-time environment. The characteristics of Indoor-Indoor (LOS and NLOS), and indoor-outdoor (NLOS) propagations channels are intensively investigated at four different frequencies; 5.8 GHz, 26GHz, 28GHz and 60GHz for vertical polarized directional, omnidirectional and isotropic antennas patterns. The computed data achieved from the 3-D Shooting and Bouncing Ray (SBR) Wireless Insite based on the effect of frequency dependent electrical properties of building materials. Ray tracing technique has been utilized to predict multipath propagation characteristics in mm-wave bands at different propagation environments. Finally, the received signal power and delay spread were computed for outdoor-outdoor complex propagation channel model at 26 GHz, 28 GHz and 60GHz frequencies and results were compared to the theoretical models

高信頼ミリ波帯 WBAN の研究

Tohoku University末松憲治課

Seamless coverage for the next generation wireless communication networks

Data demand has exponentially increased due to the rapid growth of wireless and mobile devices traffic in recent years. With the advent of the fifth generation, 5G, and beyond networks, users will be able to take advantage of additional services beyond the capability of current wireless networks while maintaining a highquality experience. The exploitation of millimeter-wave (mm-wave) frequency in 5G promises to meet the demands of future networks with the motto of providing high data rate coverage with low latency to its users, which will allow future networks to function more efficiently. However, while planning a network using mm-wave frequencies, it is important to consider their small coverage footprints and weak penetration resistance. Heterogeneous network planning with the dense deployment of the small cells is one way of overcoming these issues, yet, without proper planning of the integrated network within the same or different frequencies could lead to other problems such as coverage gaps and frequent handovers; due to the natural physics of mm-wave frequencies. Therefore this thesis focuses on bringing ultra-reliable low-latency communication for mm-wave indoor users by increasing the indoor coverage and reducing the frequency of handovers. Towards achieving this thesis’s aim, a detailed literature review of mm-wave coverage is provided in Chapter 2. Moreover, a table that highlights the penetration loss of materials at various frequencies is provided as a result of thorough research in this field, which will be helpful to the researchers investigating this subject. According to our knowledge, this is the first table presenting the most studies that have been conducted in this field. Chapter 3 examines the interference effect of the outdoor base station (BS) inside the building in the context of a heterogeneous network environment. A single building model scenario is created, and the interference analysis is performed to observe the effects of different building materials used as walls. The results reveal the importance of choosing the material type when outdoor BS is close to the building. Moreover, the interference effect of outdoor BS should be minimized when the frequency re-use technique is deployed over very short distances. Chapter 4 presents two-fold contributions, in addition to providing a comprehensive handover study of mm-wave technology. The first study starts with addressing the problem of modelling users’ movement in the indoor environment. Therefore, a user-based indoor mobility prediction via Markov chain with an initial transition matrix is proposed, acquired from Q-learning algorithms. Based on the acquired knowledge of the user’s mobility in the indoor environment, the second contribution of this chapter provides a pre-emptive handover algorithm to provide seamless connection while the user moves within the heterogeneous network. The implementation and evaluation of the proposed algorithm show a reduction in the handover signalling costs by more than 50%, outperforming conventional handover algorithms. Lastly, Chapter 5 contributes to providing robust signal coverage for coverage blind areas and implementing and evaluating the proposed handover algorithm with the intelligent reflective surface. The results show a reduction in the handover signalling costs by more than 33%, outperforming conventional handover algorithms with the pre-emptive handover initiation