1,645 research outputs found

    An Assessment on the Use of Stationary Vehicles as a Support to Cooperative Positioning

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    In this paper, we consider the use of stationary vehicles as tools to enhance the localisation capabilities of moving vehicles in a VANET. We examine the idea in terms of its potential benefits, technical requirements, algorithmic design and experimental evaluation. Simulation results are given to illustrate the efficacy of the technique.Comment: This version of the paper is an updated version of the initial submission, where some initial comments of reviewers have been taken into accoun

    Localisation in wireless sensor networks for disaster recovery and rescuing in built environments

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    A thesis submitted to the University of Bedfordshire in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of PhilosophyProgress in micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) and radio frequency (RF) technology has fostered the development of wireless sensor networks (WSNs). Different from traditional networks, WSNs are data-centric, self-configuring and self-healing. Although WSNs have been successfully applied in built environments (e.g. security and services in smart homes), their applications and benefits have not been fully explored in areas such as disaster recovery and rescuing. There are issues related to self-localisation as well as practical constraints to be taken into account. The current state-of-the art communication technologies used in disaster scenarios are challenged by various limitations (e.g. the uncertainty of RSS). Localisation in WSNs (location sensing) is a challenging problem, especially in disaster environments and there is a need for technological developments in order to cater to disaster conditions. This research seeks to design and develop novel localisation algorithms using WSNs to overcome the limitations in existing techniques. A novel probabilistic fuzzy logic based range-free localisation algorithm (PFRL) is devised to solve localisation problems for WSNs. Simulation results show that the proposed algorithm performs better than other range free localisation algorithms (namely DVhop localisation, Centroid localisation and Amorphous localisation) in terms of localisation accuracy by 15-30% with various numbers of anchors and degrees of radio propagation irregularity. In disaster scenarios, for example, if WSNs are applied to sense fire hazards in building, wireless sensor nodes will be equipped on different floors. To this end, PFRL has been extended to solve sensor localisation problems in 3D space. Computational results show that the 3D localisation algorithm provides better localisation accuracy when varying the system parameters with different communication/deployment models. PFRL is further developed by applying dynamic distance measurement updates among the moving sensors in a disaster environment. Simulation results indicate that the new method scales very well

    On localisation with robust power control for safety critical wireless sensor networks

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    A hybrid methodology is proposed for use in low power, safety critical wireless sensor network applications, where quality-of-service orientated transceiver output power control is required to operate in parallel with radio frequency-based localization. The practical implementation is framed in an experimental procedure designed to track a moving agent in a realistic indoor environment. An adaptive time synchronized approach is employed to ensure the positioning technique can operate effectively in the presence of dataloss and where the transmitter output power of the mobile agent is varying due to power control. A deterministic multilateration-based positioning approach is adopted and accuracy is improved by filtering signal strength measurements overtime to account for multipath fading. The location estimate is arrived at by employing least-squares estimation. Power control is implemented at two separate levels in the network topology. First, power control is applied to the uplink between the tracking reference nodes and the centralized access point. A number of algorithms are implemented highlighting the advantage associated with using additional feedback bandwidth, where available, and also the need for effective time delay compensation. The second layer of power control is implemented on the uplink between the mobile agent and the access point and here quantifiable improvements in quality of service and energy efficiency are observed. The hybrid paradigm is extensively tested experimentally on a fully compliant 802.15.4 testbed, where mobility is considered in the problem formulation using a team of fully autonomous robots.A hybrid methodology is proposed for use in low power, safety critical wireless sensor network applications, where quality-of-service orientated transceiver output power control is required to operate in parallel with radio frequency-based localization. The practical implementation is framed in an experimental procedure designed to track a moving agent in a realistic indoor environment. An adaptive time synchronized approach is employed to ensure the positioning technique can operate effectively in the presence of dataloss and where the transmitter output power of the mobile agent is varying due to power control. A deterministic multilateration-based positioning approach is adopted and accuracy is improved by filtering signal strength measurements overtime to account for multipath fading. The location estimate is arrived at by employing least-squares estimation. Power control is implemented at two separate levels in the network topology. First, power control is applied to the uplink between the tracking reference nodes and the centralized access point. A number of algorithms are implemented highlighting the advantage associated with using additional feedback bandwidth, where available, and also the need for effective time delay compensation. The second layer of power control is implemented on the uplink between the mobile agent and the access point and here quantifiable improvements in quality of service and energy efficiency are observed. The hybrid paradigm is extensively tested experimentally on a fully compliant 802.15.4 testbed, where mobility is considered in the problem formulation using a team of fully autonomous robots
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