Indoor Positioning using Ultra-wideband Technology

Abstract: This report evaluates the performance of an Indoor Positioning System (IPS) using Ultra-Wideband (UWB) technology. The purpose of this report was to evaluate if an UWB based IPS is suitable for localising smaller objects in a household environment. As part of this project, a ranging application was implemented using UWB modules (DecaWave's DWM1000) and Tmote Sky sensor modules running Contiki OS. The ranging was achieved through application of double-sided asymmetrical two-way ranging. The application was used to examine the accuracy and the robustness against obstructions in an UWB based IPS. With results that show centimetre accuracy and little disturbance from obstructions, this report concludes that an UWB based IPS is suitable for use in households. This report also describes the process of designing and simulating a two-dimensional IPS utilizing Received Signal Strength Indication (RSSI) in the Contiki network simulator Cooja.