Development of a test bed for UWB radio indoor localization of first responders

Abstract

This paper presents the architecture of a test bed for indoor localization based on pulse Ultra-Wideband radio technology, mainly considering the localization of first responders as a target application. A modular design approach has been employed, therefore enabling comparison of different solutions and implementation of sensor fusion techniques for localization. The realized test bed provides range estimates based on the round-trip time of radio pulses, which is accurately measured by a time-to-digital converter without the need for nano-second-level clock synchronization. Furthermore, support for digital control and processing of the acquired raw data is provided by a field programmable gate array, allowing for flexibility and reconfigurability. Results of a preliminary characterization of the test bed are presented.