Fundamental research towards high-precision wireless local positioning systems

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The aim of this research project is to investigate novel methods and processes for designing and calibrating high-precision wireless local positioning systems based on synthetic-aperture techniques that are capable of operating with sub-millimeter accuracies. Preliminary studies will focus on antenna accuracy issues. The challenge here is to determine the spatial and spectral transfer function for all antennas and the location of their phase centers with an accuracy that is considerably higher than current accuracy levels. The intention is to study test concepts and metrics to characterize antennas and optimal antenna designs for precision wireless local positioning systems. Innovative calibration procedures based on synthetic-aperture techniques will be a vital part of the research project as well. The location of the phase centers, i.e., the spatial function for the directional propagation time-/phase shifts due to group delays and phase distortions for all antennas not only in the system antenna-coordinate system, but also in-situ, i.e., installed in the targeted localization area, in the absolute reference coordinate system in the localization area can be determined with these techniques with a deviation that is significantly less than 1 mm. New synthetic-aperture positioning algorithms will be developed, which will correct a previously determined spatial antenna transfer function. The methods and processes developed in the project will be verified experimentally with a 79GHz radiolocation system. The aim of the experimental verification is to demonstrate with the developed methods and processes, and for the first time worldwide, a wireless local positioning system based on a synthetic aperture operating with sub-millimeter positioning accuracy.