WPI Precision Personnel Locator: Inverse Synthetic Array Reconciliation Tomography Performance

Andrew Cavanaugh, Matthew Lowe, David Cyganski and R. James Duckworth

Abstract:	In this paper we present the theory behind a new RF-INS sensor fusion technology, as well the results of several field tests in indoor settings. The data collected from these field tests are processed with RF and INS algorithms as well as the new sensor fusion system to validate the expected performance gains. Inverse Synthetic Aperture Array Reconciliation Tomography (ISART) is a positioning algorithm that is being developed by the WPI Precision Personnel Locator (PPL) project to track people in an indoor or GPS degraded environment. This algorithm uses inertial navigation system (INS) data to synthesize a virtual array of antennas, as is done in synthetic aperture radar (SAR) processing. This processing is applied to signals received at a set of stationary reference antennas, which, through the motion of the user, become a set of virtual antenna arrays. The received radio frequency (RF) data from these arrays are processed using the Singular Value Array Reconciliation Tomography (ART ) algorithm, a novel RF positioning algorithm previously developed in support of our research program. ISART improves upon ART by fusing sets of signals that are captured at spatially diverse locations. This spatial fusion of received signals is achieved through the tracked motion of the user who is wearing a low-cost MEMS based Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU). There is a gain in signal to noise ratio (SNR) that comes from fusing multiple data samples in time. Also, since multipath behavior tends to be non-stationary with respect to position, the ability to discount multipath contributions is enhanced by considering signals with diverse multipath profiles. It is generally accepted that inertial navigation solutions are very accurate over short periods of time, but position errors grow significantly with time. Using short segments of INS data to mitigate multipath interference can create highly accurate RF position estimates which may then be used to correct accumulated INS errors.
Published in:	Proceedings of the 2013 International Technical Meeting of The Institute of Navigation January 29 - 27, 2013 Catamaran Resort Hotel San Diego, California
Pages:	734 - 741
Cite this article:	Cavanaugh, Andrew, Lowe, Matthew, Cyganski, David, Duckworth, R. James, "WPI Precision Personnel Locator: Inverse Synthetic Array Reconciliation Tomography Performance," Proceedings of the 2013 International Technical Meeting of The Institute of Navigation, San Diego, California, January 2013, pp. 734-741.
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