High-Precision 2.4 GHz DSSS RF Ranging

B.D. Farnsworth, D.W.A. Taylor

Abstract:	Precision ranging radios are a critical aid to integrated locating, tracking, navigation, and guidance systems, especially when GPS service is degraded or unavailable [5]. In this work, a high-precision, software-defined, round-trip time-of-flight, direct sequence spread spectrum (DSSS) ranging radio operating in the 2.4 GHz ISM band is presented. This system builds upon our previous brassboard implementation at 915 MHz [1, 2], and continues ENSCO’s decade-long research in this area [6, 7] with system enhancements bringing the performance closer to the Cramer-Rao Lower Bound for round-trip DSSS time-of-flight ranging. The system is capable of performing 217 independent range measurements per second with measurement standard deviation as low as 2.5 cm in a benign line-of-sight RF environment. The system achieves high distance linearity and low intercept offset using a single-point calibration method. The ranging performance has been characterized at distances in excess of 1 kilometer and in indoor line-of-sight situations.
Published in:	Proceedings of the 2011 International Technical Meeting of The Institute of Navigation January 24 - 26, 2011 Catamaran Resort Hotel San Diego, CA
Pages:	178 - 183
Cite this article:	Farnsworth, B.D., Taylor, D.W.A., "High-Precision 2.4 GHz DSSS RF Ranging," Proceedings of the 2011 International Technical Meeting of The Institute of Navigation, San Diego, CA, January 2011, pp. 178-183.
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