Fingerprint-Based Localization Approach for WSN Using Machine Learning Models

Abstract

The area of localization in wireless sensor networks (WSNs) has received considerable attention recently, driven by the need to develop an accurate localization system with the minimum cost and energy consumption possible. On the other hand, machine learning (ML) algorithms have been employed widely in several WSN-based applications (data gathering, clustering, energy-harvesting, and node localization) and showed an enhancement in the obtained results. In this paper, an efficient WSN-based fingerprinting localization system for indoor environments based on a low-cost sensor architecture, through establishing an indoor fingerprinting dataset and adopting four tailored ML models, is presented. The proposed system was validated by real experiments conducted in complex indoor environments with several obstacles and walls and achieves an efficient localization accuracy with an average of 1.4 m. In addition, through real experiments, we analyze and discuss the impact of reference point density on localization accuracy.

Keywords

• fingerprinting
• machine learning
• indoor localization
• received signal strength (RSS)
• range-free localization