High Fidelity Simulation of Network Nodes with RF-Ranging Capabilities

Abstract

We first investigate practical response of the introduced wireless sensors and then present high fidelity simulation of a promising RF-based ranging technology based on real world sampled data. Simulated devices utilize models of RF transceiver chips, which feature unique capability of providing some time of fight information. This allows to measure the raw distance between two communicating nodes in a connected wireless sensor link in a fast and efficient manner. Accordingly, range measurements allow global tracking of mobile systems like robots or the localization of nodes in a sensor network. In this context, the modeling of the device in USARSim is of interest as it allows large scale experiments without the financial and organizational burden of the real hardware. Through experiments with real world devices and their simulation also in Matlab, the fidelity of the simulated models is shown.

Keywords

• Wireless sensor network
• Tracking
• Localization
• USARSim