Decentralized Localization of Distributed Phased Array Elements Using High-Accuracy Ranging and Multidimensional Scaling

Wirelessly coordinated distributed phased arrays show promise for a variety of communication and sensing applications. However, phase-coherent operation of distributed systems requires precise localization of the transmitting nodes in the array, which presents a challenge for internode links operating at microwave frequencies. Previous works have been dedicated to centralized localization schemes, but these systems are vulnerable to single-point failures under a variety of conditions. In this work, we demonstrate a decentralized approach to network localization using a spectrally-sparse and narrow-band two-tone waveform for range estimation and multidimensional scaling for network realization. We implement the approach using a six-node network of software-defined radios (SDRs) and demonstrate that the system obtains a mean localization error of 1.9 cm, supporting distributed beamforming at frequencies of more than 1 GHz.