Enhancing Tracking Accuracy with Exploitation of Mobile Unit Orientation and Antenna Pattern

Localization of Mobile Unit (MU) is essential in many applications. Outdoor localization has an accuracy that degrades rapidly with scattered dynamic environment and in indoor environment, and sometimes due to lack of GPS connectivity. Current methods for tracking are based on time of flight or power measurements and usually are split into range estimation from fixed anchor points, and then aggregation of the range estimation to estimate the MU location. The antenna pattern of the MU is assumed erroneously as non-directional (isomorphic). Recently, with more accurate inertial sensor available in MUs, the mobile node orientation can be estimated. In this work, we suggest to enhance wireless tracking performance by exploitation of the instantaneous MU’s orientation as perceived by its inertial sensor and prior knowledge about the MU’s antenna directionality. We develop a CRLB bound for the directional case, in relation with the common Omni assumption, and incorporate into the solution different error sources. Then we suggest directions for implementation scheme of the new technology.