Anchor-free localization method for mobile targets in coal mine wireless sensor networks

Area of Science:

• Engineering
• Computer Science
• Geophysics

Background:

• Underground mines present severe natural conditions and complex terrain, hindering precise localization.
• Existing localization methods struggle with the unique challenges of subterranean environments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose an anchor-free localization method for mobile targets in underground mines.
• To enhance localization accuracy and robustness in challenging mining environments.

Main Methods:

• Constructed a coal mine wireless sensor network using ZigBee technology.
• Employed non-metric multi-dimensional scaling (MDS) to estimate reference node locations.
• Developed an improved sequence-based localization algorithm for mobile target tracking.

Main Results:

• Simulations with 100 nodes, outdoor experiments with 15 nodes, and laboratory tests with 12 nodes were conducted.
• The proposed method demonstrated superior localization accuracy compared to existing approaches.
• The method proved to be robust in the harsh conditions of underground mines.

Conclusions:

• The developed anchor-free localization method effectively addresses the challenges of precise positioning in underground mines.
• The integration of non-metric MDS and sequence-based algorithms offers a robust solution for mobile target localization.
• This research contributes to improved safety and operational efficiency in mining through enhanced tracking capabilities.