A 3-D Near-Field Source Localization Approach Based on the Combination of a Phase Interferometer, the Centroid...

Area of Science:

• Wireless communication
• Signal processing
• Electromagnetics

Background:

• Accurate localization of wireless sources is crucial for various applications.
• Near-field (NF) source localization presents unique challenges compared to far-field (FF) scenarios.
• Existing methods like 3-D Root MUSIC have limitations in NF environments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop novel 3-dimensional (3-D) parameter estimation and localization algorithms for wireless near-field (NF) sources.
• To enhance localization accuracy using a uniform circular array (UCA) structure.
• To compare the performance of proposed algorithms against conventional methods.

Main Methods:

• Development of algebraic relations between FF azimuth and actual NF source parameters.
• Introduction of short-baseline and long-baseline interferometer methods using UCA antenna pairs.
• Proposal of centroid and perpendicular foot algorithms for multiple-base-station scenarios.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated algebraic relation for NF source parameter estimation.
• Short-baseline method successfully localized NF sources.
• Long-baseline method showed improved performance over the short-baseline method.
• Perpendicular foot algorithm outperformed the centroid algorithm in multiple-base-station cases.
• Proposed algorithms achieved higher localization accuracy than 3-D Root MUSIC.

Conclusions:

• The proposed algorithms offer superior 3-D localization accuracy for NF wireless sources.
• Baseline length significantly impacts localization performance, with long baselines being more effective.
• The perpendicular foot algorithm presents a robust and accurate solution for multi-base-station NF localization.