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Wireless Sensor Networks pp 155–177Cite as

Localization and Tracking in WSNs

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Abstract

Localization—the process by which the positions of the nodes of a Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) are found with respect to some absolute or relative frame of reference—is fundamental to how the WSN performs at executing its functions.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    We focus on these four main methods; however, there exist several derivatives of these methods in the literature.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Louisiana Tech University, Ruston, LA, USA

    Rastko R. Selmic

  2. Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, USA

    Vir V. Phoha

  3. Department of Computer Science, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, USA

    Abdul Serwadda

Authors
  1. Rastko R. Selmic
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  2. Vir V. Phoha
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  3. Abdul Serwadda
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rastko R. Selmic .

Questions and Exercises

Questions and Exercises

  1. 1.

    The Global Positioning System (GPS) is very widely used for the localization of objects in the earth’s frame of reference. Why is GPS not suited for localization in WSN settings?

  2. 2.

    Time Difference of Arrival (TDoA) and Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) are examples of ranging methods in range-based localization. Briefly describe the mechanisms behind the operation of these two techniques. Why does TDoA typically perform better that RSSI?

  3. 3.

    What are the advantages and disadvantages of range-free localization relative to range-based localization?

  4. 4.

    The DV-hop method is an example of a connectivity-based range-free localization method. Briefly describe how this method estimates the distance between an arbitrary node u k and an anchor node v i . Given distances of the arbitrary node from multiple anchors, describe how the node’s location is determined through this method. Why does the DV-hop method fail in networks having complex shapes?

  5. 5.

    What benefits does the inclusion of mobile nodes bring to a WSN? Briefly describe possible different architectures of a WSN having some mobile nodes.

  6. 6.

    Briefly describe the meaning of the term “Doppler effect”. How does this effect impact localization in mobile WSNs. How is the impact of this effect compensated for?

  7. 7.

    Briefly describe the mechanism of operation of tree-based, cluster-based and prediction-based tracking in WSNs.

  8. 8.

    During a WSN localization process, a target node is to be localized based on its angular displacement from two anchor nodes. Assuming the two anchors #1 and #2 are, respectively, located at the coordinates (2,3) and (10,0), and that the angular displacements α and β of the target node relative to the anchors #1 and #2 are, respectively, 45° and 60°, compute the location of the target node relative to the two anchors in Fig. 6.7.

    Fig. 6.7
    figure 7

    Reference figure for Question 8

    Full size image
  9. 9.

    In this problem you will use MATLAB to simulate the APIT localization algorithm. Assume that the WSN occupies a 20 × 20 region which is divided into 400 cells that are each 1 × 1 units in dimension. Let the bottom left corner of the region have the coordinates (0,0) and the top right corner have the coordinates (20,20). Assume that the anchors at (0,0), (5,2) and (3,8) are connected to form a triangular region, just like the anchors at (10,10), (10,20), (15,10) and the anchors at (20,0), (15,5) and (15,0). Randomly generate 100 coordinates within this 20 × 20 region (assume the coordinates are integer numbers, i.e., each of the x and y coordinates are integer values between 0 and 20 inclusive). These coordinates represent the locations of the normal WSN nodes. For any five of these nodes that lie inside the triangles, use the APIT approach to find their locations. Compare the locations found by the algorithm to the actual locations of these nodes (compute the error as the Euclidian distance between the true locations and the computed locations and find the mean error over the five nodes). Rerun the APIT process when the WSN is segmented into cells that are 2 × 2 units in dimension and when they are cells that are 4 × 4 units in dimension. Comment on how the localization error varies in relation to the cell size (be sure to use the same 5 nodes in all three cases).

  10. 10.

    How many receiving localization nodes are enough for a successful implementation of a TDoA method?

  11. 11.

    What is the optimal configuration of receivers in TDoA? Please explain why.

  12. 12.

    Given four receivers in a plane that use RSSI method of localization, derive mathematically the optimal configuration of receivers. Simulate using MATLAB various scenarios and show that the solution found theoretically gives the best localization accuracy.

  13. 13.

    Describe how (6.11) can be used for localization by combining two different methods. Which method can be combined here? What is the trade-off in combining two methods versus using only one of the localization methods?

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Selmic, R.R., Phoha, V.V., Serwadda, A. (2016). Localization and Tracking in WSNs. In: Wireless Sensor Networks. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-46769-6_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-46769-6_6

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

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  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-46769-6

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