Elliptical DoA Estimation & Localization

Abstract

This work puts forth elliptical direction of arrival (DoA) estimation and localization, using phase-based, narrowband measurements. The method exploits a multistatic architecture, where illuminating and receiving antennas are placed in the same line, perhaps in sharp contrast to conventional wisdom. Ambiguities inherent in phase measurements are analytically addressed. In fact, the inherent ambiguity in phase measurements is turned to an advantage, offering DoA, through the cross-section of carefully crafted pairs of ellipses. Experimental results with Gen2 UHF RFID tags show similar performance in terms of DoA estimation compared to the MUSIC algorithm. In terms of 2D localization accuracy, the proposed method outperformed state-of-the-art algorithms in all cases, offering mean absolute localization error as small as 9 cm, at the expense of additional effort for calibration. Extension of the localization method for the 3D case is also offered.