Proposal of a wireless sensor network for footstep localization and optimization of its location using bio-inspired metaheuristics

Abstract

This paper introduces a proposal for a wireless network of smart sensors designed to capture the vibrations produced by the impact of a person’s footsteps on a dispersive and damped floor. These vibrations are utilized to pinpoint the location of impacts using a heuristic algorithm, enabling operation at a low data transmission/reception rate. Traditionally, the placement of sensors within a room has not been given significant consideration in the context of localization; however, our findings indicate that a detailed analysis of both the number and location of sensors can substantially enhance the accuracy of footstep localization. In this study, we have optimized the arrangement and quantity of sensors through the application of bio-inspired metaheuristics, aiming to minimize localization errors across the room. Upon evaluating various bio-inspired metaheuristic optimization algorithms, we identified the one that yielded the lowest estimation errors for the room as a whole. Our experimental tests demonstrate that such optimization significantly enhances the efficacy of the localization algorithm, resulting in a reduction of localization error ranging from 18.24% to 46.78% across different trajectories.