Indoor Bluetooth Low Energy Direction Finding via Circular Antenna Array

Context

This proposal is presented in the context of a tracking system for forklifts based on Bluetooth beacons. The beacons are placed at fixed locations in a factory floor, and periodically send packets with their ID. The forklift is a moving vehicle, equipped with an antenna array which receives the beacons and can determine its stationary position on the warehouse floor by knowing the relative Angles-of-Arrival (AoA) of each incoming beacon.

This work will address the implementation, design, and validation of a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) receiver device equipped with an antenna array (with 8 antennas). Based on phase differences of the same incoming signal, as observed by different antennas, the position of the receiver can be calculated assuming that the absolute positions of the fixed BLE beacons are known.

Relying on BLE + AoA for indoor location provides a novel low-cost solution for indoor locatization, which currently relies on costly systems which require additional infrastructure, like Ultra Wide Band.

Objectives

This work will focus on the use of Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) devices, and on the Angle-of-Arrival (AoA) of BLE transmissions to calculate the indoor location of a mobile receiver.

Proposed Work Plan

  • Implementing the retreival of phase samples from the antenna array
  • Implementing the necessary algorithms for calculation of phase differences for antenna pairs
  • Transmission of data via UART to the host PC
  • Implementing the calculation of the Angle-of-Arrival of each BLE transmission from the phase differences
  • Characterizing the operation of the antenna array device
  • Writting the dissertation

Details

  • Status: Completed
  • Student: Catarina Alexandra Rodrigues Marques

References

Bluetooth Localization
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Last updated on Oct 26, 2021

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