Optical Localization Techniques for Micro-Sensor Network Devices

Wireless networks of micro-sensor devices have numerous military, scientific, and commercial applications. In many cases, accurate knowledge of the locations and orientations of the devices is essential; applications include efficient packet routing, target tracking, and generally for providing context to measured data. To meet the need for accurate localization and orientation estimation, Toyon proposes to develop and demonstrate advanced technology based on controlled optical transmission and reception between the micro-sensor devices. The location and orientation estimation algorithms are based on optimal Bayesian considerations, which integrate information from multiple inter-device angle measurements, and which take into account the effects of statistical correlation between the estimation errors of the multiple devices. Notably, the algorithms are formulated to distribute the computation throughout the network to provide significant improvements in computation and communication efficiency. Ultimately, the resulting developed technology is expected to provide significant added value in micro-sensor wireless networks through improved power efficiency and localization accuracy.