UWB Sensors Optimization Deployment for Narrow and Long Space Environments

In this paper, a detailed study on Ultra-wideband (UWB) sensor deployment was carried out to satisfy requirements of achieving higher positioning accuracy for the narrow and long underground roadway. We derived the dilution of precision (DOP) relationship between time of arrival (TOA) and time difference of arrival (TDOA) positioning model, and the particle swarm optimization deployment (PSOD) strategy was applied to optimize the anchor nodes (ANs) arrangement to achieve a better configuration under the guarantee of complete coverage. Simulation and experiments verification were conducted via the UWB positioning system. The experimental results demonstrate that the PSOD scheme exhibits the best performance possessing the lowest DOP as compared with equidistance optimization deployment (EOD) and random deployment sensor (RDS) scheme in both positioning models. The proposed PSOD scheme is able to achieve best positioning accuracy with the theoretical mean estimation accuracy of 0.119 m. The localization accuracy of PSOD scheme on the three axes orientation is improved by 39.1%, 49.6%, and 43.2% as compared with the RSD scheme, which will provide meaningful guidance in terms of UWB arrangement in narrow and long underground space.