WiCAL: Accurate Wi-Fi-Based 3D Localization Enabled by Collaborative Antenna Arrays

Fuente: arXiv
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Autori principali: Wang, Fuhai, Li, Zhe, Xiong, Rujing, Mi, Tiebin, Qiu, Robert Caiming
Natura: Preprint
Pubblicazione: 2025
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author Wang, Fuhai
Li, Zhe
Xiong, Rujing
Mi, Tiebin
Qiu, Robert Caiming
author_facet Wang, Fuhai
Li, Zhe
Xiong, Rujing
Mi, Tiebin
Qiu, Robert Caiming
contents Accurate 3D localization is essential for realizing advanced sensing functionalities in next-generation Wi-Fi communication systems. This study investigates the potential of multistatic localization in Wi-Fi networks through the deployment of multiple cooperative antenna arrays. The collaborative gain offered by these arrays is twofold: (i) intra-array coherent gain at the wavelength scale among antenna elements, and (ii) inter-array cooperative gain across arrays. To evaluate the feasibility and performance of this approach, we develop WiCAL (Wi-Fi Collaborative Antenna Localization), a system built upon commercial Wi-Fi infrastructure equipped with uniform rectangular arrays. These arrays are driven by multiplexing embedded radio frequency chains available in standard access points or user devices, thereby eliminating the need for sophisticated, costly, and power-hungry multi-transceiver modules typically required in multiple-input and multiple-output systems. To address phase offsets introduced by RF chain multiplexing, we propose a three-stage, fine-grained phase alignment scheme to synchronize signals across antenna elements within each array. A bidirectional spatial smoothing MUSIC algorithm is employed to estimate angles of arrival (AoAs) and mitigate performance degradation caused by correlated interference. To further exploit inter-array cooperative gain, we elaborate on the synchronization mechanism among distributed URAs, which enables direct position determination by bypassing intermediate angle estimation. Once synchronized, the distributed URAs effectively form a virtual large-scale array, significantly enhancing spatial resolution and localization accuracy.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2505_21408
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle WiCAL: Accurate Wi-Fi-Based 3D Localization Enabled by Collaborative Antenna Arrays
Wang, Fuhai
Li, Zhe
Xiong, Rujing
Mi, Tiebin
Qiu, Robert Caiming
Systems and Control
Signal Processing
Accurate 3D localization is essential for realizing advanced sensing functionalities in next-generation Wi-Fi communication systems. This study investigates the potential of multistatic localization in Wi-Fi networks through the deployment of multiple cooperative antenna arrays. The collaborative gain offered by these arrays is twofold: (i) intra-array coherent gain at the wavelength scale among antenna elements, and (ii) inter-array cooperative gain across arrays. To evaluate the feasibility and performance of this approach, we develop WiCAL (Wi-Fi Collaborative Antenna Localization), a system built upon commercial Wi-Fi infrastructure equipped with uniform rectangular arrays. These arrays are driven by multiplexing embedded radio frequency chains available in standard access points or user devices, thereby eliminating the need for sophisticated, costly, and power-hungry multi-transceiver modules typically required in multiple-input and multiple-output systems. To address phase offsets introduced by RF chain multiplexing, we propose a three-stage, fine-grained phase alignment scheme to synchronize signals across antenna elements within each array. A bidirectional spatial smoothing MUSIC algorithm is employed to estimate angles of arrival (AoAs) and mitigate performance degradation caused by correlated interference. To further exploit inter-array cooperative gain, we elaborate on the synchronization mechanism among distributed URAs, which enables direct position determination by bypassing intermediate angle estimation. Once synchronized, the distributed URAs effectively form a virtual large-scale array, significantly enhancing spatial resolution and localization accuracy.
title WiCAL: Accurate Wi-Fi-Based 3D Localization Enabled by Collaborative Antenna Arrays
topic Systems and Control
Signal Processing
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2505.21408