Curvature-Aware Sparse Array Synthesis for Edge-Aware UWB Localization in Multipath-Rich IoT Environments

Ultra-Wideband (UWB) technology is rapidly gaining adoption across Internet of Things (IoT) deployments such as warehouse automation and asset tracking, where Global Navigation Satellite System signals are often unavailable or unreliable. In such settings, metallic infrastructure, reflective surface...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:IEEE internet of things journal p. 1
Main Authors: Wan, Tong, Wang, Chongqin, Yu, Xiangzun, Kang, Jiaheng, Pan, Shuchang, Lu, Bo, Xia, Chao, Shen, Feng
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: IEEE 2025
Subjects:
Adaptation models
Channel impulse response
conformal sparse array synthesis
Convergence
Distance measurement
edge intelligence
Heuristic algorithms
Internet of Things
Location awareness
multipath propagation
Optimization
Signal processing algorithms
Ultra wideband technology
ultra-wideband localization
ISSN:2327-4662, 2327-4662
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:Ultra-Wideband (UWB) technology is rapidly gaining adoption across Internet of Things (IoT) deployments such as warehouse automation and asset tracking, where Global Navigation Satellite System signals are often unavailable or unreliable. In such settings, metallic infrastructure, reflective surfaces, and narrow aisles produce delayed secondary paths that distort time-of-arrival estimation and undermine system robustness. This paper proposes a hardware-level multipath-suppression strategy for UWB sensing tailored to IoT edge nodes. It leverages a Conformal Sparse Array (CSA) optimized via a Penrose-tessellation-inspired invasive weed optimization algorithm. The design explicitly models surface curvature to accommodate real device form factors and introduces an omnidirectional sidelobe-balancing criterion for spatially uniform interference rejection. Penrose-based quasi-periodic layouts enhance spatial diversity, while adaptive nonlinear modulation ensures stable optimization. The framework is passive and computation-neutral, enabling drop-in integration without added processing load or power draw. A CSA-integrated UWB localization testbed is evaluated in representative IoT environments with strong multipath. Results show up to a 267% increase in first-path amplitude, up to 380% higher signal-to-multipath ratio, and a 20% extension in effective range. These gains translate to higher valid-fix rates and fewer outages, validating a robust, cost-effective physical-layer enhancement for resilient, edge-aware UWB localization at IoT scale.
ISSN:2327-4662
2327-4662
DOI:10.1109/JIOT.2025.3629106