Source Localization by a Network of Imperfect Binary Sensors

Abstract:

In this work, target or source localization and tracking by a network of primitive binary sensors under various imperfections are studied. Detailed analysis and mathematical modeling of imperfect binary sensors are presented. Imperfections include sensor failures of two types, uncertainty and heterogeneity in binary sensor trigger thresholds, presence of noise and non-radial symmetry of sensing ranges. Numerical algorithms for source localization and tracking are proposed along with convergence and asymptotic normality results. Further a number of interesting insights are obtained. Finally, a distributive way to calculate the globally optimal estimate by using only local information provided by binary sensors is derived.