Accuracy of a commercial UWB 3D location/tracking system and its impact on LT application scenarios

A newly available commercial ultra-wideband 3D location and tracking system has been characterized in terms of measurement accuracy and disturbance of the line-of-sight path between the located tag and the receiving sensors. While the standard deviation of a large number of position readings is 15 cm or better, bias on the order of meters often occurs that we address to reflections at metal walls. A human torso or hand blocking the line of sight prevents location. The results measured in our class room environment indicate that the majority of presumed applications for UWB location and tracking are not yet feasible with available LT technology.