Scout: Outdoor Localization Using Active RFID Technology

The growing convergence among mobile computing devices and smart sensors boosts the development of ubiquitous computing and smart spaces, where localization is an essential part for realizing the big vision. Due to their large size, high cost, and high power consumption, the current widely accepted outdoor localization methods based on GPS and cellular techniques are not suitable for tracking numerous small size and limited power objects. In this paper, we present Scout, an easy-setup and cost- effective outdoor localization system based on off-the- shelf active RFID systems and a probabilistic localization algorithm, which is compatible with the future smart spaces and ubiquitous computing systems. The proposed algorithm is robust to measurement uncertainty and self-adjustive to varying outdoor environments. Using MATLAB simulations, we investigate the system performance dependence on a number of system and environmental parameters. The simulation results prove that the proposed system is an accurate and cost-effective candidate for outdoor localization.