A system level design approach to UWB localization

We have developed a novel UWB positioning system with millimeter range 3D accuracy. It is difficult to comprehensively simulate a system of this nature since many disparate components must be simulated including the analog front end, digital backend, UWB channel, 3D tag and base station positions, etc. Only through a novel simulation framework where Agilent advanced design system (ADS) is used, combining its analog/RF and Ptolemy digital simulators and also its Matlab cosimulation is it possible to accurately simulate the positioning system. Experimental results from our UWB positioning system are compared to simulated results to validate the accuracy of our simulation framework. Simulated results show how one stage of automatic gain control can significantly increase operating range while analog-to-digital converter specifications do not significantly affect our overall system performance due to the use of a sub-sampling mixer.