Tracking a moving object with a binary sensor network

In this paper we examine the role of very simple and noisy sensors for the tracking problem. We propose a binary sensor model, where each sensor’s value is converted reliably to one bit of information only: whether the object is moving toward the sensor or away from the sensor. We show that a network of binary sensors has geometric properties that can be used to develop a solution for tracking with binary sensors and present resulting algorithms and simulation experiments. We develop a particle filtering style algorithm for target tracking using such minimalist sensors. We present an analysis of a fundamental tracking limitation under this sensor model, and show how this limitation can be overcome through the use of a single bit of proximity information at each sensor node. Our extensive simulations show low error that decreases with sensor density. Categories and Subject Descriptors ACM [C.2.1]: Network Architecture and Design General Terms Algorithms, Experimentation Keywords Sen...

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2003
• Where: SENSYS
• Authors: Javed A. Aslam, Zack J. Butler, Florin Constantin, Valentino Crespi, George Cybenko, Daniela Rus
• Keywords: Binary Sensors, Sensor, Sensor Model, Sensor Networks, SENSYS 2003