UWB Channel Characterization for Compact L-Shape Configurations for Body-Centric Positioning Applications

This letter presents an analysis on the body-centric channel parameter classification for various compact three-base-station L-shape configurations utilizing only a two-dimensional (2-D) plane for installation. Four different L-shape configurations ( xz / yz plane) are studied (facing-front/side/back) by varying the position of the base stations in an indoor environment. Results and analyses highlight the variation of the channel parameters with respect to the orientation of the base station configurations and the presence of the human subject. Channel parameter values (peak power delay profile/rms delay spread $({{\boldsymbol{\sigma }_{\boldsymbol{\tau }}}})$ /Kurtosis $(\boldsymbol {\kappa })$ ) are reported for line-of-sight (LOS: −65 to −50 dB/0.5–5 ns/40–60) and non-line-of-sight (NLOS: −80 to −65 dB/10–25 ns/5–25). The three dimensional (3-D) localization accuracy obtained is highest (1–3 cm) for the xz plane L-shape configuration facing-front, which has maximum number of LOS links (70%). The accuracy decreases by 1–2 cm for the xz plane L-shape configuration facing-back due to the increase in NLOS links (70%) between the wearable antennas and the base stations.