Passive localization of aircraft in flight using signal time of arrival (TOA) poses some unique challenges. The sensors must be deployed in an approximately coplanar configuration, which produces significant vertical uncertainty in the estimated position. This dissertation examines the traditional algorithms used in passive localization. It presents general forms of linear TOA, time difference of arrival (TDOA), angle of arrival (AOA), and frequency difference of arrival (FDOA) equations from the literature and explains how to apply an intuitive geometric interpretation of these equations. It presents two novel algorithms for passive localization. One uses a one dimensional AOA (1AOA) to improve the vertical estimate. The other employs an a priori estimate to approximate the non-linear localization problem as a linear problem and produce a high quality position estimate. A comprehensive survey of the literature is presented. This dissertation provides a summary and classification of passive localization algorithms from the literature with simple descriptions of how the form of the equations relate to their numerical stability. It presents two novel algorithms for passive localization. The hybrid multilateration and triangulation algorithm improves wide area multilateration by using vertical 1AOA to constrain the vertical position. The multilateration with a priori estimates algorithm provides a linear localization method that utilizes previous location estimates.

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The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that regulates all wireless communication service providers has issued modified regulations that all service providers must select a method for providing position location (PL) information of a user, requesting for E-911 service, by October 2000. The wireless 911 rules adopted by the FCC are aimed both for improving the reliability of the wireless 911 services and for providing the enhanced features generally available for wireline calls. From the service providers' perspective, effective position location technologies must be utilized to meet the FCC rules. The Time-of-Arrival (TOA) and the Time-Difference-of-Arrival (TDOA) methods are the technology that can provide accurate PL information without necessitating excessive hardware or software changes to the existing cellular/PCS infrastructure. The TOA method works well when the mobile station (MS) is located close to the controlling base station. With certain corrections applied, the TOA method can perform reliably even in the presence of Non-Line-of-Sight (NLOS) condition. The TDOA method performs better when the MS is located at a significant distance from the controlling base station. However, under the NLOS environmental condition, the performance of the TDOA method degenerates significantly. The fusion of TOA and the TDOA method exhibits certain advantages that are not evident when only one of the methods is applied. This thesis investigates the performance of data fusion techniques for a PL system, that are able to merge independent estimates obtained from TOA and TDOA measurements. A channel model is formulated for evaluating PL techniques within a NLOS cellular environment. It is shown that NLOS propagation can introduce a bias into TDOA measurements. A correction method is proposed for removing this bias and new corrected data fusion techniques are compared with previous techniques using simulation method, yielding favorable results. / Master of Science

Le chargement électrostatique d’un avion en vol peut mener à des perturbations électromagnétiques sur les systèmes de communication et navigation à bord. Ce phénomène est appelé Precipitation Static (P-Static). Cette thèse vise à développer un outil capable de localiser la source des perturbations pour ainsi réduire le coût et la durée des missions d’investigation spécifiques en compagnie aérienne. Les principaux objectifs sont : •Comprendre les mécanismes de charge et décharge électrique d’un avion en vol. •Développer une instrumentation capable de mesurer les émissions des sources de P-Static et qui soit conforme à une installation sur avion. •Développer une méthode de localisation capable d’estimer la position de la source. Le comportement électrostatique d’un avion en vol a été étudié. Le défi de la mesure temporelle de l’impulsion générée par des décharges sur avion a été relevé à l’aide des antennes VHF, d’une chaine d’amplification à fort gain, de filtres sélectifs, d’un déclenchement de mesure automatique et de l’exploitation de nombreuses mesures. Les retards mesurés entre les impulsions ont été utilisés comme entrée de la méthode inverse de localisation développée. Cette méthode repose sur une base de données de retards, construite par modélisation de la propagation, permettant après comparaison avec la mesure, de déterminer la position de la source. Les tests effectués au laboratoire et sur avion au sol ont montré des résultats prometteurs puisque les zones estimées contenant la source correspondent à une zone réduite sur la surface de l’avion. / The static charging of an aircraft in flight may lead to electrostatic discharges that in turn lead to electromagnetic disturbances on aircraft radio and avionic systems. This phenomenon is called Precipitation Static (P-Static). This thesis aims to develop a tool capable of narrowing down the location of the source of disturbances in order to reduce the cost and duration of specific troubleshooting missions in airlines. The main objectives are : •To understand the electrical charging and discharging dynamics of an aircraft. •To develop an instrumentation capable of measuring the electromagnetic emissions of P-Static sources and that is compliant to aircraft installation constraints. •To develop a location method capable of estimating the position of the source. The electrostatic behaviour of an aircraft has been studied. The challenge in measuring the pulse generated by discharges on an aircraft was achieved by the combination of VHF antennas, a high gain amplifier chain, selective filters, automated triggering and numerous acquisitions. The delays obtained between the three pulses serve as input for the location inverse method developed. This method is based on a database of delays, built using propagation models, allowing after comparison with measurements, to determine the source position. The tests performed in laboratory and on aircraft on ground show promising results as the estimated zones containing the source correspond to a reduced zone on the surface of the aircraft.

Although positioning has been one of the main target study areas in mobile communication in the last decade, it still receives strong attention in recent years focusing more on the indoor users. Nowadays, a wide range of different methods are available to estimate the position of the target user under certain circumstances. One of these methods is Uplink Time Difference of Arrival (UTDoA), which has been defined in 3GPP Release 11 for Long Term Evolution (LTE) networks, and is the focus of this master thesis. In Uplink based positioning, to estimate the position of a User Equipment (UE), the UE only needs to generate and transmit the reference signal and the main computational effort of time estimation, is moved from the UE towards the network side. This might be one advantage compared to Observed Time Difference of Arrival (OTDoA), while further performance properties of UTDoA in LTE are investigated in the course of this master thesis. In parallel with the 3GPP Study Item on Indoor Positioning which mainly was based on downlink OTDoA, this thesis studies on the potential use of UTDoA in LTE under the same type of agreed deployment scenarios and simulation parameters. For time estimation based on the Sounding Reference Signals (SRSs), the uplink channel has been modeled and simulated. Finally, the position estimation of the UE is derived by multilateration techniques using the time/distance estimations of the received SRS at each eNodeB. The metrics of positioning results are based on Cumulative Distribution Functions (CDF) of horizontal and vertical positioning error. The study shows that reasonable horizontal position accuracy can be achieved, while a number of pico cells are added to the network to enhance the macro-only scenario. However, this positive effect could not be observed in vertical position estimation. A further investigated aspect is the influence by other active UEs considered as interference. The outcome shows, that the accuracy is strongly and negatively affected by introducing interference. A final observation focuses on the SRS bandwidth and that for bandwidths below 10 MHz additional degradations in performance are seen. / Trots att positionering har varit ett av huvudmålen för forskning inom mobil kommunikation under det senaste decenniet, får det fortfarande mycket uppmärksamhet och under de senaste åren har forskningen fokuserats mer på inomhusanvändare. Idag finns en mängd olika metoder för att estimera positionen för en specifik användare under vissa omständigheter. En av dessa metoder är Uplink Time Difference of Arrival (UTDoA) som har definierats i 3GPP Release 11 för Long Term Evolution (LTE)-nätverk och är fokus för detta examensarbete. I positionering baserad på upplänken, vilken används för att skatta positionen för en User Equipment (UE), behöver UE:n bara generera och sända en referenssignal och den huvudsakliga beräkningskraften för tidsestimeringen flyttas från UE:n till nätsidan. Detta kan vara en fördel jämfört med Observed Time Difference of Arrival (OTDoA), detta examensarbete undersöker ytterligare prestandaegenskaper hos UTDoA i LTE. Parallellt med 3GPP:s studie för inomhuspositionering, som huvudsakligen baseras på nerlänk OTDoA, studerar denna avhandling den potentiella användningen av UTDoA i LTE med samma typ av överenskomna scenarier och simuleringsparametrar. För tidsuppskattning baserad på Sounding Reference Signals (SRSs) har kanalen upplänkmodellerats och simulerats. Slutligen är positionsestimeringen av UE:n härledd genom multilaterationstekniker med hjälp av tids- och distansestimeringar av de mottagna SRS vid varje eNodeB. De mått som används för positioneringsresultat baseras på kumulativ fördelningsfunktion av det horisontella och vertikala positioneringsfelet. Studien visar att en rimlig noggrannhet kann uppnås i den horisontella dimensionen då ett antal pico-celler adderas till nätverket för att förbättra makroscenariot. Denna positiva effekt kunde emellertid inte observeras i den vertikala positionsestimeringen. En ytterligare undersökt aspekt är påverkan av andra aktiva UEs, som betraktas som interferens. Resultaten visar att noggrannheten är starkt negativt påverkad då störningar i form av interferens införs. En slutlig observation fokuserar på bandbredden av SRS och det visar på försämringar i prestanda för bandbredder under 10 MHz.

En transports guidés, la localisation précise des trains s’avère vitale pour une exploitation nominale du système de transport. Dans un environnement de propagation tel que celui d’une emprise ferroviaire, un capteur de localisation efficace est complexe à concevoir et à valider lorsqu’il doit opérer en présence de nombreux obstacles fixes et mobiles constitués par l’infrastructure et les trains. Afin de concevoir un tel capteur, nous proposons dans ce travail de thèse l’emploi de techniques innovantes dites de diversité spectrale que l’on retrouve également sous la dénomination de radio Ultra Large Bande (ULB). Dans ce travail, cette dernière est également associée à la technique de Retournement Temporel (RT) afin de tirer partie de cet environnement de propagation complexe. L’objectif visé est d’obtenir une localisation fiable et robuste des véhicules ferroviaires par focalisation de signaux ULB en direction des antennes sol ou trains. Des études théoriques alliées à des simulations ont été effectuées portant sur les propriétés de focalisation d’énergie de la technique de retournement temporel en tenant compte de plusieurs paramètres liés aux configurations antennaires, aux canaux de propagation rencontrés et à l’électronique utilisée. L’apport du retournement temporel sur la précision du système de localisation Ultra Large Bande a été quantifié en comparant le système de localisation ULB conventionnel, sans retournement temporel puis, en associant le RT. Les résultats théoriques et de simulations de la solution proposée ont été validés par des expérimentations menées en chambre anéchoïque ainsi qu’en environnement indoor. / In guided transport, the precise location of trains is vital for nominal operation of the transport system. In a propagation environment such as a railway line, an effective location sensor is complex to design and validate since it must operate in the presence of many fixed and mobile obstacles constituted by the infrastructure and the trains. In this thesis, to design such a sensor, we propose the use of so-called spectral diversity techniques also found under the name of Ultra Wideband radio (UWB). In this work, the latter is also associated with the Time Reversal (TR) technique to take advantage of the complex propagation environment. The objective is to obtain a reliable and robust location of rail vehicles by focusing UWB signals to antennas or ground trains. Theoretical studies combined with simulations were performed on the properties of energy focusing of TR technique taking into account several parameters related to antennal configurations, propagation channels and the railway environment. The contribution of TR on the accuracy of the positioning system was quantified by comparing the conventional UWB positioning system alone and then, combining it with TR. The theoretical results and simulations of the proposed solution have been validated by experiments carried out in an anechoic chamber and in indoor environment.

L’objectif de cette thèse est de développer de nouvelles solutions pour détecter et localiser des sources électromagnétiques radar au niveau d'une unique station de réception en exploitant les signaux directs et indirects reçus. Dans le cadre de notre étude, nous avons dans un premier temps développé une modélisation du signal reçu au niveau d'un récepteur en tenant compte des caractéristiques des émetteurs et de la zone environnante. L'évaluation de cette modélisation a été effectuée en s'appuyant sur un cas particulier de détection et de localisation des réflecteurs. Ce dernier, traité dans la littérature, repose sur l’exploitation des trajets multiples. Ces derniers peuvent être également utilisés pour localiser des sources d’émission. Néanmoins, la plupart des méthodes existantes se basent sur des réflexions dites spéculaires. Les techniques employant les réflexions non spéculaires sur un réflecteur quelconque pour localiser des sources d'émission dans un environnement inconnu font l'objet de peu de publications dans la littérature ouverte. La méthode de localisation que nous proposons a l'avantage de n'employer qu'un récepteur fixe mesurant seulement deux types de grandeurs : les angles d'arrivée (AOA) et les différences de temps d'arrivée (TDOA). En pratique, un problème d'affectation doit être résolu avant de procéder à la localisation des émetteurs et des réflecteurs. Le problème consiste à affecter chaque paire de mesures TDOAAOA à un réflecteur donné, en supposant que chaque paire a déjà été affectée à un émetteur.La méthode que nous avons développée a été testée et évaluée, d'une part grâce à des données simulées et d'autre part en utilisant des mesures réelles. / The purpose of this work is to develop new methods for the detection and the location of radar sources. The developed approach exploits the direct and indirect signals received at the receiving point. In our study, we first develop a model of these signals that takes into account the characteristics of the transmitters and the reflectors. We evaluate this model by simulating a particular case of reflectors detection and location, defined in the literature. Our goal is to use the multipaths to locate emission sources. Most existing methods are based on specular reflections. Methods based on non-specular reflections, to locate emission sources in an unknown environment, are rarely studied in the literature. In our study, we propose a new location method that uses a fixed receiver measuring the Angle of Arrival (AOA) and Time Difference of Arrival (TDOA). In practice, an assignment problem must be solved before locating the emitters and reflectors. The problem is to assign each pair of TDOA-AOA measurements to a given reflector, assuming that each pair has already been assigned to a transmitter. The method developed has been tested and evaluated by using simulated data and real measurements.

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By using existing radio network infrastructure, a user can be positioned even where GPS and other positioning technologies lack coverage. The LTE Positioning Protocol (LPP) supports user Reference Signal Time Difference (RSTD) reports based on the Time of Arrival (TOA) for a Positioning Reference Signal (PRS). In the current reporting format, only one RSTD for each base station is considered, but for indoor environments this is easily biased due to fading and multipath issues, resulting in a Non-Line of Sight (NLOS) bias. With a rich User Equipment (UE) feedback that can represent the multipath channel for each Base Station (BS), the positioning accuracy can be increased. This thesis develops and evaluates a UE reporting format representing multiple TDOA candidates, and a probabilistic positioning algorithm, in terms of positioning accuracy and amount of data reported. By modeling time measurements as Gaussian Mixture (GM), the time information can be compressed with arbitrary resolution and used in a Maximum-Likelihood (ML) estimation to find the position. Results were obtained through simulation in a radio network simulator and post-processing of simulation data in Matlab. The results suggest that several TOA candidates improve the positioning accuracy, but that the largest improvement comes from a noise based threshold by increasing LOS detectability reducing the NLOS bias, while suppressing noise. The results also suggest that the accuracy for the method can be further improved by combining multiple time measurement occasions.