UWB Tracking System Design for Free-FlyersThis paper discusses an ultra-wideband (UWB) tracking system design effort for Mini-AERCam (Autonomous Extra-vehicular Robotic Camera), a free-flying video camera system under development at NASA Johnson Space Center for aid in surveillance around the International Space Station (ISS). UWB technology is exploited to implement the tracking system due to its properties, such as high data rate, fine time resolution, and low power spectral density. A system design using commercially available UWB products is proposed. A tracking algorithm TDOA (Time Difference of Arrival) that operates cooperatively with the UWB system is developed in this research effort. Matlab simulations show that the tracking algorithm can achieve fine tracking resolution with low noise TDOA data. Lab experiments demonstrate the UWB tracking capability with fine resolution.
Document ID
20060045877
Acquisition Source
Johnson Space Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Ni, Jianjun (NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Arndt, Dickey (NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Phan, Chan (NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Ngo, Phong (NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Gross, Julia (NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Dusl, John (Lockheed Martin Corp. Houston, TX, United States)