CD Laboratory for Location-aware Electronic Systems

This CD Laboratory is concerned with positioning systems for applications in which satellite systems are not available or insufficiently accurate. One focus of the research is on radio-based measurement methods.

Localisation and the position information obtained from it already play a key role in a large number of technical applications. However, it is a huge challenge to achieve the required and possibly indispensable (e.g. in autonomous driving) robustness, accuracy, availability and efficiency for a wide range of applications. In addition, corresponding location-based services and applications are based on heterogeneous technical platforms, ranging from RFID systems to smartphones and self-driving cars.

The CD Laboratory pursues the long-term goal of investigating the theoretical limits of location-sensitive systems and developing and validating key algorithms and hardware components for them. It is expected that the systematic modelling of physical influences and the use of side-channel information will lead to significantly improved localisation. The CD Laboratory is targeting those application scenarios that lie beyond the physical limitations of existing satellite-based systems, for example indoors. The measurement methods to be investigated will focus on radio signals, but will also include other sensors, e.g. optical, ultrasonic or inertial sensors.

The planned approach ranges from the modelling of measurement signals and transducers, the adaptability of transducers and the coupling of data sources to the modelling of environmental influences. The focus here is on a "cognitive" sensor system, which means that the sensors not only record and process measured values, but are also able to derive conclusions from them. This cognitive sensor system subsequently provides a "spatial awareness" for services based on it, which is expected to result in greater accuracy and reliability. The necessary expertise in microwave measurement and circuit technology is provided by an external Module at TU Wien. This enables the CD Laboratory to research all the essential components of radio-based positioning systems.