RSSI-based UAV-assisted Radio Frequency Signal Localization Algorithms

Abstract

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are widely employed in wireless networks due to their mobility, flexibility, and opportunities for wide-area coverage. One of the major challenges in UAV-assisted communication is the localization of signal sources. Accurate localization of a ground-based transmitter using a mobile UAV equipped with a receiver is a significant engineering challenge. Search and rescue teams, law enforcement, and other first-responder operations often need rapid coverage of large areas with limited ground-level access. This project aims to meet this need by designing, building, and testing a UAV-based localisation algorithm based on RSSI measurements. A lightweight UAV, carrying a receiver module, follows a predefined path over the target area, records RSSI values at certain positions, and converts them into distance estimates. This project involves not only selecting appropriate hardware but also exploring different methods.