A range error reduction technique for positioning applications in sports

In recent times, ultra-wideband (UWB)-based positioning systems have become popular in sport performance monitoring. UWB positioning system uses time of arrival to calculate the range data between devices (i.e. anchors, tags), and then use trilateration algorithms to estimate position coordinates. In practical applications, non-line-of-sight transmissions and multipath propagations lead to inaccurate range data and lower positioning accuracy. This paper introduces a range error minimisation algorithm to address this limitation of error in range data in UWB-based positioning system. The proposed solution analyses the range error for each anchor and sequentially reduces this error based on the distance between each anchor and the tag. This ultimately contributes to higher positioning accuracies. The authors implemented the proposed algorithm in a hardware test-bed, evaluating the positioning accuracy for an indoor sport. The proposed algorithm outperforms both the trilateration algorithm and a commercially used positioning algorithm by up to 50% and 25%, respectively