Design and Performance Analysis of a UWB Tracking System for Space Applications

Abstract

This paper discusses an ultra-wideband (UWB) tracking system design effort for a freeflying video camera system for aid in inspection around the International Space Station and the Space Shuttle. The UWB technology is exploited to implement the tracking system due to its properties such as high data rate, fine time resolution, low power spectral density and multipath immunity. A system design using commercially available UWB products is implemented. A tracking algorithm TDOA (Time Difference of Arrival) is investigated and the performance analysis provides guidance to improve the system design. Simulations show that the TDOA algorithm can achieve the fine resolution with low noise data. The laboratory experiments demonstrate the UWB tracking feasibility.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 2005
Accession Number
ADA446994

Entities

People

  • Jianjun Ni
  • Richard Barton

Organizations

  • National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Autonomy
  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Abstracts
  • Algorithms
  • Cameras
  • Communication Systems
  • Data Rate
  • Data Science
  • Error Analysis
  • Errors
  • Extravehicular Activity
  • Far Field
  • Information Operations
  • Simulations
  • Space Shuttles
  • Space Stations
  • Standards
  • Two Dimensional
  • Visual Inspection

Fields of Study

  • Computer science
  • Engineering

Readers

  • Radar Systems Engineering.

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Satellites