Reducing Computational Complexity of Rigidity-Based UAV Trajectory Optimization for Real-Time Cooperative Target Localization

TL;DR

This work tackles passive, RSS-based cooperative target localization in emergency scenarios using a network of UAVs. It builds on rigidity-based UAV trajectory optimization to improve search speed under challenging geometry, addressing computational bottlenecks caused by repeated SVD of the rigidity matrix. By integrating randomized SVD, smooth SVD, and vertex pruning, the authors achieve an effective complexity of $O(1)$ in the long run while preserving localization accuracy, enabling real-time operation. Simulations show substantial speedups with no meaningful degradation in search time or RMSE, highlighting the approach's practical impact for timely emergency response.

Abstract

Accurate and swift localization of the target is crucial in emergencies. However, accurate position data of a target mobile device, typically obtained from global navigation satellite systems (GNSS), cellular networks, or WiFi, may not always be accessible to first responders. For instance, 1) accuracy and availability can be limited in challenging signal reception environments, and 2) in regions where emergency location services are not mandatory, certain mobile devices may not transmit their location during emergencies. As an alternative localization method, a network of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) can be employed to passively locate targets by collecting radio frequency (RF) signal measurements, such as received signal strength (RSS). In these situations, UAV trajectories play a critical role in localization performance, influencing both accuracy and search time. Previous studies optimized UAV trajectories using the determinant of the Fisher information matrix (FIM), but its performance declines under unfavorable geometric conditions, such as when UAVs start from a single base, leading to position ambiguity. To address this, our prior work introduced a rigidity-based approach, which improved the search time compared to FIM-based methods in our simulation case. However, the high computational cost of rigidity-based optimization, primarily due to singular value decomposition (SVD), limits its practicality. In this paper, we applied techniques to reduce computational complexity, including randomized SVD, smooth SVD, and vertex pruning.

Figures (2)

• Figure 1: The mean code execution time as measurements accumulate.
• Figure 2: Target localization performance. (a) Success rate and (b) RMSE over time.