Optimal sensor placement for source localization based on RSSD

Source localization based on the received signal strength (RSS) has received great interest due to its low cost and simple implementation. In this paper we consider the source localization problem based on the received signal strength difference (RSSD) with unknown transmitted power of the source using spatially separated sensors. It is well- known that the relative sensor-source geometry (SSG) plays a significant role in localization performance. For this issue, the fisher information matrix (FIM) which inherently is a function of relative SSG is derived. Then for different scenarios the SSG based on the maximization of determinant of FIM is investigated to obtain the optimal sensor placement. Finally, computer simulations are used to study the performance of various sensor placements. Both theoretical analysis and simulation results reveal the ability of the proposed sensor- source geometries.