Adaptive Multipath-Based SLAM for Distributed MIMO Systems

TL;DR

This paper introduces a Bayesian multipath-based SLAM method for distributed MIMO systems that effectively fuses RF propagation paths in complex environments, improving localization and mapping accuracy.

Contribution

It presents a novel adaptive, soft ray-tracing approach and a Bayesian estimation framework that jointly localizes a user and maps reflective surfaces in nonconvex RF environments.

Findings

Achieves accurate localization and mapping in challenging nonconvex environments.

Approaches the theoretical posterior CRLBs in performance.

Enables detection of new reflective surfaces from double-bounce paths.

Abstract

Localizing users and mapping the environment using radio signals is a key task in emerging applications such as low-latency communications and safety-critical navigation. Recently introduced multipath-based SLAM methods can jointly localize a mobile agent and map reflective surfaces in radio frequency (RF) environments. Most existing methods assume that map features and their corresponding RF propagation paths are statistically independent. This assumption neglects inherent dependencies that arise when a single reflective surface contributes to multiple propagation paths or when an agent communicates with multiple base stations. Existing approaches that aim to fuse information across propagation paths are further limited by their inability to perform ray tracing in RF environments with nonconvex geometries. In this paper, we propose a Bayesian multipath-based SLAM method for distributed MIMO systems that addresses these limitations. We exploit amplitude statistics to establish adaptive, time-varying detection probabilities. Based on the resulting 'soft' ray-tracing strategy, the proposed method can fuse information across propagation paths in RF environments with nonconvex geometries. A Bayesian estimation framework for the joint estimation of map features and agent state is developed by applying the message passing rules of the sum-product algorithm to a factor graph representation of the proposed statistical model. We further introduce a new initialization procedure for reflective surfaces that enables the introduction of new surface states even when measurements arise solely from double-bounce paths. The proposed method is validated using both synthetic and real RF measurements obtained in challenging scenarios with nonconvex geometries and OLoS conditions. The results demonstrate that it provides accurate localization and mapping performance and approaches the posterior CRLBs.