Dynamic indoor localization using multilateration with RSSI in wireless sensor networks for transport logistics

In this paper a novel localization approach in wireless sensor networks (WSNs) with spatial dynamic RSSI-filtering is presented. For the food transportation logistics WSNs could be applied to monitor the environmental parameters, e.g. temperature and humidity, within the container. The sensor nodes are arbitrarily distributed within the palettes. In a narrow and crammed environment like a closed container, it is difficult to achieve a direct positioning with Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) due to the signal damping and reflection. The proposed approach exploits the movement of the sensor node during the loading process to compensate the reflection effect of the electromagnetic wave. In order to achieve a precise distance measurement with RSSI, a spatial dynamic RSSI-filter is applied in this work. The position of the sensor nodes is able to be already determined during the loading, thus neither additional hardware nor a further positioning process is required during the transportation process.