UWB-IODA SF-PC · Ultra Wide Band Integrated Optical-and-Digital Approach for Smart Factory and Perceptive Car

Ultra Wide Band Integrated Optical-and-Digital Approach for Smart Factory and Perceptive Car

The transition to the digital era is lined with many challenges, including the broadband infrastructure. The need for high data rate communications and accurate indoor localization/identification/tracking makes the ultra-wide band (UWB) technology particularly attractive. However, the huge instantaneous frequency band to be processed results in strong constraints, beyond the specifications of the state-of-the-art digital circuits. The EU-funded project “Ultra-Wide Band Integrated Optical-and-Digital Approach for Smart Factory and Perceptive Car” introduces a multidisciplinary approach relying on impulse radio UWB (IR-UWB) and UWB-over-fiber (UWBoF) technologies. They associate UWB waveform optimization, cutting edge signal processing techniques and deep learning to design intelligent, robust and high performance indoor wireless systems, for smart factories and perceptive cars. This project aims at increasing the safety, security and convenience in Industry 4.0 environments, by multi-humans detection, localization and tracking, without the need for them to wear tags or any additional identification equipment. It also aims to contribute to the road safety by preventing the driver drowsiness related accidents and to facilitate the interaction with the perceptive car. While addressing these objectives, original results have been obtained and significant progress can be reported. First, an integrated optical-and-digital architecture has been proposed, combining wireless IR-UWB and UWBoF transmission capability, and relying on UWB waveform optimization, advanced digital signal processing and deep learning algorithms. Then, people counting and accurate detection/localization of humans/machines inside an indoor environment have been achieved. Finally, robust detection of vital signs, with data loss recovery capability, has been introduced for driver condition monitoring inside a perceptive car. The UWB sensing solutions proposed in the framework of this project can also be deployed in other real-world environments (hospital, office, home) and contribute to the development of smart cities and lifestyles, for the benefit of the whole society.

Data: CORDIS, © European Union