3-Dimensional Positioning System Using Bluetooth Low Energy Beacons

Abstract

Bluetooth low-energy (BLE)-based beacons have two different roles: ‘broadcasting’ (beacon device) and ‘receiving’ (smart phone). This allows them to receive information over a short distance. Therefore, many researchers are actively investigating positioning methods that use beacons. However, the distance value of positioning in existing methods is not always accurate. In this paper proposes a new BLE-based beacon 3-D positioning system. Existing distance measurement methods measure distances by obtaining 2-D coordinates (x and y) through the RSSI value. However, the proposed method will help improve the accuracy of values measured from a certain location because it obtains 3-D coordinate values (x,y,and z) while considering the height. Lastly, while comparing the performance of this new method with that of existing methods, the proposed 3-D positioning system reduces the positioning error rate by 27.3% compared to the existing 2-D triangulation method.