An inexpensive distance measuring system for location of robotic vehicles

Abstract

An distance measuring system based on a swept frequency reflectometer radar system was built and tested for application to navigation of robotic vehicles in a sealed room where GPS signals are not available. The final system built en masse would cost approximately $25. The system was simulated using HP/EEsof(Libra) software and tested using inexpensive commercial components, Several signal processing methods were compared for deriving distance from the data acquired from the system. Log periodic antennas (LPA) were used to test the system, and inexpensive LPA and Yagi-Uda microstrip patch arrays were built and tested for use in this application.