design a simple tracking system(RF transmitter and receiver)

Wireless & IoT
1

I am wanting to design a simple tracking system using rf transmitters and receivers.

I basically want the transmitter circuit to constantly ping the receiver circuit and if the receiver circuit is out of range, or does not receive this signal

if got any ideas and link about it…hope can share with me~

thank you~

2

It’s very difficult, I wouldn’t bother!

3

Ir.Ojato:
I am wanting to design a simple tracking system using rf transmitters and receivers.

I basically want the transmitter circuit to constantly ping the receiver circuit and if the receiver circuit is out of range, or does not receive this signal

if got any ideas and link about it…hope can share with me~

thank you~

Easy if you begin with RF modules such as available from SFE.

And you know, no doubt, that you can purchase such, e.g., for elder care homes.

4

I would also like to measure time of flight of a electromagnetic signal.

one of the ideas I have run across is a pulse magnifier using a capacitor charging with a small resistor and discharging with a large one (I lose accuracy when I do this, so not helpful).

Also the arduino has a very cheap clock, so you might want to explore another clock.

For timing I plan to use a RTOS so I get more consistent results.

Hope this helps, please let me know if you find one that works.

I would like to hear from anyone with something helpful to say.

I know it is hard, and I still want to do it! That is part of the fun! If I liked easy I would take up watching paint dry or making LED’s flash. :mrgreen:

5

A common solution is to use signal strength.

6

qzjake:
I would also like to measure time of flight of a electromagnetic signal.

one of the ideas I have run across is a pulse magnifier using a capacitor charging with a small resistor and discharging with a large one (I lose accuracy when I do this, so not helpful).

Also the arduino has a very cheap clock, so you might want to explore another clock.

For timing I plan to use a RTOS so I get more consistent results.

Hope this helps, please let me know if you find one that works.

I would like to hear from anyone with something helpful to say.

I know it is hard, and I still want to do it! That is part of the fun! If I liked easy I would take up watching paint dry or making LED’s flash. :mrgreen:

Not do-able at the hobby level. Commercial product using Time Of Arrival (relative to a precision time reference) is used in these products from companies such as Ekahau.

Remember that RF propagates at about 1 nanosecond per ft. speed. Measuring to a few ft. or tens of ft. requires more precision than is practical with common hardware. And you’ll need multiple measurement locations all using a common time reference that is good to a few nSec.

Using signal strength to estimate range can be done if the transmitter is immobile and if you calibrate the system, and if things in the environment don’t move. It’s quite inaccurate.