Three-dimensional Visible Light Positioning: an Experimental Assessment of the Importance of the LEDs’ Locations

Abstract

This paper assesses the accuracy of a three-dimensional Visible Light Positioning (VLP) algorithm for two different Light Emitting Diode (LED) configurations using the same four LEDs, but mounted at different locations on the ceiling. The two configurations are both simulated and measured at 22801 test points. It is observed that a classic square LED configuration results in position ambiguities, causing errors up to several meters. Alternatively, a star-shaped LED configuration is able to uniquely reconstruct the photodiode's location. For LEDs at a height of approximately 3 m above the receiver, median errors of 12.7 cm and maximal errors of 21.1 cm are experimentally obtained, showcasing the applicability of 3D VLP for drone navigation.