Electromagnetic models for Device-Free Localization applications

A human body model for passive device-free localization (DFL) application is proposed. Unlike active localization methods, in DFL applications, the targets do not need to carry any electronic device since their location is estimated by tracking the target-induced attenuation of the electromagnetic (EM) field generated by a network of RF nodes deployed close by. Based on the scalar diffraction theory, the proposed model is able to predict the attenuation caused by a single person by exploiting the received power measurements performed by the RF nodes. The results obtained by the body model have been compared with experimental indoor measurements and validated with full EM simulation results from a commercially available tool.