A system and method for using a receiving wireless device to passively detect target wireless devices or access points, quantify signal strengths of the target wireless devices or access points, and accurately identify a position for, or geolocate, the target wireless devices or access points. A position of the receiving wireless device is determined and correlated with a signal strength received from a target wireless device taken from multiple positions of the receiving wireless device. A trilateration algorithm is applied to the correlated date to obtain coarse geographic positions for the target wireless device, then a filtering algorithm is applied to obtain an accurate position for the target wireless device, which is in turn displayed to a user of the receiving wireless device.

A light source emits a modulated light, and a radio-frequency transceiver disposed therewith emits a radio-frequency signal. A mobile device may receive either or both signals and determine its position based thereon. The light and radio-frequency sources may be disposed in node in a network of said sources, and the nodes may communicate via the radio-frequency transceivers.

A light source emits a modulated light, and a radio-frequency transceiver disposed therewith emits a radio-frequency signal. A mobile device may receive either or both signals and determine its position based thereon. The light and radio-frequency sources may be disposed in node in a network of said sources, and the nodes may communicate via the radio-frequency transceivers.

Disclosed are examples of systems, apparatus, methods and computer program products for locating unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). A region of airspace may be scanned with two scanning apparatuses. Each scanning apparatus may include one or more directional Radio Frequency (RF) antennae. The two scanning apparatuses may have different locations. Radio frequency signals emitted by a UAV can be received at each of the two scanning apparatuses. The received radio frequency signals can be processed to determine a first location of the UAV.

A system for estimating an angle of arrival of a signal includes an object, a movable component that is movably coupled to the object, and at least first and second spaced-apart antennas coupled to the movable component. The system also includes a controller that is configured to estimate an angle of arrival of a signal based on a difference between a time the signal arrives at the first antenna and a time the signal arrives at the second antenna while the movable component is moving, and a difference between a frequency of arrival of the signal at the first antenna and a frequency of arrival of the signal at the second antenna while the movable component is moving.

Provided is a calibration apparatus and method of a three-dimensional (3D) position and direction estimation system. The calibration apparatus may receive inertia information and intensity information during a predetermined period of time, may calculate distances between a transmitter and the respective receivers, and may calibrate a signal attenuation characteristic of each receiver using the distances between the transmitter and the respective receivers.

Provided is a calibration apparatus and method of a three-dimensional (3D) position and direction estimation system. The calibration apparatus may receive inertia information and intensity information during a predetermined period of time, may calculate distances between a transmitter and the respective receivers, and may calibrate a signal attenuation characteristic of each receiver using the distances between the transmitter and the respective receivers.

A method for location of a beacon includes: executing R sequences, wherein R is a whole number equal to or greater than 2, each including reception by a first antenna network and a second antenna network of a signal originating from the beacon, wherein the signals of the R sequences are of different wavelengths; calculating a first estimation function for angles of arrival of the signal on the first antenna network and of a second estimation function for angles of arrival of the signal on the second antenna network; and executing a mutual correlation of the R first estimation functions and the R second estimation functions, for the respective determination of a first angle between the beacon and the first network, and of a second angle between the beacon and the second network.

A method for location of a beacon includes: executing R sequences, wherein R is a whole number equal to or greater than 2, each including reception by a first antenna network and a second antenna network of a signal originating from the beacon, wherein the signals of the R sequences are of different wavelengths; calculating a first estimation function for angles of arrival of the signal on the first antenna network and of a second estimation function for angles of arrival of the signal on the second antenna network; and executing a mutual correlation of the R first estimation functions and the R second estimation functions, for the respective determination of a first angle between the beacon and the first network, and of a second angle between the beacon and the second network.

A position detecting system includes receivers and a control unit. The four receivers are attached at positions different from one another in the circumferential direction of a pillar extending in the vertical direction. Each of first areas, which expands in the circumferential direction of the pillar, is an area in which the corresponding three receivers among the receivers receive radio waves from a transmitter directly, and is an area in which the remaining one receiver does not receive radio waves from the transmitter directly. Each of second areas is an area in which the corresponding two receivers among the receivers receive radio waves from the transmitter directly, and is an area in which the remaining two receivers do not receive radio waves from the transmitter directly. The control unit calculates the position of the transmitter by using different position computational algorithms for the first areas and the second areas.