Bearing-Based Network Localization Under Randomized Gossip Protocol

In this paper, we consider a randomized gossip algorithm for the bearing-based network localization problem. Let each sensor node be able to obtain the bearing vectors and communicate its position estimates with several neighboring agents. Each update involves two agents, and the update sequence follows a stochastic process. Under the assumption that the network is infinitesimally bearing rigid and contains at least two beacon nodes, we show that when the updating step-size is properly selected, the proposed algorithm can successfully estimate the actual sensor nodes’ positions with probability one. The randomized update provides a simple, distributed, and cost-effective method for localizing the network. The theoretical result is supported with a simulation of a 1089-node sensor network.