Ultra-Wideband (UWB) for Vulnerable Road User Protection: Communication, Positioning, Simulation and Field Validation

Title	Ultra-Wideband (UWB) for Vulnerable Road User Protection: Communication, Positioning, Simulation and Field Validation
Summary	Design, evaluation, and implementation of Ultra-Wideband (UWB)-based communication and positioning solutions to enhance the safety of vulnerable road users in cooperative intelligent transportation systems.
Keywords	Ultra-Wideband Communications, Cooperative Awareness Messages (CAM/VAM), Vulnerable Road User Protection, Wireless Positioning Systems, Intelligent Transport SystemsProperty "Keywords" has a restricted application area and cannot be used as annotation property by a user.
TimeFrame	Fall 2026 - Spring 2027
References
Prerequisites	Programming (mobile, embedded systems)
Author
Supervisor	Oscar Amador Molina
Level	Master
Status	Open

Ultra-Wideband (UWB) for Vulnerable Road User Protection: Communication, Positioning, Simulation and Field Validation

Ultra-Wideband (UWB) technology enables highly accurate positioning, secure ranging, and low-latency wireless communication. This project investigates how UWB can improve the safety of Vulnerable Road Users (VRUs) such as pedestrians, cyclists, and road workers by integrating positioning, communication, simulation, and real-world experimentation.

Background and Motivation

Recent advances in IEEE 802.15.4z and IEEE 802.15.4ab have made UWB an attractive technology for both communication and precise positioning. Combined with Cooperative Intelligent Transport Systems (C-ITS), UWB can support applications that increase awareness of vulnerable road users and reduce accident risks.

Project Objectives

• Evaluate UWB communication performance.
• Investigate UWB-based localization techniques.
• Study integration with CAM and VAM messages.
• Develop simulation models for urban traffic scenarios.
• Validate results through real-world experiments.

Work Package 1: Preparatory Study

Tasks

• Study relevant UWB standards.
• Review ETSI CAM and VAM specifications.
• Analyze regulatory constraints.
• Define evaluation scenarios.
• Select and configure hardware platforms.

WP2: UWB Link-Layer Capacity, Reliability and Burst Scheduling

Focus: Simulation and performance modeling.

Tasks

• Develop PHY/MAC simulation models.
• Evaluate packet error rate, delay and throughput.
• Study duty-cycle and spectrum constraints.
• Compare IEEE 802.15.4z and IEEE 802.15.4ab capabilities.

Expected Results

• Packet error rate versus distance.
• Latency versus traffic load.
• Throughput versus packetization strategy.
• Deployment recommendations.

WP3: Positioning: UWB-Native vs. VAM-Based Dissemination

Focus: Positioning algorithms and system design.

Investigated Approaches

• VAM-Centric: Devices estimate their own position and distribute it through VAM messages.
• UWB-Centric: Position estimation through TWR, TDoA, AoA, or PDoA methods.

Expected Results

• Accuracy versus latency comparison.
• Localization performance evaluation.
• Hybrid UWB-VAM positioning strategies.

WP4: Network-Level Simulation

Focus: OMNeT++, SUMO and Artery integration.

Tasks

• Extend Artery with a UWB access layer.
• Integrate CAM and VAM facilities-layer processing.
• Create realistic urban traffic scenarios.
• Evaluate system-level awareness performance.

Expected Results

• UWB-enabled Artery module.
• Delay and reliability measurements.
• Awareness ratio evaluation.
• Comparison with ITS-G5 deployments.

WP5: Prototype Implementation and Field Experiments [NOT AVAILABLE UNTIL OTHER WPs ARE COMPLETE]

Focus: Experimental validation.

Tasks

• Implement UWB ranging protocols.
• Develop lightweight VAM transmitters.
• Perform outdoor field experiments.
• Compare measurements with simulation results.

Expected Results

• Real-world measurement datasets.
• CIR, ToF and AoA measurements.
• Working VRU warning prototype.

Expected Background

• Wireless Communications
• Computer Networks
• Embedded Systems
• Intelligent Transport Systems
• Programming in C++, Python or similar languages

Expected Outcomes

• Hands-on experience with UWB technology.
• Knowledge of C-ITS standards.
• Experience with simulation and experimentation.
• Scientific publication-quality results.