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Channel estimation assisted bistatic localization in terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks

Channel estimation assisted bistatic localization in terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks
Channel estimation assisted bistatic localization in terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks
Low-Earth-orbit (LEO) satellites are regarded as a key enabler for 6G communications and localization, due to their large coverage beyond conventional terrestrial networks. In this paper, we propose a downlink LEO base station (BS) bistatic localization framework relying on hybrid beamforming that alleviates the reliance on ultra-fine angle estimation by jointly exploiting time-frequency-spatial observations. A multiple-measurement-vector (MMV) based sparse model is constructed for attaining accurate channel gains and angles from limited pilots and moderate array sizes, where a modified block orthogonal matching pursuit (BOMP) algorithm is proposed to enhance robustness under highly correlated sensing matrices for localization purposes. After geometry-based timing-advance and Doppler pre-compensation at the BS, a two-dimensional (2D) upsampling matched filter having fine delay-Doppler grids is applied to estimate the residual time of arrival (ToA) and Doppler frequency. Then, the final user equipment (UE) position is obtained by intersecting the BS-centered angle-of-arrival (AoA) ray with a bistatic-range ellipse derived from the residual delay. The numerical results under realistic LEO-BS bistatic scenarios demonstrate that the proposed scheme achieves meter-level localization accuracy and highlight the performance gains attained by increasing the number of pilot symbols, subcarriers, and angular resolutions.
Localization/positioning, channel estimation, low Earth orbit, non-terrestrial network
2644-1330
1234 - 1247
Li, Kunlun
412d655a-669d-4a41-9d7e-797649a845ed
Zhang, Chao
1a05eab2-b617-490a-a924-244b3b38bd21
El-Hajjar, Mohammed
3a829028-a427-4123-b885-2bab81a44b6f
Xu, Chao
5710a067-6320-4f5a-8689-7881f6c46252
Hanzo, Lajos
66e7266f-3066-4fc0-8391-e000acce71a1
Li, Kunlun
412d655a-669d-4a41-9d7e-797649a845ed
Zhang, Chao
1a05eab2-b617-490a-a924-244b3b38bd21
El-Hajjar, Mohammed
3a829028-a427-4123-b885-2bab81a44b6f
Xu, Chao
5710a067-6320-4f5a-8689-7881f6c46252
Hanzo, Lajos
66e7266f-3066-4fc0-8391-e000acce71a1

Li, Kunlun, Zhang, Chao, El-Hajjar, Mohammed, Xu, Chao and Hanzo, Lajos (2026) Channel estimation assisted bistatic localization in terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks. IEEE Open Journal of Vehicular Technology, 7, 1234 - 1247. (doi:10.1109/OJVT.2026.3683456).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Low-Earth-orbit (LEO) satellites are regarded as a key enabler for 6G communications and localization, due to their large coverage beyond conventional terrestrial networks. In this paper, we propose a downlink LEO base station (BS) bistatic localization framework relying on hybrid beamforming that alleviates the reliance on ultra-fine angle estimation by jointly exploiting time-frequency-spatial observations. A multiple-measurement-vector (MMV) based sparse model is constructed for attaining accurate channel gains and angles from limited pilots and moderate array sizes, where a modified block orthogonal matching pursuit (BOMP) algorithm is proposed to enhance robustness under highly correlated sensing matrices for localization purposes. After geometry-based timing-advance and Doppler pre-compensation at the BS, a two-dimensional (2D) upsampling matched filter having fine delay-Doppler grids is applied to estimate the residual time of arrival (ToA) and Doppler frequency. Then, the final user equipment (UE) position is obtained by intersecting the BS-centered angle-of-arrival (AoA) ray with a bistatic-range ellipse derived from the residual delay. The numerical results under realistic LEO-BS bistatic scenarios demonstrate that the proposed scheme achieves meter-level localization accuracy and highlight the performance gains attained by increasing the number of pilot symbols, subcarriers, and angular resolutions.

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More information

Accepted/In Press date: 9 April 2026
e-pub ahead of print date: 16 April 2026
Published date: 16 April 2026
Additional Information: Publisher Copyright: © 2026 The Authors.
Keywords: Localization/positioning, channel estimation, low Earth orbit, non-terrestrial network

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 511634
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/511634
ISSN: 2644-1330
PURE UUID: bcfcde1c-fcdd-4c1c-9784-2e8eb051e3ce
ORCID for Kunlun Li: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-5797-6560
ORCID for Chao Zhang: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0001-6742-6178
ORCID for Mohammed El-Hajjar: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-7987-1401
ORCID for Chao Xu: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-8423-0342
ORCID for Lajos Hanzo: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-2636-5214

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 26 May 2026 16:38
Last modified: 29 May 2026 02:13

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Contributors

Author: Kunlun Li ORCID iD
Author: Chao Zhang ORCID iD
Author: Mohammed El-Hajjar ORCID iD
Author: Chao Xu ORCID iD
Author: Lajos Hanzo ORCID iD

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