Work

Review of Bluetooth Low Energy RSS-Based Positioning

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) Received Signal Strength (RSS)-based positioning combines low-cost deployment with widespread smartphone support. This review synthesizes peer-reviewed studies from 2013 through the search cutoff of 19 September 2026 for mobile and Internet of Things (IoT) platforms, including methods adapted from other radios and BLE-specific techniques. We systematically searched major bibliographic databases using BLE, RSS, positioning, localization, and methodological terms and then deduplicated and screened the records. The synthesis covers six dimensions: (i) RSS preprocessing and filtering; (ii) proximity-based, model-based, and fingerprinting approaches; (iii) sensor fusion; (iv) applications; (v) public BLE RSS datasets; and (vi) comparisons with other RSS-based positioning technologies. BLE RSS offers practical, cost-effective positioning in Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)-denied environments, but RSS instability remains the predominant limitation.

Source: Sensors

DOI: 10.3390/s26216776

Authors: Fernando J. Aranda, Javier Román-Jiménez, Fernando J. Álvarez, Joaquín Torres-Sospedra

Institutions: Universidad de Extremadura, Universitat de València

Language: English

Topic: Indoor and Outdoor Localization Technologies

Subfield: Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,137

Funders: Junta de Extremadura, Agencia Estatal de Investigación