Vehicular Wireless Positioning – A Survey
(2026) In IEEE Communications Surveys and Tutorials- Abstract
The rapid advancement of connected and autonomous vehicles has driven a growing demand for precise and reliable positioning systems capable of operating in complex environments. Meeting these demands requires an integrated approach that combines multiple positioning technologies, including wireless-based systems, perception-based technologies, and motion-based sensors. This paper presents a comprehensive survey of wireless-based positioning for vehicular applications, with a focus on satellite-based positioning (such as global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) and low-Earth-orbit (LEO) satellites), cellular-based positioning (5G and beyond), and IEEE-based technologies (including Wi-Fi, ultrawideband (UWB), Bluetooth, and... (More)
The rapid advancement of connected and autonomous vehicles has driven a growing demand for precise and reliable positioning systems capable of operating in complex environments. Meeting these demands requires an integrated approach that combines multiple positioning technologies, including wireless-based systems, perception-based technologies, and motion-based sensors. This paper presents a comprehensive survey of wireless-based positioning for vehicular applications, with a focus on satellite-based positioning (such as global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) and low-Earth-orbit (LEO) satellites), cellular-based positioning (5G and beyond), and IEEE-based technologies (including Wi-Fi, ultrawideband (UWB), Bluetooth, and vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communications). First, the survey reviews a wide range of vehicular positioning use cases, outlining their specific performance requirements. Next, it explores the historical development, standardization, and evolution of each wireless positioning technology, providing an in-depth categorization of existing positioning solutions and algorithms, and identifying open challenges and contemporary trends. Finally, the paper examines sensor fusion techniques that integrate these wireless systems with onboard perception and motion sensors to enhance positioning accuracy and resilience in real-world conditions. This survey thus offers a holistic perspective on the historical foundations, current advancements, and future directions of wireless-based positioning for vehicular applications, addressing a critical gap in the literature.
(Less)
- author
- organization
- publishing date
- 2026
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- in press
- subject
- in
- IEEE Communications Surveys and Tutorials
- publisher
- IEEE - Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:105033394380
- ISSN
- 1553-877X
- DOI
- 10.1109/COMST.2026.3674599
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- additional info
- Publisher Copyright: © 1998-2012 IEEE.
- id
- 79c849a8-4cc8-4bfb-be7d-157ef2aed5d1
- date added to LUP
- 2026-05-04 16:21:43
- date last changed
- 2026-05-05 06:38:17
@article{79c849a8-4cc8-4bfb-be7d-157ef2aed5d1,
abstract = {{<p>The rapid advancement of connected and autonomous vehicles has driven a growing demand for precise and reliable positioning systems capable of operating in complex environments. Meeting these demands requires an integrated approach that combines multiple positioning technologies, including wireless-based systems, perception-based technologies, and motion-based sensors. This paper presents a comprehensive survey of wireless-based positioning for vehicular applications, with a focus on satellite-based positioning (such as global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) and low-Earth-orbit (LEO) satellites), cellular-based positioning (5G and beyond), and IEEE-based technologies (including Wi-Fi, ultrawideband (UWB), Bluetooth, and vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communications). First, the survey reviews a wide range of vehicular positioning use cases, outlining their specific performance requirements. Next, it explores the historical development, standardization, and evolution of each wireless positioning technology, providing an in-depth categorization of existing positioning solutions and algorithms, and identifying open challenges and contemporary trends. Finally, the paper examines sensor fusion techniques that integrate these wireless systems with onboard perception and motion sensors to enhance positioning accuracy and resilience in real-world conditions. This survey thus offers a holistic perspective on the historical foundations, current advancements, and future directions of wireless-based positioning for vehicular applications, addressing a critical gap in the literature.</p>}},
author = {{Saleh, Sharief and Dwivedi, Satyam and Whiton, Russ and Hammarberg, Peter and Keskin, Musa Furkan and Equi, Julia and Chen, Hui and Munier, Florent and Eriksson, Olof and Gunnarsson, Fredrik and Tufvesson, Fredrik and Wymeersch, Henk}},
issn = {{1553-877X}},
language = {{eng}},
publisher = {{IEEE - Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.}},
series = {{IEEE Communications Surveys and Tutorials}},
title = {{Vehicular Wireless Positioning – A Survey}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/COMST.2026.3674599}},
doi = {{10.1109/COMST.2026.3674599}},
year = {{2026}},
}
