Adaptive Attention-Based Model for 5G Radio-based Outdoor Localization

Radio-based localization in dynamic environments, such as urban and vehicular settings, requires systems that efficiently adapt to varying signal conditions and environmental changes. Factors like multipath interference and obstructions introduce different levels of complexity that affect the accuracy of the localization. Although generalized models offer broad applicability, they often struggle to capture the nuances of specific environments, leading to suboptimal performance in real-world deployments. In contrast, specialized models can be tailored to particular conditions, enabling more precise localization by effectively handling domain-specific variations, which also results in reduced execution time and smaller model size. However, deploying multiple specialized models requires an efficient mechanism to select the most appropriate one for a given scenario. In this work, we develop an adaptive localization framework that combines shallow attention-based models with a router/switching mechanism based on a single-layer perceptron. This enables seamless transitions between specialized localization models optimized for different conditions, balancing accuracy and computational complexity. We design three low-complex models tailored for distinct scenarios, and a router that dynamically selects the most suitable model based on real-time input characteristics. The proposed framework is validated using real-world vehicle localization data collected from a massive MIMO base station and compared to more general models.

@article{yaman2025_2503.23810,
  title={ Adaptive Attention-Based Model for 5G Radio-based Outdoor Localization },
  author={ Ilayda Yaman and Guoda Tian and Dino Pjanic and Fredrik Tufvesson and Ove Edfors and Zhengya Zhang and Liang Liu },
  journal={arXiv preprint arXiv:2503.23810},
  year={ 2025 }
}