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I'm trying to call upon the famous multilateration algorithm in order to pinpoint a radiation emission source given a set of arrival times for various detectors. I have the necessary data, but I'm still having trouble implementing this calculation; I am relatively new with Python.

I know that, if I were to do this by hand, I would use matrices and carry out elementary row operations in order to find my 3 unknowns (x,y,z), but I'm not sure how to code this. Is there a way to have Python implement ERO, or is there a better way to carry out my computation?

Sylvain Leroux
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user2480757
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    You should probably take a look at numpy. Although I don't know the algorithm you are talking about, I'm pretty sure numpy can solve sets of equations, which is what you are after right? – Blubber Jun 13 '13 at 06:09
  • That algorithm is so "famous" (at least among us), that you should have given a link... – Sylvain Leroux Jun 13 '13 at 06:36
  • Ah alright. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multilateration the algorithm I'm using is near the bottom, under 3-D solution. – user2480757 Jun 13 '13 at 06:47

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Depending on your needs, you could try:

  • NumPy if your interested in numerical solutions. As far as I remember, it could solve linear equations. Don't know how it deals with non-linear resolution.
  • SymPy for symbolic math. It solves symbolically linear equations ... according to their main page.

The two above are "generic" math packages. I doubt you will find (easily) any dedicated (and maintained) library for your specific need. Their was already a question on that topic here: Multilateration of GPS Coordinates

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Sylvain Leroux
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