Hybrid Indoor Positioning Using Inertial and Wireless Correction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing indoor positioning technologies face challenges such as unstable wireless signals, dependence on ambient complexity, high costs, and increasing errors over time, making precise positioning difficult and costly.
Innovation Solution
A hybrid indoor positioning system that combines a user's inertial momentum with ambient wireless signals and magnetic forces, using an electronic label with sensors and a remote server to calculate precise positioning by integrating acceleration, direction, and magnetic data with ambient wireless signal data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If wireless signal positioning is used, then positioning coverage can be achieved, but the wireless signal is affected by ambient factors causing signal oscillation and positioning drift
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines wireless signal positioning with inertial positioning to form a hybrid system. The inertial sensor data (acceleration, gyroscope) compensates for wireless signal fluctuations, while the wireless signal provides absolute position references. This merging allows the system to maintain positioning stability even when ambient factors cause signal oscillation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback mechanisms where the wireless signal provides periodic absolute position corrections to the inertial navigation system. When the wireless signal is available, it corrects the accumulated inertial drift; when unavailable, the inertial system continues providing position estimates based on the last known correction point.
2Measurement precision
If image visual positioning is used, then positioning can be achieved, but it is very dependent on ambient complexity and positioning accuracy is greatly reduced if the ambient appearance is too monotonous
Solution Approach 1:
The inertial sensor system on the user's body serves itself by continuously measuring acceleration and orientation without needing external visual features. This self-contained measurement capability allows positioning to work in environments with monotone appearances where visual positioning would fail.
3Measurement precision
If optical sensor positioning is used, then positioning can be achieved, but it requires expensive devices and stable operating conditions making it unsuitable for wearable applications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses inexpensive inertial sensors (accelerometers and gyroscopes) that are already available in common mobile devices, replacing expensive optical sensors. These cheaper sensors are integrated into wearable electronics, making the system cost-effective and suitable for mass deployment without requiring complex optical equipment.
4Ease of operation
If inertial positioning is used, then positioning can be achieved, but with the increase of walking time, the error of inertial navigation positioning is continuously accumulated
Solution Approach 1:
The wireless signal acts as a feedback mechanism that periodically corrects the accumulated inertial navigation errors. Each time the wireless signal is received, it provides an absolute position reference that resets the drift, allowing the inertial system to maintain accuracy over extended periods despite continuous walking.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary correction using wireless signals before inertial drift becomes significant. By regularly updating position using wireless references when available, the system prevents large accumulation of errors rather than attempting to correct them after long periods of inertial-only operation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Achieves precise indoor positioning with reduced setup costs by stabilizing wireless signal fluctuations and correcting inertial navigation errors, ensuring accurate real-time location tracking.
Implementation Method 1
the acceleration sensing module senses movement of the user and generates an acceleration signal
Implementation Method 2
the first direction sensing module and the second direction sensing module sense the movement of the user and generate a first direction signal and a second direction signal respectively
Implementation Method 3
the electronic label is provided with a signal receiving module to receive an ambient wireless information within a range that can be received by the user and to generate an ambient wireless signal
Data Source
AI summary
A hybrid indoor positioning system comprises an electronic label provided with an acceleration sensing module, a first direction sensing module, a second direction sensing module and an operational module, the acceleration sensing module generates an acceleration signal, the operational module receives the acceleration signal and generates a movement data, the first direction sensing module and the second direction sensing module respectively generate a first direction signal, a magnetic force information and a second direction signal, the operational module receives the first direction signal and the second direction signal and generates a direction data, the electronic label is provided with a signal receiving module that generates an ambient wireless signal, the movement data and the direction data of the operational module are transmitted to a signal sending module; and a remote server, the remote server has a central processing unit, a signal receiving unit and a judgment model.