Hybrid Position Sensor System for Indoor Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for determining the position and orientation of objects or vehicles, especially indoors, face challenges such as disruption from marker patterns, error accumulation in odometric systems, and interference from equipment and objects, making them impractical and inaccurate for real-time, two-dimensional tracking.
Innovation Solution
A hybrid system using relative and absolute sensors, where relative sensors determine movement changes and absolute sensors provide precise position and orientation data, with optional markings on the ground or walls for calibration, allowing for flexible adaptation to various environments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If floor markers are used for position determination, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and installation effort increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the marking system from the floor and relocates it to the vehicle. Instead of requiring floor markers, the vehicle carries markers that are detected by sensors on the floor or in the environment. This eliminates the need for complex floor installation while maintaining position determination precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent inverts the traditional approach by placing markers on the moving object (vehicle) rather than on the stationary floor. The detection system remains stationary while the markers move with the vehicle, reversing the conventional configuration and simplifying installation.
2Ease of operation
If odometric systems are used for position tracking, then ease of operation is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to error accumulation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges odometric sensors (for continuous relative position tracking) with absolute position detection systems (for periodic calibration). The odometric system maintains ease of operation by continuously tracking movement, while the absolute position system corrects accumulated errors, achieving both operational simplicity and measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by using detected absolute positions to correct and recalibrate the odometric measurement system. When the vehicle passes over detection zones or markers, the absolute position data feeds back to reset cumulative errors in the odometric sensors, maintaining long-term accuracy.
3Measurement precision
If multiple sensors are deployed for accurate position and orientation determination, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs sensors that perform multiple functions: detecting markers for absolute position, measuring relative movement for odometry, and determining orientation through marker pattern recognition. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed while maintaining measurement precision for both position and orientation.
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
Enables accurate, real-time two-dimensional position and orientation determination with reduced installation costs and effort, adaptable to diverse conditions, minimizing errors and maintenance requirements.
Implementation Method 1
Markings are provided at known positions, which reflect light emitted by the light source to the absolute sensors
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
The invention relates to a device for determining a position and orientation of a displaceable object. Said device comprises at least two relative sensors (24) on the object, said sensors registering a relative modification of a position and/or orientation of the object, and at least two absolute sensors (26) on the object, respectively for determining the absolute position in the X-direction and Y-direction in relation to the base (20). The invention also relates to a method for determining the position and orientation.