Locator Device Distance Calculation and Direction Indication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems lack effective solutions for locating items, people, and animals in real-time, particularly in environments with obstructions or indoors, where traditional GPS signals are unreliable, and there is a need for efficient battery management and user-friendly alerts.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a locator device with a GNSS receiver, radio transceiver, and a processor that calculates distance and direction to a target device using RSSI, with power management to conserve battery life and a failsafe location mode for indoor scenarios, utilizing omnidirectional antennas and non-linear fitting trilateration for accurate positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional GPS systems are used for location tracking, then outdoor positioning can be achieved, but the system fails in obstructed environments and indoors
Solution Approach 1:
The system combines multiple location determination methods (GPS for outdoor, Wi-Fi triangulation for indoor) into a single locator device that automatically selects the appropriate method based on environmental conditions, making the system universally applicable across different settings
2Reliability
If continuous location monitoring is performed using GPS, then real-time tracking is achieved, but battery consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs location updates at periodic intervals rather than continuously, and uses event-triggered updates based on movement detection, reducing the frequency of GPS operations and associated energy consumption while maintaining effective real-time tracking
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses motion sensors and activity detection to provide feedback about the target's state, enabling the locator to adjust its monitoring frequency and only perform location updates when movement is detected, thereby conserving battery power during stationary periods
3Measurement precision
If multiple transceivers and sensors are added to improve indoor positioning, then location accuracy in obstructed environments improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses existing infrastructure (Wi-Fi access points, Bluetooth beacons) as intermediaries for indoor positioning rather than requiring dedicated positioning infrastructure, and employs smartphone sensors as mediators to facilitate location determination without adding complex hardware to the target device
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 reliable real-time location tracking of items, people, and animals, even in obstructed environments, with efficient battery usage and user-friendly alerts, ensuring accurate positioning and direction indication.
Implementation Method 1
a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver configured to receive data from a plurality of satellites for calculating a location
Implementation Method 2
a first transceiver configured to communicate with a second transceiver in the target device; receives signals from the first transceiver; calculates an estimated distance between the locator device and a target device based on the signals
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods, and devices for locating items, people, and/or animals are provided. In accordance with some embodiments, locator devices for locating a target device are provided, the locator devices comprising: a first transceiver configured to communicate with a second transceiver in the target device; a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver configured to receive data from a plurality of satellites for calculating a location; a visual indicator; and a hardware processor that: receives signals from the first transceiver; calculates an estimated distance between the locator device and a target device based on the signals; controls whether the GNSS receiver is powered on or off based on the estimated distance; and causes the visual indicator indicate an estimated direction to the target device from the locator device.