Map-Aided Navigation for Indoor Positioning Accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional navigation systems, especially those relying on inertial sensors and GNSS, face significant challenges in providing seamless positioning in indoor environments due to accumulated sensor drifts and biases, and existing map-aided algorithms struggle to accurately navigate in complex indoor spaces with multi-level structures and varying user motion statuses.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that utilize map information to enhance navigation solutions for portable devices, incorporating sensor data and map information to generate and manage multiple hypotheses about the device's position, allowing for real-time, accurate navigation across various orientations and environments, including indoor spaces with multiple levels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional inertial navigation systems are used in indoor environments, then the system can operate without GNSS signals, but the positioning accuracy degrades due to accumulated sensor drifts and biases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where map information is continuously compared with the inertial navigation system's estimated position. The map-aided algorithm provides corrective feedback to compensate for accumulated sensor drifts and biases, maintaining positioning accuracy over extended periods in indoor environments where GNSS signals are unavailable.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces map information as an intermediary element between the inertial sensors and the final position estimate. The map-aided algorithm acts as a mediator that constrains and corrects the inertial navigation solution, using map features as reference points to reduce drift accumulation without requiring direct sensor-to-position mapping.
2Measurement precision
If map information is used to constrain the navigation solution, then positioning accuracy improves, but the computational complexity and system design difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the navigation system into distinct functional modules: an inertial navigation module for continuous position estimation, a map-aided module for constraint and correction, and a fusion module for integrating both sources. This segmentation allows each module to be optimized independently while managing overall system complexity through modular architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic adaptation where the map-aided algorithm adaptively adjusts its constraint strength based on the quality of map information availability and the current navigation solution's confidence. The system dynamically switches between map-constrained mode and inertial-only mode, optimizing computational resources while maintaining accuracy.
3Reliability
If map-aided algorithms are used to handle complex indoor environments, then navigation reliability improves, but the algorithm complexity and processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by using map information selectively based on local environmental characteristics. The map-aided algorithm identifies and utilizes available map features (walls, corridors, rooms) locally throughout the indoor environment, applying constraints only where map information is relevant and available, rather than uniformly across all navigation scenarios.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes key parameters of the navigation solution based on map information, including position coordinates, velocity vectors, and orientation angles. The map-aided algorithm dynamically adjusts these parameters by comparing estimated positions with map-derived constraints, modifying the navigation solution to maintain consistency with the known indoor environment geometry.
Data Source
AI summary
This disclosure is directed to enhancing the navigation solution of a portable device using map information. Sensor data for the portable device may be used to derive a navigation solution. Position information for the device may be estimated using the navigation solution. Map information for an area encompassing a current location of the user may also be obtained. Multiple hypotheses regarding possible positions of the portable device may be generated using the estimated position information and the map information. By managing and processing the hypotheses, updated estimated position information may be provided. The updated estimated position information may be provided as output or feedback to enhance the navigation solution.