Multi-Antenna Receiver Indoor Localization via RF and Inertial Fusion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing indoor localization systems require new infrastructure or extensive environmental characterization, limiting their wide-scale adoption for accurate indoor localization.
Innovation Solution
A method using a multi-antenna receiver integrated into portable devices, such as smartphones, that records RF transmissions and rotation-related measurements to infer device pose without phase synchronization, combining these with inertial measurements for accurate location and orientation determination, and utilizing image processing to further localize objects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If existing indoor localization systems are deployed, then localization accuracy is improved, but infrastructure requirements and environmental characterization costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses existing Wi-Fi infrastructure that automatically provides data communication services without requiring dedicated localization infrastructure. The Wi-Fi access points serve dual purposes: data communication and localization references, eliminating the need for separate localization hardware deployment.
Solution Approach 2:
Existing Wi-Fi access points are utilized for multiple functions simultaneously - both data communication and localization reference points. This multi-functionality approach allows the system to achieve accurate localization without adding dedicated localization infrastructure to the environment.
2Measurement precision
If phase synchronization is implemented between transmitters and receiver, then measurement precision is improved, but system complexity and synchronization requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the phase synchronization requirement from the system. By using amplitude-based measurements and signal strength analysis instead of phase-dependent methods, the system achieves accurate localization without the complexity of maintaining phase synchronization between transmitters and receiver.
3Measurement precision
If device motion is constrained during measurement acquisition, then measurement precision is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adapts to arbitrary device motion patterns without requiring constrained movement. By using inertial measurement units (IMU) to track device orientation and motion, the system can process signals acquired during free movement and compensate for motion effects, allowing users to move devices naturally while maintaining localization accuracy.
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 high accuracy in device localization without constraining device motion and integrates image data to improve localization accuracy and reduce ambiguity, leveraging existing infrastructure.
Implementation Method 1
Successive measurements of transmissions from the transmitters are recorded at the receiver
Implementation Method 2
Rotation related measurements (e.g., rotational acceleration measurements, camera optical flow measurements, etc) are also made at the device
Implementation Method 3
The radio frequency and rotation related measurements are used to infer the location and orientation, together referred to as the pose, of the device
Implementation Method 4
stereo photography techniques are used to combine the images to locate the objects seen in the images relative to the locations of the camera
Data Source
AI summary
An approach to localization in an indoor environment makes use of a multiple antenna receiver (e.g., in a smartphone, tablet, camera) and knowledge of locations of one or more radio transmitters, which may be part of a data communication infrastructure providing data communication services to devices in the environment. Successive measurements of transmissions from the transmitters are recorded at the receiver as the device is translated and rotated in the environment. Rotation related measurements are also made at the device. The radio frequency and rotation related measurements are used to infer the location and orientation, together referred to as the pose, of the device. Phase synchronization of the transmitters and the receiver are not required. In general, accuracy of the pose estimate far exceeds that achievable using radio frequency measurements without taking into consideration motion of the device, and far exceeds that achievable using the inertial measurements alone.