Wearable Muscle Sensor Trajectory Reconstruction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Satellite navigation systems, such as GPS, are not effective in areas with poor signal coverage, like underground parking spaces or during bad weather, and cannot recognize movements like climbing stairs or taking elevators, limiting their usefulness for indoor location tracking.
Innovation Solution
The use of wearable muscle sensors and mobile devices to collect data for trace/trajectory reconstruction, allowing location tracking even without GPS signals by processing sensor data to detect movement patterns and backtrack to the initial location when GPS becomes available.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If GPS satellite navigation is used for location tracking, then outdoor location accuracy is improved, but indoor location tracking capability deteriorates due to poor signal coverage
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the location tracking function into two parts: GPS-based external locator for outdoor areas with signal coverage, and sensor-based trace reconstruction for indoor areas without GPS signal. The mobile device switches between these two segmentation modes depending on signal availability, allowing accurate location tracking both outdoors and indoors.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces sensor data (accelerometer, gyroscope, magnetometer) as an intermediary to bridge the gap when GPS signal is unavailable. These sensors capture motion characteristics and serve as a mediator to reconstruct the device's trajectory and determine indoor location, compensating for the lack of direct GPS signal.
2Area of stationary object
If external locator signal is used for location tracking, then signal coverage area is improved, but recognition of complex movements (climbing stairs, elevators) deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces the GPS satellite-based mechanical positioning system with an inertial sensor-based detection system for complex movements. The accelerometer, gyroscope, and magnetometer detect motion patterns, orientation changes, and physical characteristics of movements like climbing stairs or taking elevators, which GPS cannot distinguish, thereby enabling accurate recognition of complex movements.
3Reliability
If GPS signal is unavailable in underground parking, then location tracking cannot be performed, but using wearable sensors enables trace reconstruction
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by continuously collecting and storing sensor data (acceleration, orientation, magnetic field) even when GPS signal is unavailable, such as in underground parking. This preliminary data collection enables subsequent trace reconstruction once signal is restored or by processing the accumulated sensor data to determine location in no-signal areas.
Data Source
AI summary
At a mobile electronic device, first sensor data is obtained from at least one wearable muscle sensor, suggesting that location tracking will imminently be desirable. A first indication that an external locator signal is not usable is also obtained. Responsive to the first sensor data and the indication, second sensor data, from at least one wearable muscle sensor, indicative of motion of a subject wearing the at least one muscle sensor, is recorded. A second indication that the external locator signal is now usable is obtained. Responsive to the second indication, the external locator signal is used to determine a current location of the mobile electronic device; and the second sensor data is sued to backtrack from the current location of the mobile electronic device to indicate a location of the mobile electronic device at a time when the recording of the second sensor data was initiated.