Prioritized IMU Selection for Pedestrian Navigation Accuracy

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional pedestrian navigation systems face challenges in accurately tracking user position during non-walking activities due to sensor limitations and configurations, leading to performance issues and inaccurate determinations of user position.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a prioritized inertial measurement unit (IMU) position tracking system, which receives sensor output from multiple IMUs, generates measurement vectors, and selects sensor output based on noise performance to improve navigation accuracy during both walking and non-walking activities.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional IMU sensors are used for pedestrian navigation, then the system can track user position during walking activities, but the sensors fail to accurately detect non-walking activities due to insufficient sensing range or bandwidth

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection capability for non-walking activitiesVSAvoidsensor measurement accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the sensor system into multiple IMU sensors, each optimized for specific activity types. Different sensors are allocated to detect different movement patterns (walking, running, jumping, crawling), allowing each sensor to operate within its optimal performance range for its designated activity while the system as a whole achieves comprehensive activity detection capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically selects which IMU sensor to activate based on the detected activity type. The controller switches between sensors with different sensing ranges and bandwidths depending on whether the user is walking, running, jumping, or crawling, ensuring that the appropriate sensor characteristics are always engaged for accurate measurement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If sensor bandwidth is increased to capture non-walking activities, then detection range improves, but noise performance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesensing range for non-walking activitiesVSAvoidnoise performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The sensor array is segmented into multiple IMUs with different bandwidth and noise characteristics. High-bandwidth sensors are assigned to detect high-frequency non-walking activities (jumping, crawling) while low-noise sensors handle常规 walking activities, allowing the system to achieve both extended sensing range and maintained noise performance through appropriate sensor allocation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the operational parameters by selecting different sensors based on activity type. When non-walking activities are detected, the system switches to sensors with higher bandwidth parameters; when walking is detected, it switches to sensors with lower noise parameters, thereby optimizing the trade-off between sensing range and noise performance dynamically.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Device complexity

If a single IMU sensor is used, then device complexity is reduced, but navigation accuracy deteriorates during varied activities

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of IMU sensorsVSAvoidnavigation accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The navigation system is segmented into multiple independent IMU sensors, each optimized for specific activity types. This segmentation allows the system to maintain high navigation accuracy across varied activities by having dedicated sensors for walking, running, jumping, and crawling, while the modular architecture keeps individual sensor complexity manageable.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The multi-IMU system provides universal coverage for all pedestrian activities through coordinated operation of multiple sensors. Each sensor contributes to the overall navigation accuracy for its designated activity type, and the controller integrates their outputs to achieve accurate navigation across all activity types regardless of the specific sensor configuration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS20250164250A1Systems and methods for prioritized IMU selection for enhancing inertial navigation accuracy

Publication Date: 2025.05.22 RGT UNIV OF CALIFORNIA

AI summary

Process and device configurations are provided for prioritized inertial measurement unit (IMU) position tracking. In one embodiment, a method is provided including receiving sensor output for a plurality of inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensors, and generating a measurement vector for output of the plurality of IMU sensors. The method can also include selecting sensor output of a first IMU sensor, wherein the sensor output for the first IMU sensor is selected using noise performance of sensor output for the first IMU sensor. The method can also include outputting a measurement vector of the first IMU sensor.