TY - JOUR
T1 - A method for indoor navigation based on magnetic beacons using smartphones and tablets
AU - Sheinker, Arie
AU - Ginzburg, Boris
AU - Salomonski, Nizan
AU - Frumkis, Lev
AU - Kaplan, Ben Zion
AU - Moldwin, Mark B.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
PY - 2016/3/1
Y1 - 2016/3/1
N2 - Outdoor navigation using GPS receivers installed in various types of consumer electronics devices, especially smartphones and tablet computers has become very common. However, indoor navigation can be problematic as GPS signals are blocked by ceilings and building walls and accuracy is on the order of building dimensions. In present work we propose using an array of magnetic beacons for localizing a receiver equipped with a magnetic sensor. A smartphone or a tablet computer with an internal magnetometer can be employed as a receiver. Exploiting smartphones and tablets for indoor navigation is a great advantage when considering convenience, simplicity and low cost. The navigation area is covered by magnetic beacons deployed in known locations. Each beacon generates an AC magnetic field with a unique signature enabling the receiver to distinguish between beacons. The signature may feature a specific single frequency tone, a combination of frequencies, or any other modulated signal. A software application running on the receiver enables self-localization by means of detection and identification of the nearest beacon. A system prototype has been developed and used to test the proposed method in field conditions. Experimental results show successful localization, which paves the way for a full scale development of an effective indoor navigation system. The good results together with simple implementation make the proposed method attractive for a wide range of indoor localization applications, including: pedestrian and robot navigation, inbuilding rescue missions, vision impaired assistance, and location aware services, just to mention a few.
AB - Outdoor navigation using GPS receivers installed in various types of consumer electronics devices, especially smartphones and tablet computers has become very common. However, indoor navigation can be problematic as GPS signals are blocked by ceilings and building walls and accuracy is on the order of building dimensions. In present work we propose using an array of magnetic beacons for localizing a receiver equipped with a magnetic sensor. A smartphone or a tablet computer with an internal magnetometer can be employed as a receiver. Exploiting smartphones and tablets for indoor navigation is a great advantage when considering convenience, simplicity and low cost. The navigation area is covered by magnetic beacons deployed in known locations. Each beacon generates an AC magnetic field with a unique signature enabling the receiver to distinguish between beacons. The signature may feature a specific single frequency tone, a combination of frequencies, or any other modulated signal. A software application running on the receiver enables self-localization by means of detection and identification of the nearest beacon. A system prototype has been developed and used to test the proposed method in field conditions. Experimental results show successful localization, which paves the way for a full scale development of an effective indoor navigation system. The good results together with simple implementation make the proposed method attractive for a wide range of indoor localization applications, including: pedestrian and robot navigation, inbuilding rescue missions, vision impaired assistance, and location aware services, just to mention a few.
KW - Indoor navigation
KW - Localization
KW - Magnetic sensing
KW - Smartphones and tablets
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84951949414&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.measurement.2015.12.023
DO - 10.1016/j.measurement.2015.12.023
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84951949414
SN - 0263-2241
VL - 81
SP - 197
EP - 209
JO - Measurement: Journal of the International Measurement Confederation
JF - Measurement: Journal of the International Measurement Confederation
ER -