[gps-talkusers] Re: indoor navigation

  • From: "Sarai" <bucc7465@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: <gps-talkusers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Thu, 22 Sep 2005 14:25:34 -0500

Oh man! Then you can create POI's with different building categories
such as bath rooms and you can search for the nearest bathroom, or exit.
*grin* That sounds cool. If the lights have to be changed indoors,
wouldn't it make more sense to use Wyfi or something like that?

-----Original Message-----
From: gps-talkusers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:gps-talkusers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Michael May
Sent: Thursday, September 22, 2005 10:28 AM
To: gps-talkusers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [gps-talkusers] indoor navigation


There are a number of research projects addressing indoor navigation. 
For our part, Sendero has been working with a Swiss company now 
called Vectronix for 4 years, which makes high end compasses for 
military equipment. They have designed a navigation module with 
various motion sensors that allows a person's movement to be tracked 
when they wear this device. They have incorporated GPS into this 
module and we have connected it to the BrailleNote. We refer to this 
as the Personal Navigation Module, PNM.

This type of technology is generically called dead reckoning. One of 
the challenges with dead reckoning is that an error accumulates over 
a distance, unlike GPS which has a fixed error. So, the PNM will 
accumulate about 15% error, not so bad after 100 feet but pretty bad, 
150 feet error after walking a thousand feet.

There are various ways to reduce this error and Vectronix is trying 
to reduce it as well. For one, the GPS can correct the error as soon 
as you go outside. We put a command on the BrailleNote that allows 
the user to correct the error manually when you are in a known place 
like the entrance to a shop. If the PNM says you are 30 feet away 
from the shop and you are in the doorway, you just press the Control 
0 to zero out the error. This means the next doorway is more likely 
to be where you expect it.

Another option is to correct the error automatically using position 
sensors in the environment like RFID tags, Talking Signs or even WiFi 
points. There is a technology called Talking Lights whereby a 
florescent light has its ballast changed so the light has a unique 
position ID. Sendero has teamed up with Talking Lights to test how 
this combination of BrailleNote GPS, the PNM and Talking Lights will 
work for indoor/outdoor navigation. A very early stage test was 
conducted at Benetech in July. It worked reasonably well most of the 
time and it showed us what needed improvement. If we get the phase 2 
funding for this research, further tests will be conducted in a more 
difficult indoor setting.

It is pretty exciting to walk down a hallway inside a building and 
hear the elevator announced, to hear the heading and distance to the 
rest rooms and to hear the double ding for a turn at just the right 
spot. We have a way to go before this is ready for prime time but 
results are promising so far.

Mike








At 07:24 AM 9/22/2005, you wrote:
>yes, more on the inside navigation system would be interesting seems
>that many are looking at it.  A friend of mine, went to a, "trial", 
>of something similar, with "Benetec", maybe it was the same trial 
>spoken about on "Mainstream".  Then there is: IBPS = Inside Building 
>Positioning System. Which may be mainstream, I'm not sure.
>    Thanks,
>    Claude
>----- Original Message ----- From: "Sarai" <bucc7465@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>To: "GPS" <gps-talkusers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>Sent: Wednesday, September 21, 2005 9:07 PM
>Subject: [gps-talkusers] Question
>
>
>>Hi,
>>I was listening to the ACB Main menu replay with Charles's wonderful 
>>speech about the GPS and I was excited and impressed with the new 
>>technology that will eventually allow the GPS to work indoors. I was 
>>wondering if Mike could comment more on this? I was also excited to 
>>hear the new street details and new bus stop info that would be added.

>>You guys at Sendero are doing a wonderful job.
>>
>>Sarai D. Bucciarelli
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>--
>>No virus found in this incoming message.
>>Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.
>>Version: 7.0.344 / Virus Database: 267.11.4/109 - Release Date: 
>>9/21/2005
>
>
>Michael G. May
>
>CEO Sendero Group
>
>Developers and distributors of BrailleNote GPS
>Distributing BrailleNote, VoiceNote, Miniguide, The Tissot Silen-T
>tactile watch, Talks cell phone software and the ID Mate, bar code
reader
>
>MikeMay@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>http://www.SenderoGroup.com
>
>(1-888-757-6810, Fax (530) 757-6830, Mobile (530) 304-0007 Sendero 
>Group, LLC 1118 Maple Lane, Davis, CA 95616-1723, USA
>
>Latitude, 38 33 9.239 North
>Longitude, 121 45 40.145 West




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