SBIR Phase II: A Robust Indoor Localization System For Mobile Devices

该小型企业创新研究（SBIR）第二阶段项目的更广泛影响/商业潜力是通过智能手机和平板电脑等现有移动的电子设备向用户提供准确的室内定位服务。这项技术将为室内市场带来许多由GPS驱动的应用，如导航、跟踪和基于位置的广告。我们建议使用混合超声和基于RF的信标系统，以实现在大型GPS拒绝环境中的20厘米以下的定位精度。我们的方法是独一无二的，因为它与当前的智能手机兼容，只需下载一个应用程序。该系统使用由信标组成的基础设施，可以通过室内太阳能收集供电，而不需要昂贵的电线。精确的室内位置感知移动的应用可以增强从零售、医疗保健和制造到建筑导航的应用，资产追踪和帮助视障人士。拟议项目旨在开发一个强大的本地化平台，可以定位智能手机和平板电脑等现成设备以及低成本射频（RF）在无法使用GPS的室内位置，标签的精度优于20厘米。目前用于智能手机的室内定位技术通常在准确性方面不足，特别是在具有障碍物的高度动态环境中。我们的系统利用能量收集信标与扬声器阵列来传输近超声波频谱中的飞行时间测距信号。这些信号可以通过商品智能手机在软件中记录和解调，而人类听不见。该阶段的研究旨在开发简化安装所需的方法和技术，以支持需要数十至数百个信标的机场和会议中心等大型设施。这涉及开发映射和调试系统以及硬件信标模块，以便将我们的技术集成到第三方的产品中（例如智能相机系统，建筑传感器等）。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is to provide accurate indoor location services to users via existing mobile electronic devices like smartphones and tablets. This technology will bring many of the applications powered by GPS, like navigation, tracking and location-based advertising to indoor markets. We propose using a hybrid ultrasound and RF-based beaconing system to enable sub-20cm location accuracy within large, GPS-denied environments. Our approach is unique in that it is compatible with current smartphones by simply downloading an app. The system uses an infrastructure comprised of beacons, which can be powered through indoor solar energy-harvesting instead of requiring expensive electrical wiring. Accurate indoor location-aware mobile applications can enhance applications ranging from retail, healthcare and manufacturing, all the way to building navigation, asset tracking and aiding the visually impaired.The proposed project aims to develop a robust localization platform which can localize off-the-shelf devices like smartphones and tablets as well as low-cost radio frequency (RF) tags to better than 20cm accuracy in indoor locations that do not have access to GPS. Current indoor localization technologies for smartphones often fall short in terms of accuracy, especially in highly dynamic environments with obstructions. Our system utilizes energy harvesting beacons with an array of speakers to transmit time-of-flight ranging signals in the near-ultrasound spectrum. These signals can be recorded and demodulated in software by commodity smartphones, while being inaudible to humans. The research in this phase will aim to develop the methods and technologies required to streamline installation to support large facilities like airports and convention centers that would require tens to hundreds of beacons. This involves the development of a mapping and commissioning system as well as hardware beacon modules for integration of our technology into the products of third parties (e.g. smart camera systems, building sensors, etc). We will also integrate the ability to track tagged assets.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.