Indoor/Outdoor Navigation System

描述(由申请者提供)：这个第二阶段的SBIR项目将开发一种廉价、易用的室内/室外导航系统(IONS)，以帮助和引导盲人。该系统将遵循存储的地图，使用GPS进行室外定位，并通过惯性导航系统提供室内定位，该系统定期更新并通过少量灯具重新居中，这些灯具被调制以提供定位信号，同时仍提供无闪烁的照明。IONS将提供从室外到室内的无缝过渡，允许一个系统用于所有路线搜索。用户可以通过无线网络(WiFi)访问地图，并可以使用ion创建自己的地图，供以后使用或与盲人朋友分享。第一阶段演示了这一概念，并在室内展示了相当于由熟练的行动专家给出的口头指示的表现。该项目将为用户开发更方便的光学传感器，提高系统精度和音频制导，并纳入常用的地图数据库。该项目将开发用于更强大的计算机的软件，并最终用于个人数据助理(PDA)甚至手机。在第二阶段，该系统将安装在商业设施中，并与口头寻路技术进行比较，展示和评估其全面的室内/室外能力，方法是让受试者沿着一条路线在室外到达建筑物的门，然后在室内到达特定的目的地。该系统将帮助盲人更自主地生活和旅行，增加他们的就业机会和能力。这将改善他们的生活方式，减少他们对视力正常的人的依赖。该系统对于有认知障碍的人和那些无法阅读手势或在寻路过程中受益于音频引导的人也应该有价值。该项目产生的产品将是用于寻路的计算机化离子系统、远程说话灯光光学传感器和软件。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This Phase II SBIR Project will develop an inexpensive, easy-to-use Indoor/Outdoor Navigation System (IONS) to assist and guide people who are blind. The system will follow a stored map, using GPS for location outdoors and providing location indoors with an inertial guidance system that is periodically updated and re-centered through a small number of light fixtures which are modulated to give a location signal while still providing non-flickering illumination. IONS will provide a seamless transition from outdoors to indoors, allowing one system to be used for all wayfinding. Users can access maps through wireless networks (WiFi) and can use IONS to create their own maps for later use or for sharing with blind friends. Phase I demonstrated the concept and showed performance indoors equivalent to verbal directions given by a skilled mobility specialist. This project will develop a more convenient optical sensor for users, improve system accuracy and audio guidance, and incorporate a commonly used mapping database. The project will develop software for use on more powerful computers and ultimately for use on personal data assistants (PDAs) and even cellphones. In Phase II the system will be installed in a commercial facility and its full indoor/outdoor capability demonstrated and evaluated in comparison with verbal wayfinding techniques by having subjects follow a route outdoors to the door of a building, then indoors to reach a specific destination. This system will help people who are blind to live and travel more independently and increase their opportunities and capability for employment. It will enhance their lifestyles and decrease their dependence on sighted people. The system should also have value for people with cognitive disorders and those who are unable to read signs or who would otherwise benefit from audio guidance in wayfinding. Products resulting from this project will be the computerized IONS system for wayfinding, the remote Talking Lights optical sensor and software.