Smartphone-based Indoor Localization for Blind Navigation across Building Complexes - Robotics Institute Carnegie Mellon University

Smartphone-based Indoor Localization for Blind Navigation across Building Complexes

Masayuki M. Murata, Daisuke Sato, Dragan Ahmetovic, Hironobu Takagi, Kris M. Kitani, and Chieko Asakawa
Conference Paper, Proceedings of IEEE International Conference on Pervasive Computing and Communications (PerCom '18), March, 2018

Abstract

Continuous and accurate smartphone-based localization is a promising technology for supporting independent mobility of people with visual impairments. However, despite extensive research on indoor localization techniques, they are still not ready for deployment in large and complex environments, like shopping malls and hospitals, where navigation assistance is needed. To achieve accurate, continuous, and real-time localization with smartphones in such environments, we present a series of key techniques enhancing a probabilistic localization algorithm. The algorithm is designed for smartphones and employs inertial sensors on a mobile device and Received Signal Strength (RSS) from Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) beacons. We evaluate the proposed system in a 21,000 m2 shopping mall which includes three multi-story buildings and a large open underground passageway. Experiments in this space validate the effect of the proposed technologies to improve localization accuracy. Field experiments with visually impaired participants confirm the practical performance of the proposed system in realistic use cases.

BibTeX

@conference{Murata-2018-109786,
author = {Masayuki M. Murata and Daisuke Sato and Dragan Ahmetovic and Hironobu Takagi and Kris M. Kitani and Chieko Asakawa},
title = {Smartphone-based Indoor Localization for Blind Navigation across Building Complexes},
booktitle = {Proceedings of IEEE International Conference on Pervasive Computing and Communications (PerCom '18)},
year = {2018},
month = {March},
}