…There are two methods of indoor positioning: client-based and server-based. Client-based positioning is suitable if you have an existing infrastructure, for example Wi-Fi access points or beacons. They have to send out signals regularly. The device analyzes the signal characteristics and possibly…
…If you want to use the Global Positioning System (GPS) you need visual contact to several satellites, which is not always given. In outdoor areas it can be interrupted by trees, clouds, tunnels or skyscrapers. Indoors there is hardly a chance to receive GPS signals. But there are multiple…
…The operating system Android makes it relatively simple to develop indoor navigation apps and –systems. It supports multiple positioning technologies, such as Wi-Fi, beacons and VLC. Application areas of indoor navigation using Android Client-based positioning technologies can be realized with…
…Since GPS is not available inside buildings, indoor navigation systems have to use different techniques. Some of them, such as Wi-Fi and smartphone sensors, are already existent in most situations. Some others, for example beacons or locator nodes (used for analyzing motion profiles) have to be…
…Using Wi-Fi for client-based indoor positioning can be beneficial because in many cases existing infrastructure can be used. This could be for example Wi-Fi enabled cash register systems, routers and client hot spots. It is not even necessary that the devices are connected with the access points to…
…Indoor navigation, that is to say navigation inside enclosed buildings, faces some challenges: GPS signals cannot be received here, because there is no visual contact to GPS satellites. But there are alternatives for indoor positioning, for example via Wi-Fi, beacons or VLC (visible light…
…Devices running on iOS 4.3 and higher do not support client-based positioning via Wi-Fi. Apple exclusively uses iBeacons for indoor positioning. That means that Apple devices would be excluded from indoor navigation projects using only Wi-Fi for positioning. However, it is possible to detect those…
…Trilateration is a method used to determine the position of objects, for example beacons, via distance measurement. Triangulation additionally takes the angle into account. Since GPS isn’t available in buildings, trilateration and triangulation are used for measurement, positioning and navigation…
…With Google and Apple two big players of the internet industry have entered the indoor navigation market. Are their applications already market-ready? What are the pros and cons? Indoor navigation by Apple: Indoor Survey and iBeacons According to the media, Apple is building its own indoor…
…Modern smartphones have multiple sensors, which can be combined to get a more precise indoor positioning result. Using vertical sensor fusion has one big advantage: combining various sensors results in a more homogenous and more reliable outcome than using just one type. Most smartphones have the…
…What are beacons and how can they be used for indoor positioning? Beacons are small senders which transmit simple signals to devices nearby. They are not able to receive signals. Modern beacons are based on the Bluetooth Low Energy standard, have a maximum range of 30 meters indoors and have low…
…Ultra-wideband (UWB) is a short-range radio technology which can be used for indoor positioning. This technology is particularly in demand in manufacturing and logistics, where accuracy of 10-30 centimetres is required. This short-range radio technology uses an extremely wide frequency range with a…
…Beacons have boomed since 2013 - when Apple introduced its iBeacon standard. 2015 Google came up with Eddystone. Apple exclusively relies on beacons for indoor positioning and indoor navigation. Apple devices cannot use Wi-Fi to determine their position. Beacons are placed at several positions in…
…The Long Range Wide Area Network (LoRaWAN) is a low power radio system designed for IoT devices. It is characterized by a high reception range between the transmitter and receiver of approximately 2.5 kilometers in the inner-city area. Furthermore, short, bi-directional communication thrusts are…
…Bluetooth is a radio technology for wireless data transmission over short distances, which was developed in the 1990s. With this network technology, data can be exchanged between computers and/or smartphones, but also everyday devices such as wireless speakers, keyboards or mice can be connected.…
…In large industry buildings it can be useful to track the position of working devices (robots, machines, vehicles) or goods (pallets, wares). Indoor asset tracking is the solution. The object which should be surveilled is equipped with a beacon for example and thus transmits its position…
…In complex buildings it can be necessary to determine the position of employees. For example it can be beneficial to find out the position of security staff members, when there is an alert. Employee apps are another field of application. Employees can book conference rooms, make appointments with…
…Augmented Reality means adding elements to the reality you see through the camera of your device. In contrast to that, Virtual Reality means that users immerse into a virtual surrounding completely, for example by using a Head Mounted Display. Augmented Reality is very suitable for location based…
…RFID technology makes it possible to identify and locate objects, people and animals and to read and save data contactless through electromagnetic waves. For RFID position tracking you always need a transponder and a reading device. The transponder can save data. In most cases, the transponder is…
…For operators of shopping centers, airports, trade fairs, railway stations etc. it is interesting to know how many visitors stay at a certain place at a certain time and how they move. This way, it is possible to display on a heat map, which places are most frequented – which can be useful for…
…VLC (Visible Light Communication) can transfer data by means of light. The light can be emitted by an LED or a fluorescent tube and has to be received and converted by a photo detector for example a smartphone camera. The lamp “flickers” in a way that humans don’t recognize it and that way…
…Indoor position determination is an important consideration for retail – indoor navigation helps clients find their way in large supermarkets and malls via app. But the technology is equally suitable for public buildings with shopping areas, such as airports and railway stations. Depending on the…
…With Google and Apple two big players of the internet industry have entered the indoor navigation market. Are their applications already market-ready? What are the pros and cons? Indoor navigation by Google: Indoor Maps, Eddystone and Project Tango Google itself writes about Indoor Maps: “View…