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Infrastructure-Less Indoor Localization Using the Microphone, Magnetometer and Light Sensor of a Smartphone
Carlos E Galván-Tejada1, Juan Pablo García-Vázquez2, Jorge I Galván-Tejada3
1Programa de Ingeniería de Software, Unidad Académica de Ingeniería Eléctrica, Universidad Autónoma de Zacatecas, Ciudad Universitaria Siglo XXI, Edificio de Ingeniería de Software e Ingeniería en Computación, Zacatecas 98160, Mexico. ericgalvan@uaz.edu.mx.
This study introduces an infrastructure-less indoor location system (ILS) using smartphone sensors. Merging data from microphones, magnetometers, and light sensors improves location accuracy compared to single-sensor systems.
Area of Science:
- Computer Science
- Electrical Engineering
- Ubiquitous Computing
Background:
- Indoor location systems (ILS) often require dedicated infrastructure, limiting their applicability.
- Smartphones offer readily available sensors that can be leveraged for localization.
- Passive sensing approaches are desirable for universal accessibility.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop an infrastructure-less indoor location system (ILS) using common smartphone sensors.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of sensor fusion for enhancing indoor localization accuracy.
- To assess the system's performance under varying environmental conditions.
Main Methods:
- Utilized smartphone sensors: microphone, magnetometer, and light sensor.
- Developed a multivariate model for indoor location estimation.
- Conducted experiments in an office environment across different seasons (summer and winter).
Main Results:
- Sensor fusion significantly improved location estimation accuracy compared to single-sensor methods.
- The system demonstrated robustness against seasonal variations in light and magnetic fields.
- Evaluated model performance using sensitivity and specificity metrics.
Conclusions:
- An infrastructure-less ILS using smartphone passive sensors is feasible and effective.
- Information fusion from multiple sensors is crucial for reliable indoor localization.
- The proposed system offers a universally applicable solution for indoor navigation.
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