Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 7, 2026
05:51
Smartphone Fundus Photography
Published on: July 6, 2017
40.2K
Non-GNSS Smartphone Pedestrian Navigation Using Barometric Elevation and Digital Map-Matching
Daniel Broyles1, Kyle Kauffman2, John Raquet3
1Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH 45433-7765, USA. daniel.broyles@us.af.mil.
Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)
|July 13, 2018
Summary
This study presents a smartphone-based outdoor navigation system for areas without satellite signals. It achieves accurate positioning without external hardware, offering a practical solution for pedestrian navigation.
Area of Science:
- Computer Science
- Geomatics Engineering
- Robotics
Background:
- Outdoor pedestrian navigation without Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) is difficult.
- Current solutions often require costly, bulky external hardware or signals.
- Smartphone sensors offer a potential alternative for self-contained navigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a real-time, self-contained outdoor navigation application for smartphones.
- To enable pedestrian navigation in GNSS-denied environments using only onboard sensors.
- To evaluate the system's accuracy and scalability across different terrains.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a particle filter algorithm to fuse smartphone sensor data with a pedestrian motion model.
- Integrated barometric altimetry with a preloaded digital elevation map to constrain position.
- Developed and deployed the application on Android smartphones for real-world testing.
Main Results:
- Achieved outdoor positioning accuracy in the tens of meters.
- Demonstrated that positioning accuracy does not degrade over time.
- Validated the system's performance across various terrains and elevation data sources.
Conclusions:
- The developed system provides a viable, self-contained solution for outdoor pedestrian navigation without GNSS.
- Smartphone sensors, combined with digital elevation maps, can effectively overcome GNSS limitations.
- This approach offers a low-cost, accessible alternative for navigation in challenging environments.
Related Concept Videos
03:12Freezing Point Depression and Boiling Point Elevation
40.3K
Boiling Point Elevation
The boiling point of a liquid is the temperature at which its vapor pressure is equal to ambient atmospheric pressure. Since the vapor pressure of a solution is lowered due to the presence of nonvolatile solutes, it stands to reason that the solution’s boiling point will subsequently be increased. Vapor pressure increases with temperature, and so a solution will require a higher temperature than will pure solvent to achieve any given vapor pressure, including one...
The boiling point of a liquid is the temperature at which its vapor pressure is equal to ambient atmospheric pressure. Since the vapor pressure of a solution is lowered due to the presence of nonvolatile solutes, it stands to reason that the solution’s boiling point will subsequently be increased. Vapor pressure increases with temperature, and so a solution will require a higher temperature than will pure solvent to achieve any given vapor pressure, including one...
40.3K
01:17Sign Test for Matched Pairs
419
The sign test for matched pairs offers a robust method for comparing two paired samples, often for the effects of an intervention in one of them. This method is very useful in situations where the underlying distribution of the data is unknown. The test compares two related samples—often pre- and post-treatment measurements on the same subjects—to determine if there are significant differences in their median values.
To conduct the sign test, we first calculate the differences in...
To conduct the sign test, we first calculate the differences in...
419
01:20Elevation of Intermediate Points on Vertical Curves
308
Vertical curves are essential in roadway design because they provide smooth transitions between varying roadway grades. Designing vertical curves involves calculating intermediate elevations and identifying the curve's highest or lowest point, which is essential for optimal roadway performance.Intermediate elevations on a vertical curve are determined using the tangent offset method. This method considers the initial elevation at the start of the curve, the grades, and the curve's geometry. The...
308
01:09Wilcoxon Signed-Ranks Test for Matched Pairs
501
The Wilcoxon signed-rank test for matched pairs evaluates the null hypothesis by combining the ranks of differences with their signs. It essentially tests whether the median of the differences in a population of matched pairs is zero. Since the test incorporates more information than the sign test, it generally yields more trustable conclusions. This test also does not require the data to follow a normal distribution, but two conditions must be met for it to be applicable: (1) the data must...
501
01:42Microtubule Associated Proteins (MAPs)
5.9K
Microtubule function and architecture are regulated by an array of specialized proteins called microtubule-associated proteins or MAPs. These proteins are widespread across different organisms and have conserved protein motifs, like the multi-TOG domain for tubulin binding found in the CLASP family of MAPs. Some MAPs are lineage-specific based on their conserved domains. Their functions depend upon the cytoskeletal architecture and cell type they are located within. In-plant cells, a specific...
5.9K
01:29Plotting of Topographic Maps
543
Topographic maps represent the Earth's surface features using contour lines, which connect points of equal elevation to create a two-dimensional representation of three-dimensional terrain. Creating a topographic map requires a systematic approach.Begin by plotting a scaled grid and marking intersections corresponding to the survey's elevation data points. Assign elevation values at these intersections to build the base map. Next, determine contour levels using a consistent contour interval,...
543