Efficient AoA-Based Wireless Indoor Localization for Hospital Outpatients Using Mobile Devices.

Area of Science:

• Computer Science
• Electrical Engineering
• Geomatics Engineering

Background:

• Wireless indoor localization remains a challenge, unlike GPS-dominated outdoor positioning.
• Growing demand for indoor positioning services necessitates innovative solutions.
• Outpatient navigation in hospitals requires accurate room-level positioning.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate an Angle of Arrival (AoA)-based wireless indoor localization system.
• To enhance wayfinding for outpatients in hospital environments.
• To achieve room-level accuracy for indoor positioning.

Main Methods:

• Investigated AoA-based wireless indoor localization using Wi-Fi access points (APs) deployed on the ceiling.
• Utilized a mobile device to determine target position via geometric calculations with known AP coordinates and incident radio angles.
• Comprehensively analyzed all possible target positions and their corresponding solutions.

Main Results:

• Localization error was less than 2.5 meters approximately 80% of the time.
• The system demonstrated effectiveness in providing accurate indoor positioning for wayfinding.
• Experimental results validated the proposed geometric calculation method.

Conclusions:

• The AoA-based system effectively addresses the need for accurate indoor positioning in hospitals.
• The achieved localization accuracy meets the requirements for outpatient navigation.
• This approach offers a viable solution for wireless indoor localization challenges.