Faisal Mohammed Alshaker
Najd National Schools, Riyadh, SAUDI ARABIA
This paper sheds light on the improvement for the positioning aspect of the Guiding Light project, which is a new indoor positioning system. Guiding Light uses magnetic fields for navigation by analyzing the distortion of magnetic fields inside buildings. Since distortion of magnetic fields inside buildings results in fingerprints, this paper describes the process of detecting these fingerprints, using various technologies such as 3-Axis Compass with Algorithms, Arduino Micro-controllers, and Bluetooth, and employing them for positioning indoors. Results show that this technology is functional and accurate.
To start building the positioning technology for Guiding Light, we built a preliminary localization device, which consists of LEGO towers that have sensors for magnetic field detection on top. The sensor, 3-Axis Compass with Algorithms, is an e-compass with heading and tilt outputs with low voltage operations. All collected data were sent via blue-tooth to a computer and saved to create a database, or a Reference Map. In the engineering procedures, we created table with two measuring towers and carried out the experiment in an actual building environment. On the third floor, we scanned the west corridor. The results have shown an initial success platform using this technology, with error range of ~0.5 ft.
Ultimately, the handheld device that has 3-Axis Compass with Algorithms and programs written in Java projects guiding information and directions on different surfaces. Some controversial points are explained in this paper. For indoor navigation, the employment of magnetic fields is one of the best technologies yet developed.