Indoor navigation system for the visually impaired using one inertial measurement unit (IMU) and barometer to guide in the subway stations and commercial centers

Abstract

The main research about indoor navigation is about the use of Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or Ultra Wide band technology for locating one person in a building. These systems give an absolute position of the person; however, it is mandatory to put the hotspots of every technology in the building for calculating this position. An Inertial Measurement Unit is usually placed on the foot because, it is easier to compute the distance. The aim of this work is to use inexpensive sensors which come in a Smart Phone, which are handheld, or belt mounted for guiding one visually impaired in two main tests: the subway station and the commercial center. We are not intending neither to put any hotspot or landmarks on the place nor to use the IMU on the foot for ergonomic reasons. The results and performances are better in the subway stations than in the commercial centers. © 2014 Springer International Publishing.