Sensor-based dead-reckoning for indoor positioning

This paper presents a method of indoor position determination using an accelerometer, compass and gyroscope which are typically available in devices such as smart phones. The method makes use of measurements from such a device worn on the body, such as attached to a belt. The accelerometer in the device estimates the stride length indirectly from the vertical acceleration associated with walking, while the compass and gyroscope measure the heading angle. The position of the subject is then determined by combining the stride length distance estimates and the heading information, but corrected periodically at known checkpoints within the building. The method was tested with a range of both males and females wearing the device, at different walking speeds and styles. The experimental results demonstrate that the stride length estimation can be accurate to about 7 percent. The measured data agree closely with a theoretical dynamical model of walking. The results also show that the position of the subject can be determined with an accuracy of 0.6m when walking along an indoor path.