scholarly journals Easily-Deployable Acoustic Local Positioning System Based on Auto-Calibrated Wireless Beacons

Sensors ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (6) ◽  
pp. 1385 ◽  
Author(s):  
José Moreno ◽  
Fernando Álvarez ◽  
Teodoro Aguilera ◽  
José Paredes

Self-calibrated Acoustic Local Positioning Systems (ALPS) generally require a high consumption of hardware and software resources to obtain the user’s position at an acceptable update rate. To address this limitation, this work proposes a self-calibrated ALPS based on a software/hardware co-design approach. This working architecture allows for efficient communications, signal processing tasks, and the running of the positioning algorithm on low-cost devices. This fact also enables the real-time system operation. The proposed system is composed of a minimum of four RF-synchronized active acoustic beacons, which emit spread-spectrum modulated signals to position an unlimited number of receiver nodes. Each receiver node estimates the beacons’ position by means of an auto-calibration process and then computes its own position by means of a 3D multilateration algorithm. A set of experimental tests has been carried out where the feasibility of the proposed system is demonstrated. In these experiments, accuracies below 0.1 m are obtained in the determination of the receptor node position with respect to the set of previously-calibrated beacons.

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (15) ◽  
pp. 6805
Author(s):  
Khaoula Mannay ◽  
Jesús Ureña ◽  
Álvaro Hernández ◽  
José M. Villadangos ◽  
Mohsen Machhout ◽  
...  

Indoor positioning systems have become a feasible solution for the current development of multiple location-based services and applications. They often consist of deploying a certain set of beacons in the environment to create a coverage volume, wherein some receivers, such as robots, drones or smart devices, can move while estimating their own position. Their final accuracy and performance mainly depend on several factors: the workspace size and its nature, the technologies involved (Wi-Fi, ultrasound, light, RF), etc. This work evaluates a 3D ultrasonic local positioning system (3D-ULPS) based on three independent ULPSs installed at specific positions to cover almost all the workspace and position mobile ultrasonic receivers in the environment. Because the proposal deals with numerous ultrasonic emitters, it is possible to determine different time differences of arrival (TDOA) between them and the receiver. In that context, the selection of a suitable fusion method to merge all this information into a final position estimate is a key aspect of the proposal. A linear Kalman filter (LKF) and an adaptive Kalman filter (AKF) are proposed in that regard for a loosely coupled approach, where the positions obtained from each ULPS are merged together. On the other hand, as a tightly coupled method, an extended Kalman filter (EKF) is also applied to merge the raw measurements from all the ULPSs into a final position estimate. Simulations and experimental tests were carried out and validated both approaches, thus providing average errors in the centimetre range for the EKF version, in contrast to errors up to the meter range from the independent (not merged) ULPSs.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luca Santoro ◽  
Davide Brunelli ◽  
daniele fontanelli ◽  
matteo nardello

Determining assets position with high accuracy and scalability is one of the most investigated technology on the market. The accuracy provided by satellites-based positioning systems (i.e., GLONASS or Galileo) is not always sufficient when a decimeter-level accuracy is required or when there is the need of localising entities that operate inside indoor environments. Scalability is also a recurrent problem when dealing with indoor positioning systems. This paper presents an innovative UWB Indoor GPS-Like local positioning system able to tracks any number of assets without decreasing measurements update rate. To increase the system’s accuracy the mathematical model and the sources of uncertainties are investigated. Results highlight how the proposed implementation provides positioning information with an absolute maximum error below 20 cm. Scalability is also resolved thanks to DTDoA transmission mechanisms not requiring an active role from the asset to be tracked.


2018 ◽  
Vol 161 ◽  
pp. 03008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrey Yatsun ◽  
Andrey Karlov ◽  
Andrey Malchikov ◽  
Sergey Jatsun

Authors present results of the theoretical modeling and experimental tests of the low-cost DС- motors, used in lower limb powered exoskeleton. Actuators work in difficult regime and it is important to achieve desired parameters, even for not robust motors. Results give us information and methods and means of experimental determination of the main characteristics of the robot‘s actuators. It gives possibility to tune control system and the whole system to achieve optimal walking regime.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luca Santoro ◽  
Davide Brunelli ◽  
daniele fontanelli ◽  
matteo nardello

Determining assets position with high accuracy and scalability is one of the most investigated technology on the market. The accuracy provided by satellites-based positioning systems (i.e., GLONASS or Galileo) is not always sufficient when a decimeter-level accuracy is required or when there is the need of localising entities that operate inside indoor environments. Scalability is also a recurrent problem when dealing with indoor positioning systems. This paper presents an innovative UWB Indoor GPS-Like local positioning system able to tracks any number of assets without decreasing measurements update rate. To increase the system’s accuracy the mathematical model and the sources of uncertainties are investigated. Results highlight how the proposed implementation provides positioning information with an absolute maximum error below 20 cm. Scalability is also resolved thanks to DTDoA transmission mechanisms not requiring an active role from the asset to be tracked.


Sensors ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (10) ◽  
pp. 2794 ◽  
Author(s):  
Khaoula Mannay ◽  
Jesús Ureña ◽  
Álvaro Hernández ◽  
Mohsen Machhout ◽  
Taoufik Aguili

Indoor location and positioning systems (ILPS) are used to locate and track people, as well as mobile and/or connected targets, such as robots or smartphones, not only inside buildings with a lack of global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) signals but also in constrained outdoor situations with reduced coverage. Indoor positioning applications and their interest are growing in certain environments, such as commercial centers, airports, hospitals or factories. Several sensory technologies have already been applied to indoor positioning systems, where ultrasounds are a common solution due to its low cost and simplicity. This work proposes a 3D ultrasonic local positioning system (ULPS), based on a set of three asynchronous ultrasonic beacon units, capable of transmitting coded signals independently, and on a 3D mobile receiver prototype. The proposal is based on the aforementioned beacon unit, which consists of five ultrasonic transmitters oriented towards the same coverage area and has already been proven in 2D positioning by applying hyperbolic trilateration. Since there are three beacon units available, the final position is obtained by merging the partial results from each unit, implementing a minimum likelihood estimation (MLE) fusion algorithm. The approach has been characterized, and experimentally verified, trying to maximize the coverage zone, at least for typical sizes in most common public rooms and halls. The proposal has achieved a positioning accuracy below decimeters for 90% of the cases in the zone where the three ultrasonic beacon units are available, whereas these accuracies can degrade above decimeters according to whether the coverage from one or more beacon units is missing. The experimental workspace covers a large volume, where tests have been carried out at points placed in two different horizontal planes.


IoT ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 147-160
Author(s):  
Lok Wai Jacky Tsay ◽  
Tomoo Shiigi ◽  
Zichen Huang ◽  
Xunyue Zhao ◽  
Tetsuhito Suzuki ◽  
...  

A spread spectrum sound-based local positioning system (SSSLPS) has been developed for indoor agricultural robots by our research group. Such an SSSLPS has several advantages, including effective propagation, low cost, and ease of use. When using sound velocity for field position measurements in a greenhouse, spatial and temporal variations in temperature during the day can have a major effect on sound velocity and subsequent positioning accuracy. In this research, a temperature-compensated sound velocity positioning was proposed and evaluated in comparison to a conventional temperature sensor method. Results indicate that this new proposed method has a positioning accuracy to within 20 mm in a 3 m × 9 m ridged greenhouse. It has the potential to replace the current system of using the temperature sensors in a greenhouse.


Sensors ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (24) ◽  
pp. 5438 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valentín Barral ◽  
Carlos J. Escudero ◽  
José A. García-Naya ◽  
Pedro Suárez-Casal

Indoor positioning systems based on radio frequency inherently present multipath-related phenomena. This causes ranging systems such as ultra-wideband (UWB) to lose accuracy when detecting secondary propagation paths between two devices. If a positioning algorithm uses ranging measurements without considering these phenomena, it will face critical errors in estimating the position. This work analyzes the performance obtained in a localization system when combining location algorithms with machine learning techniques applied to a previous classification and mitigation of the propagation effects. For this purpose, real-world cross-scenarios are considered, where the data extracted from low-cost UWB devices for training the algorithms come from a scenario different from that considered for the test. The experimental results reveal that machine learning (ML) techniques are suitable for detecting non-line-of-sight (NLOS) ranging values in this situation.


Author(s):  
G. G. Vokin

The article describes the approach and topical issues of synthesis of highly efficient transportable systems for search and determination of coordinates in the areas of elements falling, separated from the missiles, taking into account the dislocation of pre-empted areas of fall and physical conditions in their territories. The principles of these systems are based on the rational integration of traditional and non-traditional information sensors of different physical nature, which record the moments of landing of separated parts of the missiles.


2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (8) ◽  
pp. 1032-1040
Author(s):  
Laleh Samini ◽  
Maryam Khoubnasabjafari ◽  
Mohamad M. Alimorad ◽  
Vahid Jouyban-Gharamaleki ◽  
Hak-Kim Chan ◽  
...  

Background: Analysis of drug concentrations in biological fluids is required in clinical sciences for various purposes. Among other biological samples, exhaled breath condensate (EBC) is a potential sample for follow up of drug concentrations. Methods: A dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (DLLME) procedure followed by a validated liquid chromatography method was employed for the determination of budesonide (BDS) in EBC samples collected using a homemade setup. EBC is a non-invasive biological sample with possible applications for monitoring drug concentrations. The proposed analytical method is validated according to the FDA guidelines using EBC-spiked samples. Its applicability is tested on EBC samples collected from healthy volunteers receiving a single puff of BDS. Results: The best DLLME conditions involved the use of methanol (1 mL) as a disperser solvent, chloroform (200 μL) as an extraction solvent, and centrifugation rate of 3500 rpm for 5 minutes. The method was validated over a concentration range of 21-210 μg·L-1 in EBC. Inter- and intra-day precisions were less than 10% where the acceptable levels are less than 20%. The validated method was successfully applied for the determination of BDS in EBC samples. Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that the developed method can be used for the extraction and quantification of BDS in EBC samples using a low cost method.


2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 456-464
Author(s):  
Danilo F. Rodrigues ◽  
Hérida R.N. Salgado

Background: A simple, eco-friendly and low-cost Infrared (IR) method was developed and validated for the analysis of Cefepime Hydrochloride (CEF) in injectable formulation. Different from some other methods, which employ organic solvents in the analyses, this technique does not use these types of solvents, removing large impacts on the environment and risks to operators. Objective: This study aimed at developing and validating a green analytical method using IR spectroscopy for the determination of CEF in pharmaceutical preparations. Methods: The method was validated according to ICH guidelines and the quantification of CEF was performed in the spectral region absorbed at 1815-1745 cm-1 (stretching of the carbonyl group of β- lactam ring). Results: The validated method showed to be linear (r = 0.9999) in the range of 0.2 to 0.6 mg/pellet of potassium bromide, as well as for the parameters of selectivity, precision, accuracy, robustness and Limits of Detection (LOD) and Quantification (LOQ), being able to quantify the CEF in pharmaceutical preparations. The CEF content obtained by the IR method was 103.86%. Conclusion: Thus, the method developed may be an alternative in the quality control of CEF sample in lyophilized powder for injectable solution, as it presented important characteristics in the determination of the pharmaceutical products, with low analysis time and a decrease in the generation of toxic wastes to the environment.


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