Multiclass Permanent Magnets Superstructure for Indoor Localization using Artificial Intelligence

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel indoor localization method using passive permanent magnets arranged in specific patterns, combined with AI algorithms, achieving high accuracy without active beacons or extensive pre-mapping.

Contribution

It presents a new magnetic superstructure approach with passive magnets and AI-based localization that extends previous work to cover larger areas and improve accuracy.

Findings

Localization accuracy of 95% achieved

Mean localization error less than 1 meter

Effective in broad indoor environments

Abstract

Smartphones have become a popular tool for indoor localization and position estimation of users. Existing solutions mainly employ Wi-Fi, RFID, and magnetic sensing techniques to track movements in crowded venues. These are highly sensitive to magnetic clutters and depend on local ambient magnetic fields, which frequently degrades their performance. Also, these techniques often require pre-known mapping surveys of the area, or the presence of active beacons, which are not always available. We embed small-volume and large-moment magnets in pre-known locations and arrange them in specific geometric constellations that create magnetic superstructure patterns of supervised magnetic signatures. These signatures constitute an unambiguous magnetic environment with respect to the moving sensor carrier. The localization algorithm learns the unique patterns of the scattered magnets during training and detects them from the ongoing streaming of data during localization. Our contribution is twofold. First, we deploy passive permanent magnets that do not require a power supply, in contrast to active magnetic transmitters. Second, we perform localization based on smartphone motion rather than on static positioning of the magnetometer. In our previous study, we considered a single superstructure pattern. Here, we present an extended version of that algorithm for multi-superstructure localization, which covers a broader localization area of the user. Experimental results demonstrate localization accuracy of 95% with a mean localization error of less than 1m using artificial intelligence.