Wi-Fi in office, airports, shopping centres and other large buildings may soon be able to provide indoor location fixes accurate to less than half a metre. Leading to a GPS-style maps for indoors.
This exploits existing Wi-Fi features with the requirement of specialist hardware for more accurate locations, with tests indicating a device can be located within an accuracy of 40 centimetres. SpotFi works on the refined principle of using Wi-Fi signal strength as an indication of distance and using multiple data recordings to triangulate a true location. Recent algorithms have overcome resolution difficulties by eliminating phenomena like scattering and fading.
A recent review by the Stanford group leading this pioneering research has acknowledged the possibilities of the commercial opportunities of this advancement. Furthermore, pilot studies have suggested that a device may be able to get a rough location from a single Wi-Fi access point; something which could really enhance the usefulness of drones in everyday life.
Read more at: http://www.technologyreview.com/news/542561/wi-fi-trick-gives-devices-super-accurate-indoor-location-fixes/
Comments