A novel inertial positioning update method, using passive RFID tags, for indoor asset localisation

S.J Hayward,K Van Lopik,J Tribe,J Earps,A.A West,R Sharpe

doi:10.1016/j.cirpj.2021.10.006

S.J Hayward, K Van Lopik + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cirpj.2021.10.006

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Abstract

The benefits of the fourth industrial revolution are realised through accurate capture and processing of data relating to product, process, asset and supply chain activities. Although services such as Global Positioning Services (GPS) can be relied on outdoors, indoor positioning remains a challenge due to the characteristics of indoor environments (including metal structures, changing environments and personnel). An accurate Indoor Positioning System (IPS) is required to provide end-to-end asset tracking within a manufacturing supply chain to improve security and process monitoring. Inertial measurement units (IMU) are commonly used for indoor positioning and routing services due to their low cost and ease of implementation. However, IMU accuracy (including heading and orientation detection) is reduced by the effects of indoor environmental conditions (such as motors and metallic structures) and require low-cost reliable solutions to improve accuracy. The current state of the art utilises algorithms to adjust the IMU data and improve accuracy, resulting in error propagation. The research outlined in this paper explores the use of passive RFID tags as a low cost, non-invasive method to reorient an IMU step and heading algorithm. This is achieved by confirming reference location to correct drift in scenarios where magnetometer and zero velocity updates are not available. The RFID tag correction method is demonstrated to map the route taken by an asset carried by personnel in an indoor environment. The test scenario task is representative of warehousing and delivery tasks where asset and personnel tracking are required.

Highlights

Introduction and motivationManufacturers have started investing in hardware, software and global networking systems to further the advancement of the Internet of Things (IoT) [1]
Results and discussion operations are given in Fig. 12. This was found to improve the alignment of the path with the corridor and reduce the average and standard deviation to 2.0 ± 1.1 m it did not account for the Strap-Down drift that occurs between Radio frequency identification (RFID) tag sightings and rotation underestimate, as a result the path is offset to the right of the expected path (see Fig. 12.)
As both approaches were found to improve different aspects of the location with heading correction having the greatest impact, the heading update and location update algorithm were integrated with the Strap-Down approach applied to the accelerometers

Summary

Introduction and motivation

Manufacturers have started investing in hardware, software and global networking systems to further the advancement of the Internet of Things (IoT) [1]. Traceability of assets within the supplier premises often has limited granularity, with localisation given on a room-by-room basis, iden tifying object passage through gateways with no visibility between these gateways This loss of visibility presents possible vulner abilities for stock loss, known as ‘shrinkage’, in industry [10]. When transporting data holding assets, knowing the location and security status of the media con tributes towards section 57 compliance, mitigating risk and asso ciated costs of data loss, in addition to reputational damage, failure to comply with section 57 could lead to fines up to 4% of a firm’s annual global turnover or €20 Million [15].

Related work and theory

Limitation

Findings

Methodology