Fuzzy Logic Type-2 Based Wireless Indoor Localization System for Navigation of Visually Impaired People in Buildings.

Basem Al-Madani,Robertas Damaševičius,Algimantas Venčkauskas,Rytis Maskeliūnas,Farid Orujov

doi:10.3390/s19092114

Abstract

The ability to precisely locate and navigate a partially impaired or a blind person within a building is increasingly important for a wide variety of public safety and localization services. In this paper, we explore indoor localization algorithms using Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) beacons. We propose using the BLE beacon’s received signal strength indication (RSSI) and the geometric distance from the current beacon to the fingerprint point in the framework of fuzzy logic for calculating the Euclidean distance for the subsequent determination of location. According to our results, the fingerprinting algorithm with fuzzy logic type-2 (hesitant fuzzy sets) is fit for use as an indoor localization method with BLE beacons. The average error of localization is only 0.43 m, and the algorithm obtains a navigation precision of 98.2 ± 1%. This precision confirms that the algorithms provide great aid to a visually impaired person in unknown spaces, especially those designed without physical tactile guides, as confirmed by low Fréchet and Hausdorff distance values and high navigation efficiency index (NEI) scores.

Highlights

There is increasing interest in obtaining information about the location of an object, especially in the area of navigation solutions for visually deficient or impaired people [1]
In our previous article [55], we presented the results of a series of experiments using signal considering different received signal strength (RSS) thresholds for hybrid indoor positioning [50], and particle swarm strength received from the beacons and positioning optimization (PSO)
The fingerprinting localization algorithm performed in a real-world environment

Summary

Introduction

There is increasing interest in obtaining information about the location of an object, especially in the area of navigation solutions for visually deficient or impaired people [1]. The range of services will expand significantly if a user’s location information can be provided. The location-based services refer to applications that depend on the user’s location to provide services in various categories, including navigation and tracking, leading to the enormous social and economic potential of indoor positioning services (IPS). Adaptive navigation technologies can enhance indoor way finding by visually impaired people [2]. The Global Positioning System (GPS) technology does not specify whether a location is close to walls, buildings, trees, buildings, and subways, as the power of the GPS satellite signal is weak, making it unusable for indoor GPS localization.

Methods

Results

Conclusion