| Description |
The proposal is to build a device which provides (indoor and outdoor) real-time positioning and tracking information of moving objects relative to a base station. The device, ideally attached to a human, would activate and begin tracking position the moment it is lifted from a cradle at the base station. Using wireless communication, the device would send the tracking information to an operator console. The operator console would be able to monitor the device's position in real-time and view historical data detailing the device's movements from the moment operation started. The device itself would be powered by a micro-controller interfaced to a combination of sensors. The device would act as an IMU (inertial measurement unit) using an accelerometer, gyroscope, and magnetometer to provide dead reckoning positioning relative to the initial base station.
The project offers various levels of complexity. There is a hardware design component in choosing the appropriate micro-controller and sensor subsystem. Complex positioning algorithms will have to turn the sensor data into real-world positioning information. Appropriate algorithms and error correcting schemes will need to be implemented in order to ensure accuracy. The wireless communication system will have to be transfer complex positioning data effectively and efficiently. The front-end software will have to display that positioning information in clear and readable manner. The device, operator console, and wireless communication should all be able to operate with multiple units functioning at the same time.
The desired application or end use of the device is for it to be used for emergency personnel entering high-risk areas. For instance, a group of firefighters about to enter a burning building would each grab a device from a cradle at the fire truck and attach it to their belt. The operator console would then, in real-time, be able to display the location of all firefighters at all times relative to the truck (the base station in this case) and each other. The user of the operator console could then relay information and directions to the firefighters or direct them to a firefighter in need of assistance. For this particular application, additional features could be added to the system like heart-rate monitoring, temperature monitoring, and toxic gas alarms.
|