Abstract: In an embodiment, a method and system are provided for determining a pedestrian position via dead reckoning on a portable device carried by the pedestrian (or “user”). The device has at least a processor, a 3D accelerometer, and a 3D gyroscope. The 3D accelerometer, and a 3D gyroscope are sampled to calculate device orientation, and then 3D accelerometer samples are gathered during a sensor time frame and an average step frequency is calculated. The user's speed and direction of movement are estimated and a device velocity is calculated relative to a prior device velocity via dead-reckoning. The estimated device velocity is corrected for drift and the pedestrian position is calculated based on the corrected estimated current device velocity.

Abstract: A system and method of communicating efficiently and reliably between a sensor unit and a master unit, especially in a wireless system, is provided. The disclosed techniques require only minimal processing by the sensor unit for communications purposes and as such, the described system and method can be implemented in systems with tight constraints on the sensor unit side in terms of required memory, power consumption, and cost, such as in wearable sensor systems.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a method and system are provided for determining a pedestrian position via dead reckoning on a portable device carried by the pedestrian (or “user”). The device has at least a processor, a 3D accelerometer, and a 3D gyroscope. The 3D accelerometer, and a 3D gyroscope are sampled to calculate device orientation, and then 3D accelerometer samples are gathered during a sensor time frame and an average step frequency is calculated. The user's speed and direction of movement are estimated and a device velocity is calculated relative to a prior device velocity via dead-reckoning. The estimated device velocity is corrected for drift and the pedestrian position is calculated based on the corrected estimated current device velocity.

Abstract: A system and method of communicating efficiently and reliably between a sensor unit and a master unit, especially in a wireless system, is provided. The disclosed techniques require only minimal processing by the sensor unit for communications purposes and as such, the described system and method can be implemented in systems with tight constraints on the sensor unit side in terms of required memory, power consumption, and cost, such as in wearable sensor systems.

Abstract: A method, controller and system in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure facilitate reduced energy consumption in a motion sensing device having an inertial measurement unit (IMU), with a strap down integration unit, and an application processing unit (AP). The system and method include sensing acceleration values and rotational values at the IMU and converting the sensed acceleration and rotational values into velocity and orientation increments by strap down integration. The velocity and orientation increments are stored in a first buffer at the IMU between updates to the AP. When an update request is received at the IMU from the AP over an interrupt link, the buffer contents are transmitted over a serial link from the IMU to the AP.

Abstract: A method of enabling a wireless communication between a master unit and at least one sensor unit is executed within a frame, the sensor unit having an internal data sampling frequency and being adapted to store samples with corresponding sample sequence numbers. The sensor unit transmits an integrated value to the master unit. The master unit transmits, during a master unit portion of the frame, a data update request message comprising an initial sample sequence number from which integration by the at least one sensor unit has to be carried out. The sensor unit integrates the sample values from the initial sample sequence number to a current sample sequence number and then transmits the integrated sample value and the current sample sequence number. The master unit receives the integrated sample value and current sample sequence number and stores at least the current sample sequence number.

Abstract: The described principles provide a method and system for calibrating an UWB RF positioning system. Means for automated calibration of the UWB RF positioning system allow calibration based on simple user input that does not require accuracy. Thus, the disclosed calibration means enables nomadic deployment of UWB RF positioning systems by enabling fast and easy calibration and re-calibration of the system based on in-use data to correct for changes in the system during use. Furthermore, in an embodiment of the invention, means are provided for direct feedback of calibration accuracy to the user. In a further embodiment of the invention, the full use of a UWB positioning system is enabled by obtaining optimal accuracy even at the outskirts of the tracking space and by providing optimal accuracy for a given number of receivers.

Abstract: A method, controller and system in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure facilitate reduced energy consumption in a motion sensing device having an inertial measurement unit (IMU), with a strap down integration unit, and an application processing unit (AP). The system and method include sensing acceleration values and rotational values at the IMU and converting the sensed acceleration and rotational values into velocity and orientation increments by strap down integration. The velocity and orientation increments are stored in a first buffer at the IMU between updates to the AP. When an update request is received at the IMU from the AP over an interrupt link, the buffer contents are transmitted over a serial link from the IMU to the AP.

Abstract: A six-degree-of-freedom (6DOF) tracking system adapts aspects of Ultra-Wideband (UWB) measurement and microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) inertial measurements within a unique tightly coupled fusion algorithm to accurately and efficiently measure an object's position as well as orientation. The principle of operation of the system protects against the negative effects of multipath phenomenon and non-line-of-sight (NLOS) conditions, allowing a more robust position and orientation tracking system.

Abstract: The described principles provide a method and system for calibrating an UWB RF positioning system. Means for automated calibration of the UWB RF positioning system allow calibration based on simple user input that does not require accuracy. Thus, the disclosed calibration means enables nomadic deployment of UWB RF positioning systems by enabling fast and easy calibration and re-calibration of the system based on in-use data to correct for changes in the system during use. Furthermore, in an embodiment of the invention, means are provided for direct feedback of calibration accuracy to the user. In a further embodiment of the invention, the full use of a UWB positioning system is enabled by obtaining optimal accuracy even at the outskirts of the tracking volume and by providing optimal accuracy for a given number of receivers.

Abstract: A method of enabling a wireless communication between a master unit and at least one sensor unit is executed within a frame, the sensor unit having an internal data sampling frequency and being adapted to store samples with corresponding sample sequence numbers. The sensor unit transmits an integrated value to the master unit. The master unit transmits, during a master unit portion of the frame, a data update request message comprising an initial sample sequence number from which integration by the at least one sensor unit has to be carried out. The sensor unit integrates the sample values from the initial sample sequence number to a current sample sequence number and then transmits the integrated sample value and the current sample sequence number. The master unit receives the integrated sample value and current sample sequence number and stores at least the current sample sequence number.

Abstract: The invention provides robust real-time motion capture, using an inertial motion capture system, aided with a positioning system, of multiple closely interacting actors and to position the actor exactly in space with respect to a pre-defined reference frame. It is a further object of the invention to use such positioning systems to aid the inertial motion capture system that the known advantages of using inertial motion capture technology is not compromised to a great extent. Such positioning systems include pressure sensors, UWB positioning systems and GPS or other GNSS systems. It is a further object of the invention to avoid the use of the earth magnetic field as a reference direction as much as possible, due to the known problems of distortion thereof.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for measuring the motion of an object, composed of multiple segments connected by joints, via the estimation of the 3D orientation of the object segments relative to one another without dependence on a magnetic field as a reference for heading. The method includes first applying a plurality of inertial sensor units to the segments of the object, e.g., a user thigh, shank, foot, etc. Next an approximation of the distance between each inertial sensor unit and at least one adjacent joint is provided and the joint is subjected to an acceleration, e.g., as the user takes a step or two. The relative orientations of the segments are calculated and the orientations are used to form an estimation of the 3D orientation of the object segments relative to one another without using the local magnetic field as a reference for heading.

Abstract: A six-degree-of-freedom (6DOF) tracking system adapts aspects of Ultra-Wideband (UWB) measurement and microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) inertial measurements within a unique tightly coupled fusion algorithm to accurately and efficiently measure an object's position as well as orientation. The principle of operation of the system protects against the negative effects of multipath phenomenon and non-line-of-sight (NLOS) conditions, allowing a more robust position and orientation tracking system.

Abstract: The invention relates to motion tracking system (10) for tracking a movement of an object (P) in a three-dimensional space, the said object being composed of object portions having individual dimensions and mutual proportions and being sequentially interconnected by joints the system comprising orientation measurement units (S1, S3, . . .

Abstract: A motion tracking system for tracking an object composed of object parts in a three-dimensional space. The system comprises a number of magnetic field transmitters; a number of field receivers for receiving the magnetic fields of the field transmitters; a number of inertial measurement units for recording a linear acceleration; a number of angular velocity transducers for recording angular velocities. The system further comprises a processor for controlling the transmitters and receiving signals coming from the field receivers and the inertial measurement unit; which processor contains a module for deriving orientation and/or position information of the constituent object parts of the object on the basis of the received signals.

Abstract: The invention relates to motion tracking system (10) for tracking a movement of an object (P) in a three-dimensional space, the said object being composed of object portions having individual dimensions and mutual proportions and being sequentially interconnected by joints the system comprising orientation measurement units (S1, S3, . . .

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for determining velocity and optionally distance traveled by measuring successive stepping movements of an object, which device comprises: