Indoor Positioning System Using IN100 BLE NanoBeacons

Abstract

This thesis evaluates the suitability of the Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) protocol and dedicated IN100 BLE NanoBeacons for indoor positioning, implementing and testing the solution on the iOS platform. Position estimates are produced by fusing an RSSI-based trilateration method with a smartphone inertial-sensor based Pedestrian Dead Reckoning (PDR) algorithm. The results are weighted through dynamic confidence classes. The application presents the result on an interactive map, where its functionality is comparable to modern navigation apps. The system was tested both in the University of Tartu’s Delta building and in a home environment. Examined deployment parameters were beacon-density, signal strength and maintenance, also a cost analysis of the covered hardware, installation and configuration effort. The findings confirm that a BLE-beacon network is a technically viable and cost-effective alternative to Wi-Fi-based indoor positioning systems. Töös hinnati madala energiatarbega Bluetooth-protokolli (BLE) ja petsiaalsete IN100 BLE NanoBeacon majakate sobivust siseruumide positsioneerimiseks, testides lahendust iOS‑platvormil. Positsioneerimine saavutati RSSI‑põhise trilateratsiooni ja nutitelefoni inertsiaalsensoritel põhineva PDR algoritmi abil, ühendades tulemused erinevaid usaldusklasse kasutades. Rakenduse väljundiks on interaktiivne kaart, mis funktsionaalsuselt sarnaneb tänapäevastele kaardirakendustele. Süsteemi testiti Tartu Ülikooli Delta hoones ja koduses keskkonnas. Lisaks hinnati süsteemi rakendamiseks vajalikke tingimusi, nagu majakate paigutuse tihedust, signaalitaset ja hooldusvajadust ning analüüsiti lahenduse kulukust, arvestades majakate riistvarakulu ning paigaldus- ja seadistusaega. Tulemused kinnitasid, et BLE‑majakatel põhinev võrgustik on tehniliselt sobiv ning kuluefektiivne alternatiiv Wi‑Fi‑põhistele süsteemidele.