Smartphones will have location-based sensor fusion as standard

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Susan Smith
Susan Smith has worked as an editor and writer in the technology industry for over 16 years. As an editor she has been responsible for the launch of a number of technology trade publications, both in print and online. Currently, Susan is the Editor of GISCafe and AECCafe, as well as those sites’ … More »

Smartphones will have location-based sensor fusion as standard

November 20th, 2013 by Susan Smith

Location-based sensor fusion will become a standard feature in as smartphones embrace constant, ubiquitous location, according to ABI Research’s report, “Location-based Sensor Fusion: Companies, Technologies, and Revenue Opportunities”. The report outlines how sensor fusion will evolve to support indoor location and the companies best placed to succeed in this space. Location-based sensor fusion will pave the way for the use of the “quantified self, ambient intelligence,” as well as provide huge potential around advertising and retail.

Senior analyst Patrick Connolly comments, “Sensor fusion is vital in enabling a consistent location experience, RF mapping, and the industry to scale rapidly. Unfortunately, it is not just a case of putting in a 9-axis sensor to achieve this. Highly complex algorithms are required to optimize sensor outputs, integrate with other location technologies and combine with machine learning and data-fusion algorithms. Sensor fusion will surpass Wi-Fi and BLE as the most important handset-based indoor location technology by 2017.”

These findings are part of ABI Research’s Location Devices Research Service, which includes Research Analyses, Market Data, Insights, Presentations, and Competitive Assessments focused on the indoor location market.

Tags: ABI Research, geospatial, GIS, intelligence, location-based sensor fusion, smartphones

Categories: geospatial, GIS, GPS, LBS, location based sensor fusion, location based services

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One Response to “Smartphones will have location-based sensor fusion as standard”

George Percivall says:

November 20, 2013 at 2:09 pm

Fusion to determine location has existed in cellphones for some time already, e.g., combining GPS and WiFi for outdoor location. Fusion of sensor information with position derived from RF signals (GPS, WiFi, BLE, small cells) continues this important trend. MEMS sensors on cellphones provide additional ways to understand the motion of the phone and its environment, e.g., air pressure. Additional physically sensed information along with new location and proximity information signals are needed to meet the needs of indoor location based services, e.g, <1m accuracy along with orientation. The Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) in coordiantion with other standards organizations are working to insure accuracy and ubiquity of this new level of indoor location.