Indoor navigation system based on Bluetooth beacons using Google Glass platform

Abstract

Indoor navigation is an issue for many people in today’s world – it is sometimes hard to find a desirable location fast and efficiently. Although Google maps and Global Positioning System (GPS) made it is convenient to navigate outdoors, through cities, streets, etc., it is not possible to achieve accurate navigation within the buildings using the same technology. Moreover, there are no well-known applications for indoor navigation on the market. In this paper, an innovative solution for indoor navigation is proposed. First, Bluetooth beacons were selected to determine the user’s location. Then, using the trilateration technique, installed in predefined positions within the building, they provide accurate user’s location, while the proposed system with the predefined paths provides instructions within the selected path. Lightweight augmented reality headset – google glass was chosen as a device for the user interface. It gives a possibility to show visual navigation instructions instead of map positioning on the smartphone screen. What is more, such a headset does not require constant attention switching between phone screen and environment. The mobile application was developed to enable users to conveniently enter destination spots. An additional advantage of the application is to receive users’ meta information before the guide starts and feedback after the guide finishes. ”Museum Pileckich” was chosen as a platform for the project. Although the system will be deployed in the museum, it can be adopted to use for customers in malls, employees in warehouses, passengers in airports, or patients in hospitals.