Boston University

Emily W Lam

Thomas D C Little

An apparatus, and method of operating the same, include a system for indoor positioning and localization. The apparatus includes a first beacon having a beacon optical detector to receive an optical signal, and a beacon microcontroller. The apparatus includes a zone-positioning unit (ZPU) having an optical source configured to transmit the optical signal, and a ZPU microcontroller. The beacon microcontroller is configured to identify and decode the optical signal after receipt by the beacon optical detector to determine data related to a position of the ZPU. The beacon microcontroller is further configured to wirelessly communicate with the ZPU microcontroller to convey information to the ZPU including the data related to a position of the ZPU and a known position of the first beacon. The ZPU microcontroller is configured to determine a position of the ZPU based on the information received from the first beacon.

Apparatus and method for zone-based positioning

A positioning system includes a steerable laser configured to emit a laser beam, an optical receiver, one or more processors, and a memory device. The optical receiver is configured to detect the presence of the laser beam on the optical receiver, measure a received signal strength of light emitted by a luminaire, or both. The memory device stores instructions that, when executed by at least one of the one or more processors cause the positioning system to target the laser beam on the optical receiver, and based on a first angle of the laser beam, a second angle of the laser beam, and an isointense curve associated with the optical receiver and the luminaire, estimate three-dimensional position of the optical receiver relative to the steerable laser source.

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Cambridge, MA, United States of America

Emily W Lam