VSI101 - Inertial Navigation Suite

In the context of rapid technological development, positioning technology has become increasingly important. Accurate positioning and navigation systems play an indispensable role in aviation, maritime, land transportation, and personal navigation devices. Particularly in indoor environments where GPS signals are limited, inertial navigation technology becomes a highly promising solution. VitalSigns has introduced the VSI101 Inertial Navigation Suite to meet this demand, providing users with a high-performance, reliable, and quickly implemented indoor positioning solution.

VSI101 Suite Overview

VSI101 is an advanced inertial navigation suite designed for high-precision indoor positioning and navigation. It utilizes cutting-edge inertial sensor technology, including accelerometers, gyroscopes, and electronic compasses, combined with a high-performance processor and multiple data transmission methods, offering users robust indoor navigation hardware capabilities.

Features and Advantages

  1. High-Performance Processor: VSI101 is equipped with a 32-bit 40 MHz ARM®-M4 processor with 1MB Flash and 256kB SRAM, ensuring efficient and stable data processing.
  2. Multiple Sensor Integration: Built-in tri-axis accelerometer, tri-axis gyroscope, and tri-axis compass accurately measure linear acceleration, angular velocity, and geomagnetic field direction.
  3. Data Transmission: Supports BLE 4.2/BLE 5.0 standards with a transmission power of up to 9 dB, offering a transmission range of up to 10 meters in open areas.
  4. Long Working Hours: Equipped with a 3.7V 500mAh lithium battery, providing up to 24 hours of operation, suitable for prolonged use.
  5. High-Precision Barometer: Measures a range of 300 – 1200 hPa with an accuracy of ±0.002 hPa, aiding in precise measurement of altitude changes on-site.
  6. Multi-Mode GNSS: Supports GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, and Beidou, with a maximum navigation update rate of 25Hz and a position accuracy (CEP) of 1.5 meters.

Inertial Navigation Systems

The core principle of an Inertial Navigation System (INS) is to use accelerometers to measure linear acceleration, gyroscopes to measure angular velocity, and compasses to measure the direction relative to the geomagnetic field. The data provided by these sensors can be integrated to estimate the object’s speed, displacement, and direction.

Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU)

The IMU is the core component of the INS, containing accelerometers, gyroscopes, and compasses. It is mounted on a stable platform to minimize the impact of external vibrations and shocks on measurement results. The IMU continuously measures acceleration and rotation rates, and the data is processed through filtering and integration algorithms to ultimately obtain the object’s position and direction.

Data Processing and Algorithms

To improve the accuracy of the INS, commonly used algorithms include the Kalman Filter (KF) and the Extended Kalman Filter (EKF). These filters effectively reduce sensor noise and drift, enhancing the estimation accuracy of position and direction. Additionally, with advances in machine learning technology, more and more INS systems are adopting advanced data processing techniques to further enhance performance.

Applications of Inertial Navigation in Indoor Positioning

In indoor environments where GPS signals are typically unavailable, inertial navigation becomes an ideal solution. The VSI101 inertial navigation suite uses data collected by the IMU and processes it through a series of algorithms to provide high-precision indoor positioning services.

Sensor Data Collection

VSI101 continuously collects data from accelerometers, gyroscopes, and compasses, including linear acceleration, angular velocity, and geomagnetic direction.

Sensor Fusion

To obtain more accurate and reliable positioning information, VSI101 employs sensor fusion technology, combining data from multiple sensors. The most commonly used methods are the Extended Kalman Filter (EKF) or the Complementary Filter.

Initial Position Calibration

Before starting indoor positioning, initial position calibration is necessary. This can be done by manually inputting the starting position or automatically obtaining the initial reference point using Wi-Fi, Bluetooth beacons, or visual recognition technologies.

Dead Reckoning

Once the initial position is calibrated, VSI101 starts dead reckoning based on sensor data. Using the known position and incremental changes in acceleration and rotation, the system can estimate the new position.

Update Rate and Error Correction

Due to the presence of drift and noise in sensor data, INS accumulates errors over time. VSI101 mitigates these errors by frequently updating the estimated position. Additionally, the system combines inertial navigation data with other indoor positioning technologies such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or visual recognition to correct errors.

Map Matching

VSI101 provides relative positioning information, but it may not offer an absolute position reference. By aligning the estimated position with known features of the indoor environment (e.g., walls, corridors, or specific landmarks), the system can correct drift or positional errors during the dead reckoning process.

User Interface

Ultimately, the positioning results of VSI101 can be presented to users on digital maps or through augmented reality (AR) technology, providing real-time location information and navigation services.

Application Scenarios of VSI101

  1. Medical Facilities In large medical facilities, accurate indoor navigation helps medical staff quickly reach wards or emergency rooms, improving work efficiency and reducing response time in emergencies. VSI101 can help medical facilities achieve precise indoor positioning, enhancing overall operational efficiency.
  2. Industrial Automation In industrial automation, robots and AGVs (Automated Guided Vehicles) require accurate indoor positioning to perform material handling and production operations. VSI101’s high-precision positioning capabilities can ensure the operational accuracy of these devices, improving production efficiency and safety.
  3. Retail Malls In large retail malls, VSI101 can help customers find the products they need, enhancing the shopping experience. Additionally, mall management can use positioning data for traffic analysis, optimizing store layout and promotional strategies.
  4. Smart Buildings In smart buildings, VSI101 can achieve precise indoor positioning and navigation, helping residents or visitors quickly find their destination. Smart building management systems can also use positioning data for energy management and security monitoring.

Development and Application of VSI101

The development process of VSI101 includes hardware design, software development, and algorithm optimization. The hardware part mainly involves the selection and integration of IMU, processor, and battery; the software part includes data collection, processing, and transmission; the algorithm part focuses on sensor fusion and error correction.

Hardware Design

VSI101 adopts a high-performance 32-bit ARM®-M4 processor with 1MB Flash and 256kB SRAM, capable of efficiently processing large amounts of data. The IMU contains tri-axis accelerometers, gyroscopes, and compasses, providing comprehensive motion and direction data. The lithium battery provides up to 24 hours of working time, suitable for long-term use.

Software Development

The software of VSI101 includes data collection modules, data processing modules, and data transmission modules. The data collection module is responsible for obtaining raw data from the IMU, the data processing module uses sensor fusion technology to filter and integrate data, generating positioning information; the data transmission module transmits the data to user devices or backend servers via BLE.

Algorithm Optimization

The algorithm optimization of VSI101 includes sensor fusion and error correction. Multiple filters are used to ensure sensor accuracy and reduce sensor noise and drift, thereby improving positioning accuracy.

Development Tools and Resources

To support developers in quickly getting started, VSI101 provides a wealth of development tools and resources, including hardware development kits, software development kits (SDKs), application programming interfaces (APIs), and detailed technical documentation and sample codes. Developers can use these resources to quickly develop and deploy applications based on VSI101.

Future Development of VSI101

With continuous technological advancement, the application prospects of inertial navigation technology are becoming broader. VSI101 will continue to innovate and optimize, providing higher performance and higher precision indoor navigation solutions. In the future, VSI101 is expected to play an important role in more fields, including smart cities, intelligent transportation, smart homes, and more.

Technological Innovation

In the future, VSI101 will continue to innovate in hardware and algorithms, enhancing sensor performance and data processing capabilities to achieve higher precision and stability in indoor positioning. New algorithms and machine learning technologies will also be introduced to further improve the system’s autonomous learning and adaptation capabilities.

Application Expansion

In addition to existing application scenarios, VSI101 will explore more potential application areas. For example, in smart cities, VSI101 can be used for urban management and public safety; in intelligent transportation, it can help achieve autonomous driving and vehicle positioning; in smart homes, it can provide precise indoor positioning services, enhancing home automation levels.

Market Expansion

VSI101 will continue to expand its market, further promoting the application of inertial navigation technology. By collaborating with partners from various industries, customized solutions will be provided to meet the needs of different industries, enhancing market competitiveness.

Conclusion

The VSI101 Inertial Navigation Suite is a powerful, high-performance indoor positioning solution with broad application prospects. Through advanced hardware design, optimized algorithms, and rich development resources, VSI101 provides developers with the tools to achieve high-precision indoor navigation. In the future, with further technological development, VSI101 is expected to play an important role in more fields, promoting the application and popularization of inertial navigation technology. If you are interested in VSI101 or want to learn more information, please visit our website or contact us via email.

Contact Window: sales@vsigntek.com

VSI101 Specifications

Power

  • Battery : 3.7V, 500mAh, Li-ion Battery
  • Working Hour : Maximum 24 hours
  • Charging votlage : 5V DC

CPU

  • High Performance 32-bit 40 MHz ARM®-M4F
  • 1MB Flash and 256kB SRAM

Data Transfer

  • BLE 4.2/BLE 5.0
  • TX Power : 9 dB
  • Range : 10 meter (open area)

Gyroscope

  • 3-Axis
  • FSR : ±250dps, ±500dps, ±1000dps, and ±2000dps

Accelerometer

  • 3-Axis
  • FSR : ±2g, ±4g, ±8g, and ±16g

Magnetic Sensor

  • 3-Axis
  • Range : ±4900uT

Barometric

  • Range : 300 – 1200 hPa±0.002hPa

GNSS

  • GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, and BeiDou
  • Maximum Navigation update rate : 25Hz
  • Position accuracy (CEP) : 1.5m