Altitude-based floor level tracking is possible using barometric pressure sensors, claims sensor-maker Bosch, which is suggesting them for asset tracking, personnel tracking, shopping mall guidance and emergency applications such as E911 and Blue force.
Californian service-provider NextNav is using them as part of a positioning system that allows phones to determine their location in indoor and urban environments where GPS signals are unreliable.
"NextNav has demonstrated the ability to deliver precise floor-level altitude by using a high quality pressure sensor in conjunction with a wide-area 'metropolitan beacon system' network," said the firm. "NextNav has developed additional technologies to facilitate the conversion of altitude to a projected floor number, among other capabilities, and is collaborating with Bosch on the development and commercialisation of these capabilities."
The beacon system in this case is not building-specific, but provides service across a metropolitan area. It is said to remain accurate in the face of shifting weather patterns and micro-climate effects.
Other pressure sensing applications might be weather forecast and calorie consumption calculation in sports devices. "The barometric pressure sensor has become a part of high-end smart phones, and new services are emerging to take advantage of this data," said Bosch.
The latest of its sensors is the 2.5 x 2.0 x 0.95mm high piezo-resistive BMP280, which comes in an 8pin metal-lid LGA. Consumption is 2.7µA and ±0.08hPa accuracygive it the ability to measure ±70cm height, said the firm.
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