A positioning system comprising a processing system (7; 9) configured to receive a first position estimate for a mobile device (7), and to receive data representative of an acoustic signal received by the mobile device (7) from one of a plurality of acoustic transmitter units (2, 3, 4, 5). For each of the acoustic transmitter units (2, 3, 4, 5), the processing system (7; 9) determines spatial likelihood data representative of a likelihood of the received acoustic signal having been transmitted by the respective acoustic transmitter unit by comparing a time-of-flight range value with a geometric distance value, representative of a distance between the acoustic transmitter unit and the first position estimate. The processing system (7; 9) processes the spatial likelihood data to identify a subset of the acoustic transmitter units, and processes information relating to the positions of the acoustic transmitter units in the identified subset and/or relating to the acoustic signals transmitted by the acoustic transmitter units in the identified subset, to determine a second position estimate for the mobile device (7).

Disclosed are techniques for navigating a mobile machine, such as an autonomous robot, in an environment that includes objects that may block, reflect, or distort satellite signals to be used for positioning. Satellite data may be captured from one or more satellites. An image may be captured using an imaging device that is at least partially oriented toward the one or more satellites. A set of sky scores may be calculated for a set of ground positions surrounding the mobile machine based on the satellite data and the image. Each of the set of sky scores may be indicative of an accuracy of a satellite-based position at one of the set of ground positions. The mobile machine's navigation may be modified using the set of sky scores.

In certain embodiments, a mobile device includes a sensor, one or more processors, and a memory. The memory stores computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations including determining a first geographic location based on wireless signals received as part of a wireless-based mobile device positioning system. The operations include accessing a geographic database that includes data representing a number of geographic locations and properties associated with the geographic locations, and a mapping between measureable values of a type and particular geographic locations. The operations include determining, using the geographic database, candidate geographic locations for adjusting the first geographic location. The operations include accessing a particular value of the type determined according to a measurement of the sensor and determining a second geographic location based on the candidate geographic locations and on the particular value and the mapping.

To provide a positioning apparatus which can reduce the error of the positioning information of the positioning satellite, by using either appropriate one of the positioning reinforcement information by the ground channel or the positioning reinforcement information by the satellite channel, according to execution state of the automatic driving. A positioning apparatus receives positioning information from positioning satellites; calculates a first own position based on the positioning information and the positioning reinforcement information of the ground base station; calculates a second own position based on the positioning information and the positioning reinforcement information of the satellite; determines either the first own position or the second own position to be used, based on whether or not the driving mode is the automatic driving mode; and outputs the first own position or the second own position determined to be used, as a final own position.

The invention provide a system for locating an object in a volume of space, comprising: a communication device (CD) of the object disposed in the volume of space, wherein the communication device comprises a CD radio frequency (RF) receiver, a CD RF transmitter, and a CD infrared (IR) receiver; a first electrical device of a plurality of electrical devices disposed in the volume of space, wherein the first electrical device comprises at least one first sensor, a first RF receiver, a first IR transmitter, and a first RF transmitter, wherein the first RF transmitter broadcasts a first communication signal, wherein the first IR transmitter broadcasts a second communication signal, and wherein the first RF receiver receives, in response to the first communication signal received by the CD RF receiver and the second communication signal received by the CD IR receiver, a third communication signal broadcast by the CD RF transmitter of the communication device; and a controller communicably coupled to the plurality of electrical devices, wherein the controller receives a fourth communication signal sent by the first RF transmitter of the first electrical device, wherein the fourth communication signal comprises a first identification of the object and a second identification of the first electrical device, wherein the fourth communication signal is associated with a signal strength of the third communication signal received by the first RF receiver of the first electrical device.

The innovation relates to a method and a system for positioning objects, the method comprising detecting, by a central unit, signals from a plurality of receiver/transmitter units at least partly surrounding an area around the central unit; detecting, by the central unit, an absence of at least one signal from at least one of the plurality of receiver/transmitter units at least partly surrounding an area around the central unit; and determining a position of at least one object between the central unit and the at least one of the plurality of receiver/transmitter units based on the detected absence of the at least one signal.

The embodiments of the present disclosure provide a positioning method and related device. The positioning method includes: measuring, by a first vehicle, a positioning reference signal PRS and a carrier phase reference signal C-PRS sent by a plurality of positioning reference devices, to obtain a plurality of PRS measurement results and a plurality of C-PRS measurement results, the plurality of positioning reference devices including a network side device and other vehicles; performing, by the first vehicle, a positioning operation according to the plurality of PRS measurement results and the plurality of C-PRS measurement results.

A method and system for using GPS signals and a magnetic field to track an underground magnetic field source. A tracker having an antenna for detecting the magnetic field and a GPS receiver is coupled to a processor. The magnetic field is used by the antenna to direct the tracker to a field null point. Once multiple measurements of the field are taken, the changes in signal strength as the absolute position of the tracker is changed, are used to determine whether the closest field null point is in front of or behind the underground beacon. The position and depth of the beacon can then be estimated.

Method for providing positioning data in a positioning node of a radio network, which positioning data is associated with a mobile device including a radio unit, the method comprising the steps of establishing a radio session for receiving positioning data in the positioning node from the radio unit; transmitting report control data to the radio unit, wherein the report control data identifies a request to report positioning data obtained in the device, wherein said positioning data includes inertial measurement data; and receiving positioning data from the radio unit in accordance with the report control data.

This positioning device comprises a delay correction amount setting unit and a pseudo-distance calculation unit. The delay correction amount setting unit sets a delay correction amount for an amount of delay from an antenna to a positioning device that occurs in a positioning signal being tracked. The pseudo-distance calculation unit calculates a pseudo-distance using a tracking result and the delay correction amount.