Showing papers on "Turn-by-turn navigation published in 2016"

Control of a Wheelchair in an Indoor Environment Based on a Brain–Computer Interface and Automated Navigation

Abstract: The concept of controlling a wheelchair using brain signals is promising. However, the continuous control of a wheelchair based on unstable and noisy electroencephalogram signals is unreliable and generates a significant mental burden for the user. A feasible solution is to integrate a brain–computer interface (BCI) with automated navigation techniques. This paper presents a brain-controlled intelligent wheelchair with the capability of automatic navigation. Using an autonomous navigation system, candidate destinations and waypoints are automatically generated based on the existing environment. The user selects a destination using a motor imagery (MI)-based or P300-based BCI. According to the determined destination, the navigation system plans a short and safe path and navigates the wheelchair to the destination. During the movement of the wheelchair, the user can issue a stop command with the BCI. Using our system, the mental burden of the user can be substantially alleviated. Furthermore, our system can adapt to changes in the environment. Two experiments based on MI and P300 were conducted to demonstrate the effectiveness of our system.

NavCog: a navigational cognitive assistant for the blind

Abstract: Turn-by-turn navigation is a useful paradigm for assisting people with visual impairments during mobility as it reduces the cognitive load of having to simultaneously sense, localize and plan. To realize such a system, it is necessary to be able to automatically localize the user with sufficient accuracy, provide timely and efficient instructions and have the ability to easily deploy the system to new spaces. We propose a smartphone-based system that provides turn-by-turn navigation assistance based on accurate real-time localization over large spaces. In addition to basic navigation capabilities, our system also informs the user about nearby points-of-interest (POI) and accessibility issues (e.g., stairs ahead). After deploying the system on a university campus across several indoor and outdoor areas, we evaluated it with six blind subjects and showed that our system is capable of guiding visually impaired users in complex and unfamiliar environments.

Adaptive and Personalized Navigation System

Abstract: Adaptive navigation techniques are disclosed that allow navigation systems to learn from a user's personal driving history. As a user drives, models are developed and maintained to learn or otherwise capture the driver's personal driving habits and preferences. Example models include road speed, hazard, favored route, and disfavored route models. Other attributes can be used as well, whether based on the user's personal driving data or driving data aggregated from a number of users. The models can be learned under explicit conditions (e.g., time of day/week, driver ID) and/or under implicit conditions (e.g., weather, drivers urgency, as inferred from sensor data). Thus, models for a plurality of attributes can be learned, as well as one or more models for each attribute under a plurality of conditions. Attributes can be weighted according to user preference. The attribute weights and/or models can be used in selecting a best route for user.

Apparatus and method for switching navigation mode between vehicle navigation mode and personal navigation mode in navigation device

Abstract: Provided is an apparatus and method for switching a navigation mode between a vehicle navigation mode and a personal navigation mode in a navigation device supporting vehicle navigation and personal navigation. Switching between the vehicle navigation mode and the personal navigation mode is performed according to whether the navigation device is mounted in a navigation device holder, whether a GPS speed provided by a GPS receiver is higher than a predetermined speed, and whether a step is detected using an output of an accelerometer. Since mode switching between the vehicle navigation mode and the personal navigation mode is automatically performed, a user does not need to manually perform mode switching.

Enhanced navigation instruction

Abstract: Systems, methods, and related technologies are provided for enhanced navigation instruction. In one implementation, a likelihood of non-compliance by a user with the navigation instruction can be determined with respect to a navigation instruction, based on the likelihood of non-compliance by the user with the navigation instruction. One or more interfaces at which to provide a notification that corresponds to the navigation instruction can be selected. The notification can be provided via the selected interface(s). Various other technologies are also disclosed.

Crowd sourcing data for autonomous vehicle navigation

Abstract: A method of processing vehicle navigation information for use in autonomous vehicle navigation is provided. The method includes receiving, by a server, navigation information from a plurality of vehicles. The navigation information from the plurality of vehicles is associated with a common road segment. The method also includes storing, by the server, the navigation information associated with the common road segment. The method also includes generating, by the server, at least a portion of an autonomous vehicle road navigation model for the common road segment based on the navigation information from the plurality of vehicles. The method further includes distributing, by the server, the autonomous vehicle road navigation model to one or more autonomous vehicles for use in autonomously navigating the one or more autonomous vehicles along the common road segment.

SAINT: Self-Adaptive Interactive Navigation Tool for Cloud-Based Vehicular Traffic Optimization

Abstract: This paper proposes a self-adaptive interactive navigation tool (SAINT), which is tailored for cloud-based vehicular traffic optimization in road networks. The legacy navigation systems make vehicles navigate toward their destination less effectively with individually optimal navigation paths rather than network-wide optimal navigation paths, particularly during rush hours. To the best of our knowledge, SAINT is the first attempt to investigate a self-adaptive interactive navigation approach through the interaction between vehicles and vehicular cloud. The vehicles report their navigation experiences and travel paths to the vehicular cloud so that the vehicular cloud can know real-time road traffic conditions and vehicle trajectories for better navigation guidance for other vehicles. With these traffic conditions and vehicle trajectories, the vehicular cloud uses a mathematical model to calculate road segment congestion estimation for global traffic optimization. This model provides each vehicle with a navigation path that has minimum traffic congestion in the target road network. Using the simulation with a realistic road network, it is shown that our SAINT outperforms the legacy navigation scheme, which is based on Dijkstra's algorithm with a real-time road traffic snapshot. On a road map of Manhattan in New York City, our SAINT can significantly reduce the travel delay during rush hours by 19%.

Eye-Gaze Tracking Analysis of Driver Behavior While Interacting With Navigation Systems in an Urban Area

Abstract: With the advent of global positioning system technology, smart phones are used as portable navigation systems. Guidelines that ensure driving safety while using conventional on-board navigation systems have already been published but do not extend to portable navigation systems; therefore, this study focused on the analysis of the eye-gaze tracking of drivers interacting with portable navigation systems in an urban area. Combinations of different display sizes and positions of portable navigation systems were adopted by 20 participants in a driving simulator experiment. An expectation maximum algorithm was proposed to classify the measured eye-gaze points; furthermore, three measures of glance frequency, glance time, and total glance time as a percentage were calculated. The results indicated that the convenient display position with a small visual angle can provide a significantly shorter glance time but a significantly higher glance frequency; however, the small-size display will bring on significantly longer glance time that may result in the increasing of visual distraction for drivers. The small-size portable display received significantly lower scores for subjective evaluation of acceptability and fatigue; moreover, the small-size portable display on the conventional built-in position received significantly lower subjective evaluation scores than that of the big-size one on the upper side of the dashboard. In addition, it indicated an increased risk of rear-end collision that the proportion of time that the time-to-collision was less than 1 s was significantly shorter for the portable navigation than that of traditional on-board one.

NavCog: turn-by-turn smartphone navigation assistant for people with visual impairments or blindness

Abstract: NavCog is a novel smartphone navigation system for people with visual impairments or blindness, capable of assisting the users during autonomous mobility in complex and unfamiliar indoor/outdoor environments. The accurate localization achieved by NavCog is used for precise turn-by-turn way-finding assistance as the first step, but the ultimate goal is to present a variety of location based information to the user, such as points of interest gathered from social media and online geografic information services.

Interface selection in navigation guidance systems

Abstract: Systems, methods, and related technologies are provided for enhanced navigation instruction. In one implementation, a likelihood of non-compliance by a user with the navigation instruction can be determined with respect to a navigation instruction, based on the likelihood of non-compliance by the user with the navigation instruction. One or more interfaces at which to provide a notification that corresponds to the navigation instruction can be selected. The notification can be provided via the selected interface(s). Various other technologies are also disclosed.

Guided by music: pedestrian and cyclist navigation with route and beacon guidance

Abstract: Music listening and navigation are both common tasks for mobile device users. In this study, we integrated music listening with a navigation service, allowing users to follow the perceived direction of the music to reach their destination. This navigation interface provided users with two different guidance methods: route guidance and beacon guidance. The user experience of the navigation service was evaluated with pedestrians in a city center and with cyclists in a suburban area. The results show that spatialized music can be used to guide pedestrians and cyclists toward a destination without any prior training, offering a pleasant navigation experience. Both route and beacon guidance were deemed good alternatives, but the preference between them varied from person to person and depended on the situation. Beacon guidance was generally considered to be suitable for familiar surroundings, while route guidance was seen as a better alternative for areas that are unfamiliar or more difficult to navigate.

NaviLight: investigating ambient light displays for turn-by-turn navigation in cars

Abstract: Car navigation systems typically combine multiple output modalities; for example, GPS-based navigation aids show a real-time map, or feature spoken prompts indicating upcoming maneuvers. However, the drawback of graphical navigation displays is that drivers have to explicitly glance at them, which can distract from a situation on the road. To decrease driver distraction while driving with a navigation system, we explore the use of ambient light as a navigation aid in the car, in order to shift navigation aids to the periphery of human attention. We investigated this by conducting studies in a driving simulator, where we found that drivers spent significantly less time glancing at the ambient light navigation aid than on a GUI navigation display. Moreover, ambient light-based navigation was perceived to be easy to use and understand, and preferred over traditional GUI navigation displays. We discuss the implications of these outcomes on automotive personal navigation devices.

Smart Vehicle Navigation System Using Hidden Markov Model and RFID Technology

Abstract: The road transport of dangerous goods has been the subject of research with increasing frequency in recent years. Global positioning system (GPS) based vehicle location devices are used to track vehicles in transit. However, this tracking technology suffers from inaccuracy and other limitations. In addition, real-time tracking of vehicles through areas shielded from GPS satellites is difficult. In this paper, the authors have addressed the implementation of a smart vehicle navigation system capable of using radio frequency identification based on information about navigation paths. For prediction of paths and accurate determination of navigation paths in advance, predictive algorithms have been used based on the hidden Markov model. At the core of the system there is an existing field programmable gate array board and hardware for collection of navigation data. A communication protocol and a database to store the driver's habit data have been designed. From the experimental results obtained, an accurate navigation path prediction is consistently achieved by the system. In addition, once-off disturbances to the driver habits have been filtered out successfully.

GiAnt: stereoscopic-compliant multi-scale navigation in VEs

Abstract: Navigation in multi-scale virtual environments (MSVE) requires the adjustment of the navigation parameters to ensure optimal navigation experiences at each level of scale. In particular, in immersive stereoscopic systems, e.g. when performing zoom-in and zoom-out operations, the navigation speed and the stereoscopic rendering parameters have to be adjusted accordingly. Although this adjustment can be done manually by the user, it can be complex, tedious and strongly depends on the virtual environment. In this work we propose a new multi-scale navigation technique named GiAnt (GIant/ANT) which automatically and seamlessly adjusts the navigation speed and the scale factor of the virtual environment based on the user's perceived navigation speed. The adjustment ensures an almost-constant perceived navigation speed while avoiding diplopia effects or diminished depth perception due to improper stereoscopic rendering configurations. The results from the conducted user evaluation shows that GiAnt is an efficient multi-scale navigation which minimizes the changes of the scale factor of the virtual environment compared to state-of-the-art multi-scale navigation techniques.

Dynamically integrating offline and online data in a geographic application

Abstract: A request for navigation directions for travelling from a source location to a destination location is received. Using data that was stored in a memory of a computing device prior to the request, first navigation directions for travelling from the source location to the destination location are generated, and a request for navigation directions for travelling from the source location to the destination location is transmitted to an online server. After second navigation directions for travelling from the source to the destination are received, it is determined whether a difference between the first navigation directions and the second navigation directions exceeds a threshold level. When the difference between the first navigation directions and the second directions route does not exceed the threshold level, the second navigation directions are merged into the first navigation directions.

Navigation Peek Ahead and Behind in a Navigation Application

Abstract: A method of providing a sequence of turn-by-turn navigation instructions on a device traversing a route is provided. Each turn-by-turn navigation instruction is associated with a location on the route. As the device traverses along the route, the method displays a turn-by-turn navigation instruction associated with a current location of the device. The method receives a touch input through a touch input interface of the device while displaying a first turn-by-turn navigation instruction and a first map region that displays the current location and a first location associated with the first turn-by-turn navigation instruction. In response to receiving the touch input, the method displays a second turn-by-turn navigation instruction and a second map region that displays a second location associated with the second turn-by-turn navigation instruction. Without receiving additional input, the method automatically returns to the display of the first turn-by-turn navigation instruction and the first map region.

Automatically generated landmark-enhanced navigation instructions for blind pedestrians

Abstract: Visual impairment limits a person mainly in ability to move freely and independently. Even with many navigation aids and tools currently on the market, almost one third of the visually impaired do not travel independently without a guide, and human-prepared landmark-enhanced itineraries of the route are the most useful. We designed a system which based on a specific efficiently collected geographical data generates human-like landmark-enhanced navigation instructions. The studies we conducted (quantitative n = 16, qualitative n = 6) proved usability and efficiency of the system. Further we provide set of design recommendations to increase the usability of the system along with specific examples of usage with particular landmarks.

Indoor Navigation System based on Passive RFID Transponder with Digital Compass for Visually Impaired People

Abstract: Conventionally, visually impaired people using white cane or guide dog for traveling to desired destination. However, they could not identify their surround easily. Hence, this paper describes the development of navigation system which is applied to guide the visually impaired people at an indoor environment. To provide an efficient and user-friendly navigation tools, a navigation device is developed by using passive radio frequency identification (RFID) transponders which are mounted on the floor such as on tactile paving to build such as RFID networks. The developed navigation system is equipped with a digital compass to facilitate the visually impaired people to walk properly at right direction especially when turning process. The idea of positioning and localization with the digital compass and direction guiding through voice commands is implemented in this system. Some experiments also done which is focused on the calibration of the digital compass and relocates the visually impaired people back to the right route if they are out of the direction. Besides, a comparison between two subjects which are human and a mobile robot is made to check the validity of the developed navigation system. As the result, the traveling speed of human and mobile robot is obtained from the experiment. This project is beneficial to visually impaired people because the navigation device designed with voice commands will help them to have a better experience, safer and comfortable travel.

Utilizing the N beam position monitor method for turn-by-turn optics measurements

Abstract: The $N$ beam position monitor method ($N$-BPM) which was recently developed for the LHC has significantly improved the precision of optics measurements that are based on BPM turn-by-turn data. The main improvement is due to the consideration of correlations for statistical and systematic error sources, as well as increasing the amount of BPM combinations which are used to derive the $\ensuremath{\beta}$-function at one location. We present how this technique can be applied at light sources like ALBA, and compare the results with other methods.

Automatic activation of turn signals in a vehicle

Abstract: According to various embodiments, turn signals are automatically activated in response to signals received from a navigation system, based on the navigation instructions generated by the navigation system. The navigation system of a vehicle (either built into the vehicle or provided as a stand-alone unit) is communicatively coupled with or otherwise integrated with the turn signals of the vehicle. When the navigation system instructs the driver to perform a maneuver (such as making a turn), it can also cause the appropriate turn signal to be automatically activated at the appropriate time and/or distance in advance of the maneuver. When the navigation system detects that the maneuver has been made, or that the driver has ignored the system's instructions, the turn signal can be automatically deactivated.

User interface for controlling data navigation

Abstract: Systems and methods for navigation control for mobile devices are provided. In example embodiments, a navigation system causes presentation of a navigation icon at a user interface. Navigation between a plurality of pages at the user interface is initiated with a single tap and hold action. In response to a drag motion, following the single tap and hold action without releasing the hold action, information display at the user interface is adjusted, thereby enabling navigating between multiple information content with a single tap, hold, and drag action of the user.

BlindHelper: A Pedestrian Navigation System for Blinds and Visually Impaired

Abstract: Notably valuable efforts have focused in helping people with special needs. Daily routine which is trivial for most of us is a real survival problem for groups of people with special needs and abilities, especially in a society with the bad habit to push to the side such people. This paper is focused on the problem of pedestrian navigation of visually impaired people. BlindHelper primarily enhances the ability of a visually impaired person to navigate efficiently to desired destinations without the aid of guides. Moreover it can provide multiple other uses during outdoor navigation such as dialing a call and notifying the current location in case of an emergency situation. The proposed system has been implemented as a smartphone application which interacts with a small embedded system responsible for reading simple user controls, high-accuracy GPS tracking of pedestrian mobility in real time, and identifying traffic light status and near-field obstacles along the route. This information is communicated to the smartphone application which in turn issues voice navigation instructions or undertakes further actions to help the user.

Towards Understanding How Speech Output Affects Navigation System Credibility

Abstract: Navigation systems are widely used yet little is understood about how aspects of the interaction impact our assessment of these systems. Our work focuses on the speech output, exploring how accent and system errors affect our credibility judgements. Findings from a small-scale pilot study show that destination errors significantly affect user trust and competence assessments of a navigation system. People also rate navigation systems using speech output with a similar accent to their own as more trustworthy than a system using a different accent, irrespective of destination errors made. Future work looks to increase the scale of the study and add further conditions to explore the role of user nationality, accent and the geographical location being navigated on system credibility.

Learning and predictive navigation system

Abstract: Various embodiments provide techniques for performing an operation that includes receiving a request specifying one or more geospatial commands. The operation further includes generating a navigation query based on the one or more geospatial commands and using a user-specific geospatial command model generated based on collected user behavior and feedback. The operation also includes executing the navigation query against a navigation database (150) to determine route and destination information.

Evaluation of navigation performances of GPS devices near interchange area pertaining to wrong-way driving

Abstract: Based on past studies, exit ramp terminals are the common locations for drivers to enter a physically separated highway in the wrong direction. Currently, many drivers, especially nonlocal drivers, often rely on voice-guided navigation apps and Global Positioning System (GPS) devices to navigate their routes on and off freeways. A few studies have reported that GPS devices sometimes give drivers wrong information and cause wrong-way entry into a freeway, especially at some confusing interchanges, such as partial cloverleaf and compressed diamond interchanges. The access points located close to exit ramps may also cause a problem for GPS devices in sending accurate voice-guidance. It is unknown if current GPS devices are capable of properly informing drivers regarding turning movements in advance of exit ramp terminals at some common interchanges. The objective of this study is to evaluate the most commonly used GPS devices/navigation apps to identify existing problems and their potential for reducing wrong-way driving (WWD) incidents at interchange terminals. Field experiments were conducted at 10 common freeway interchanges or interchanges with nearby access driveways in the state of Alabama. Results show that most GPS devices have difficulty in providing correct guidance when the spacing between an access point and an exit ramp is less than 300 feet. Our comparison of five different GPS devices used on the same routes reveals that navigation apps have more limitations in guiding drivers than stand-alone GPS devices. Recommendations are offered to help GPS mapping companies improve their devices or add new features to reduce the occurrence of WWD.

Indoor pedestrian navigation systems: is more than one landmark needed for efficient self-localization?

Abstract: Research examining pedestrian navigation systems that use landmarks to explain routes became popular in the past years. Nevertheless, it is still an open question how many landmarks should be depicted at once. In this paper a user study is presented that evaluates two different indoor navigation system designs that depict either one (N = 63) or four (N = 60) landmarks to guide the user. The time it took the participants to recognize where to go was captured as a dependent variable. Results show that the interface only depicting one landmark leads to faster self-localization. Therefore, it is argued that a pedestrian navigation system should mainly depict one highly salient landmark in a navigation instruction in order to keep navigation efficiency high.

ScrollingHome: bringing image-based indoor navigation to smartwatches

Abstract: Providing pedestrian navigation instructions on small screens is a challenging task due to limited screen space. As image-based approaches for navigation have been successfully proven to outperform map-based navigation on mobile devices, we propose to bring image-based navigation to smartwatches. We contribute a straightforward pipeline to easily create image-based indoor navigation instructions that allow users to freely navigate in indoor environments without any localization infrastructure and with minimal user input on the smartwatch. In a user study, we show that our approach outperforms the current state-of-the art application in terms of task completion time, perceived task load and perceived usability. In addition, we did not find an indication that there is a need to provide explicit directional instructions for image-based navigation on small screens.

Control system and method for virtual navigation

Abstract: The disclosure is related to a control system for virtual navigation, and a method for the same. The system includes a central control unit (20) used for managing the peripheral devices of the system, and a control device (407) is provided. The central control unit (20) is used to output virtual reality image signals. The system also includes one or more virtual navigation devices (408) which receive the virtual reality image signals from the central control unit (20). In response to control instructions made by the control device (407), or enable signals generated by the virtual navigation device (408), the every virtual navigation device (408) conducts the virtual navigation. In the process of virtual navigation, an augmented reality technology is introduced for the virtual navigation device (408) to operate voice or text description for a navigation space in the virtual navigation device (408). Further, the system renders a feature of switching to a virtual reality mode or an augmented reality mode.