Personal navigation system based on MEMS gyroscope

Abstract

The paper presents a configuration of the modern personal navigation system and a new method of calculation of the distance traveled. The proposed navigation system is used to estimate a person’s position and consists of three micromechanical gyroscopes: two at the knee and one at the waist. The knee attached gyroscope gives the distance traveled information, and the waist attached gyroscope gives the heading information. During the leg movement, the angular displacements of knees repeat at each period (each step of the walking person). By summing up all the stride lengths, the distance that a person has walked can be determined.