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Sub-Centimeter Positioning Coming To Mobile Phones

Posted by timothy on from the we-control-the-latitude-we-control-the-longitude dept.

Oooskar writes "SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping), a technique invented by NASA, defines the concept of building a 3D-map of the environment and simultaneously computing the position within it. Based on SLAM, Swedish startup 13th Lab has implemented real-time sub-centimeter local 3D-positioning by using only the sensors, most importantly the camera, already present in most mobile devices (demo video). The technology will be made available as a software platform for developers (sign up for beta). A first application demonstrating the technology has just been released for the iPad2. The technology should be available on other devices with similar computational power soon."

5 of 70 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Anything but a phone... by allanw · · Score: 2

    It'd be pretty useful for augmented reality, or position indoors.

  2. Neat by Normal+Dan · · Score: 3, Insightful

    There's always a slight hint of jealousy when things like this come out. Either I had a similar idea and no time to work on it, or I kick myself for not coming up with the idea myself. c'est la vie

    --
    A unique way to learn a language: http://languageloom.com
  3. Your cellphone is in a drawer... by rossdee · · Score: 2

    "by using only the sensors, most importantly the camera, already present in most mobile devices"

    Not going to help much if the device is inside something, like a pocket of a coat, a drawer, a bag or purse etc.
    If it was out in the open, I could see it or hear it.

  4. New ads by vawwyakr · · Score: 4, Funny

    "It looks like you've been standing at this urinal for more than 10 seconds, would you like some information on swollen prostate drugs or some soothing sounds of water dripping?"

  5. Re:What it is / What it isn't. by aztracker1 · · Score: 2

    It would be pretty cool for interior design work... will that furniture set fit in this area? what about entertainment center placement? Oooh, colors on the walls? I mean there are a lot of applications that do some of this, but being able to do a short 360 turn, and have it image, and map out a living space could be very useful. Probably more so 5-10 years ago during the house flipping boom, just the same. I also think it would be cool to be able to aggregate that data into real-world mapping, and correlate with other views via GPS... want to get a general landscape for an area you (city) want to build a park on... There are lots of areas where low accuracy is good enough for a proof of idea, and especially in the design space.

    --
    Michael J. Ryan - tracker1.info