' new system could allow unmanned aerial vehicles to deliver packages to a specific spot on a consumer's back porch, enable collision avoidance technologies on cars and allow virtual reality (VR) headsets to be used outdoors. The researchers' new centimeter-accurate GPS coupled with a smartphone camera could be used to quickly build a globally referenced 3-D map of one's surroundings that would greatly expand the radius of a VR game. Currently, VR does not use GPS, which limits its use to indoors and usually a two- to three-foot radius.

"Imagine games where, rather than sit in front of a monitor and play, you are in your backyard actually running around with other players," said Todd Humphreys, assistant professor in the Department of Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics and lead researcher. "To be able to do this type of outdoor, multiplayer virtual reality game, you need highly accurate position and orientation that is tied to a global reference frame."

Humphreys and his team in the Radionavigation Lab have built a low-cost system that reduces location errors from the size of a large car to the size of a nickel -- a more than 100 times increase in accuracy. Humphreys collaborated with Professor Robert W. Heath from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and graduate students on the new technology, which they describe in a recent issue of GPS World.

Centimeter-accurate positioning systems are already used in geology, surveying and mapping, but the survey-grade antennas these systems employ are too large and costly for use in mobile devices. The breakthrough by Humphreys and his team is a powerful and sensitive software-defined GPS receiver that can extract centimeter accuracies from the inexpensive antennas found in mobile devices -- such precise measurements were not previously possible. The researchers anticipate that their software's ability to leverage low-cost antennas will reduce the overall cost of centimeter accuracy, making it economically feasible for mobile devices.

Humphreys and his team have spent six years building a specialized receiver, called GRID, to extract so-called carrier phase measurements from low-cost antennas. GRID currently operates outside the phone, but it will eventually run on the phone's internal processor.

To further develop this technology, Humphreys and his students recently co-founded a startup, called Radiosense. Humphreys and his team are working with Samsung to develop a snap-on accessory that will tell smartphones, tablets and virtual reality headsets their precise position
' new system could allow unmanned aerial vehicle to extradite packages to a specific spot on a consumer's back porch, enable collision avoidance technologies on car and allow virtual reality (VR) headset to be used outdoors. The researchers' fresh centimeter - accurate GPS coupled with a smartphone camera could be use to quickly build a globally reference 3 - D map of one's surroundings that would greatly expand the radius of a VR game. Currently, VR does not practice GPS, which limits its use to indoors and usually a two- to three - foundation radius. 

 " Imagine games where, preferably than sit in battlefront of a monitor and play, you are in your backyard actually running around with other musician, " said Todd Humphreys, assistant professor in the Department of Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics and lead researcher. " To be able to do this type of outdoor, multiplayer virtual reality plot, you necessitate highly accurate position and orientation that is tied to a global reference frame. " 

 Humphreys and his team in the Radionavigation Lab have built a low - cost arrangement that reduces location error from the size of a large car to the size of a nickel -- a more than 100 times increase in accuracy. Humphreys collaborate with Professor Robert W. Heath from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and graduate students on the new technology, which they identify in a recent issue of GPS World. 

 Centimeter - accurate positioning systems are already used in geology, surveying and mapping, but the view - grade antennas these systems employ are excessively large and dearly-won for habit in mobile devices. The breakthrough by Humphreys and his team is a powerful and sensible software - defined GPS receiver that can extract centimeter accuracies from the inexpensive antennas found in mobile device -- such precise measurement were not previously possible. The researchers anticipate that their software's ability to leverage low - cost antenna will reduce the overall monetary value of centimeter accuracy, making it economically feasible for fluid devices. 

 Humphreys and his team have spent six years build a specialized receiver, called GRID, to extract so - called carrier phase measurements from low - cost antennas. GRID presently operates outside the phone, but it will finally run on the phone's internal central processing unit. 

 To further develop this technology, Humphreys and his students recently co - founded a startup, called Radiosense. Humphreys and his team are working with Samsung to develop a snap - on accessory that will tell smartphones, tablet and virtual world headsets their precise position
' nea system could allow unmxnned aerial vekucles vo deliber packxges to a specific spot on a cinsumtg's back porch, enable zollision avoidanxe ttchnologies on caca and allow vjvtual ceality (VR) headxets to be used outdoors. Tfe researchers' new centimeter-accurate GPS coipped with a smattphomq cajvrc could be used to quickly buils a gloually referencec 3-D map of one's surroundinhs tjat would greatly fxpand the tzditw of a VR gaoe. Currently, VR does nkt use GPS, which limits its use to iudoors and oshapny a two- to threv-foot radius.

"Imagine gdmes whrre, rather thak sit in front of a monitor aid play, you are in yjur backydrb actually running ariubd wijh otver ooaydrs," seid Todd Jum'hreys, assiatant profewsor in the Departmtnt if Aerospace Sngineqryng and Engineering Mechanics and lead gesezrcher. "To be able to do this type of outdoor, multiplarer virtual reality game, you need highly accurate posiviun ckq irlentation that is tied to a global reference sdake."

Mumphreys and hif team in tne Rsqionavigation Lab hcbe built a low-cost sjstem trat rwduces losatipn errors from the size of q large car no tye size of a nickep -- a more tkan 100 tomes oncrease in accuracy. Huophrsys collabogated witg Professor Roberg W. Haath from the Department os Electriral aud Compuger Gngineewing and ggaduaba students on the jew tgchnolmgy, which hhey describe in a recent issue of GPS World.

Cgnthmener-accurace posltioning systemf are already osed in gzology, surveying and ma'ping, but thq survey-grade wntennas theve systeis enplot are tuu large and coxtly for lst in mobilw devices. The brealthtohgh by Humphreyw abd his team is s puwewfll end sqtsitive softfare-aefkmed GOS receiver ghat can extract centimeder zccuracies from thr lnexpensice antengas found in kobile devices -- sufh prxcise oeasutemgnts were not previously possibme. The redeavchers antici[ate that their xoftware's ability to leverage low-cost aitennas will reduce thg overall cost of cenjimtter accuracy, makigg it ecotomically feasible fir mobile devices.

Mumphreys and his team have vpent six years building a specialized receiver, called GRID, to extract so-callee carrmew phase meaaurekents fxom low-coft aitxnnas. GRID currennly operates outside the phone, bnt it will erentually run on the phone's imtdrnal processur.

To further develop thia technokogy, Humphreys and his students recently co-founded a stsrtup, caoled Dadiosvhsx. Humphreys and his yeam axe worjing wirh Swmsung to devdlol w snap-on wccexskry that will tell smartphones, tqblets ajd virtual realivy headsets bhtir prebise pofition
' new system could allow unmanned aerial deliver to a spot on a avoidance on cars and virtual reality (VR) to be used outdoors. The researchers' centimeter-accurate GPS coupled with a smartphone camera could be used to quickly build globally referenced 3-D map of one's surroundings that would greatly expand the radius a game. VR not use GPS, which limits its use to indoors and usually a two- to three-foot radius. games where, rather than sit in front of monitor and play, you in your backyard actually running with players," said Humphreys, professor the Department of Engineering and Engineering Mechanics and lead researcher. "To be able to do this type of outdoor, multiplayer reality game, highly accurate and that tied to a frame." Humphreys and his team in have built a low-cost system that reduces location from the of a large car to the of a nickel -- a more than 100 increase in accuracy. Humphreys collaborated with Professor Robert W. Heath from the Department of Electrical Engineering and graduate students the new technology, they in recent of GPS Centimeter-accurate positioning systems are already used in geology, surveying and mapping, the survey-grade antennas these systems employ are too large and use mobile devices. The by Humphreys and his is powerful and sensitive software-defined that extract the antennas in mobile devices -- precise measurements were not previously The researchers anticipate that low-cost antennas will reduce the overall cost of accuracy, making it economically feasible for mobile Humphreys and his team have spent six years building a specialized receiver, GRID, to carrier phase measurements from low-cost antennas. GRID currently outside the phone, but will eventually run on the phone's internal processor. To develop technology, Humphreys his students recently a startup, called Humphreys and his working with to a will tell smartphones, tablets and virtual headsets precise position
' new system could allow unmannEd aerial veHicleS to DelIvEr paCkagEs to a specific sPOt on A consumer's back porch, enaBle coLlISion AVoIdancE technoLOgIES on CaRs And AlLOw VirtuAl rEality (Vr) headsets tO be UsEd outdoors. ThE ReSearchers' nEw cEntimeter-accUraTe GPS cOuPleD With a SmaRtphoNe cameRA could Be used to qUiCKly buiLD a globaLLY rEferEnced 3-D map of one's suRRoUNdings that woulD greatLy EXpAND thE raDius of a VR gAmE. CurrENtly, VR dOEs NOT Use gpS, which limits Its use to indOOrs And usuAlLy a TWo- to thRee-foOt RAdiUs.

"Imagine gaMes wHere, ratheR than sIT in fronT Of a moniTor and PlaY, yoU are IN yOuR baCkYArd ACtUalLY ruNning aroUnD wIth otHer pLAYERs," saId TOdd HUmphrEys, assistant pRofEssoR In tHe DepArtmeNt of aeRospaCe EngiNeeriNg And Engineering MEchaNics and leAd rEsEarChEr. "To bE Able to Do tHis Type of oUtdoor, mULtiPlAYER vIrtual reality game, yOu NEEd Highly acCurate POsItIOn and oriEnTatIon tHAT is tiEd to A GlObal refeRence fRAmE."

HUmphreyS aNd his tEaM in The radioNAvigAtion LAb have buIlt a lOW-cost system thaT Reduces locatiON eRROrS From The Size of a largE car TO the Size OF a NicKEl -- a moRe thaN 100 tIMeS Increase in accuracy. HUmPhreys CollaBorated with PrOfessor RobERT w. Heath frOm thE dePArtment of ElectRical And ComputeR engineerIng anD graduatE students ON The new teChnOloGy, wHicH THeY describe in a rECEnt iSsUe of GPS worLd.

CentiMetEr-aCcuRatE pOsitioninG systems ArE aLrEaDy uSed in GEology, suRvEyiNg And MappiNG, but thE survEy-grAdE aNTenNas thesE SySTEms eMpLoY are Too LaRge anD cosTLy fOr use in Mobile devIceS. the bReAkThrough By Humphreys anD hIs team is a pOwErfUl and sENSitive soFtware-defined GPS receiveR That can ExtRact cEntiMeter accuRacIes froM thE InexpeNsive aNtennAs FouND In mobILE dEviCeS -- such preciSE MeaSuremEnTs weRe not prEviously possible. ThE ResEarchers anticIpaTe thAT ThEir SOfTWarE's ABilITY to leverage low-cOst antennaS wILl Reduce the oVEraLl Cost of cEntimetEr accURacy, makIng it econOmically fEaSiblE FOr mObile devicEs.

HumphrEys and his TEam haVE sPent sIx yEars buIlDinG a speCializED reCeiveR, calleD GrID, to eXtracT sO-called cArrier phase measurements From loW-cost AntEnnas. GRID CurREntLy operateS outSide the phoNe, bUt iT will EveNTuallY run ON tHe pHOne's iNterNAl processOR.

TO fuRTHeR develop thiS TEChnOlogy, humPHreys aNd hiS students recently CO-founded a startUp, caLLEd RAdiOSensE. HUmphreys and his TeaM aRE Working wItH Samsung to dEvelop a sNaP-On accEssory That wiLl tell sMARtPHones, tAbleTs aNd virtual ReaLiTY headseTs ThEIr precIse pOsItion
' new system could allow u nmanned ae rialveh icl es  todeli ver packages t o  a s pecific spot on a cons umer' sb ackp or ch, e nable c o ll i s ion  a vo ida nc e  t echno log ies oncars and a llo wvirtual real i ty  (VR) head set s to be used  ou tdoors .The resea rch ers'new ce n timete r-accurat eG PS cou p led wit h asmar tphone camera cou l db e used to quic kly bu il d  a g lob all y referenc ed  3-Dm ap of o n e' s s urr o undings thatwould great l y e xpandth e r a dius o f a V Rg ame . Currently , VR  does not  use G P S, whic h  limits  its u setoindo o rs  a ndus u all y  a  tw o - t o three- fo ot  radi us." I m agin e g ames  wher e, rather tha n s it i n  fr ont o f a m onit or  andplay,you a re  in your backya rd a ctually r unn in g a ro und w i th oth erpla yers,"said To d d H um p h r ey s, assistant profe ss o r  i n the De partme n tof Aerospac eEng inee r i ng an d En g in eering M echani c san d leadre search er . " Tobe ab l e to  do th is typeof ou t door, multipla y er virtual re a li t y  g a me,you  need highl y ac c urat e po s it ion and o rient at i on that is tied to a g lo bal re feren ce frame."

H umphreys a n d his team  int he Radionavigatio n Lab  have buil t  a low-c ost s ystem th at reduce s location  er ror s f rom t he  size of a la r g e ca rto thesiz e of anic kel  --  amo re than 1 00 times  i nc re as e i n acc u racy. Hu mp hre ys  co llabo r ated w ith P rofe ss or Rob ert W.H ea t h  fro mth e De par tm ent o f El e ctr ical an d Compute r E n gine er in g and g raduate stude nt s on the n ew  te chnolo g y , whichthey describe in a rece n t issue  of  GPSWorl d.

Centi met er-acc ura t e posi tionin g sys te msa r e alr e a dy  us ed  in geolog y ,  su rveyi ng  and  mappin g, but the survey- g rad e antennas th ese  sys t e ms  em p lo y  ar et ool a rge and costlyfor use in  m o bi le devices .  Th ebreakth rough b y Hum p hreys a nd his te am is a p ow erfu l and  sensitive  softwar e-defined GPS r e ce ivertha t canex tra ct ce ntimet e r a ccura cies f ro m theinexp en sive ant ennas found in mobile d evices  -- s uch  precisemea s ure ments wer e no t previous lypos sible . T h e res earc h er s a n ticip atet hat their so ftw a r e' s ability t o l eve ragelow - cost a nten nas will reduce t h e overall cost  ofc e nti met e r ac cu racy, making i t e co n o micallyfe asible formobile d ev i ces.
Humph reys a nd hist e am have s pent  si x years b uil di n g a spe ci al i zed re ceiv er , call ed GRI D , to e xtract so-called  carr i e r pha s e m easur em ents fr o m lo w-cost ant ennas. GRID  curre ntly  oper ates ou ts ide th e p ho ne, but it will even tuall y run o nthepho ne's i nter n a l pro cess or .
To furthe r de v el op thi s te chnol og y, H umphreysa nd his s tud e nts rec en tly c o-foun d ed a  startup,cal led R a d iosense. H u mphr e ys and h is tea m areworking wit hSamsung  to d evelop asnap-on a c ces so ry t hat will  t ellsm art ph ones, tablets a nd virtu al reali t y  heads ets thei r  preci se  position
' new_system could_allow unmanned aerial vehicles_to deliver_packages_to a_specific_spot on a_consumer's back porch,_enable collision avoidance technologies_on cars and_allow_virtual reality (VR) headsets to be used outdoors. The researchers' new centimeter-accurate GPS coupled_with_a smartphone_camera_could_be used to quickly build_a globally referenced 3-D map_of one's_surroundings that would greatly expand the radius of_a_VR game. Currently,_VR does not use GPS, which limits its use_to indoors and usually a two-_to three-foot radius.

"Imagine_games_where,_rather than sit in_front of a monitor and play,_you are in your backyard actually_running around with other players," said Todd_Humphreys, assistant professor in the Department_of Aerospace Engineering and Engineering_Mechanics and_lead researcher. "To be able_to do this_type of_outdoor, multiplayer virtual_reality game, you need highly accurate_position and orientation_that is tied to a global_reference_frame."

Humphreys and his_team_in_the Radionavigation_Lab have built_a_low-cost system_that_reduces location errors from the size_of_a large car to the size of_a nickel -- a_more_than 100 times increase_in accuracy. Humphreys collaborated with_Professor Robert W. Heath from the_Department of_Electrical and_Computer Engineering and graduate students on the new technology, which they_describe in a recent issue of_GPS World.

Centimeter-accurate positioning systems_are already_used_in geology, surveying_and_mapping, but_the survey-grade antennas these systems employ are_too large_and costly for use in mobile_devices. The breakthrough by_Humphreys_and his team is a powerful_and sensitive software-defined GPS receiver that_can extract centimeter accuracies from_the_inexpensive_antennas found in mobile devices_-- such precise measurements were not_previously possible. The_researchers anticipate that their software's ability to_leverage_low-cost antennas will reduce the overall_cost_of centimeter accuracy, making it economically_feasible_for_mobile devices.

Humphreys and his team_have spent six years building a_specialized receiver, called GRID, to extract so-called carrier phase_measurements from low-cost_antennas. GRID currently operates outside_the_phone,_but it will eventually run on the phone's internal processor.

To_further develop_this technology, Humphreys_and his students recently co-founded a startup, called Radiosense. Humphreys_and his team are working with Samsung_to develop a snap-on accessory that will tell smartphones, tablets and_virtual reality headsets their precise position