Advanced Navigation demonstrates technology to navigate underground transport stations

Advanced Navigation has successfully completed a pilot demonstration of its indoor positioning technology designed to assist commuters with vision impairments navigate public transport interchanges.

The demonstration took place at Castle Hill Station in Sydney as part of the Small Business Innovation & Research Program, administered by the Office of the NSW Chief Scientist & Engineer in collaboration with Transport for NSW, Sydney Metro and University of Technology Sydney.

Chief executive and co-founder Chris Shaw said GPS helped people find their way but came with limitations, particularly in underground train stations where performance significantly dropped.

“These environments create challenges, particularly for commuters with vision impairments who rely on GPS-aided voice navigation,” Shaw said.

“This pilot program is a powerful example of taking our core navigation technology and creatively applying it to a high-impact, real-world problem.”

Eleven positioning systems were installed across the station's concourse and platforms. Using phased array ultra-wideband and Bluetooth Low Energy, the system accurately tracked smartphone locations within 10 to 30 centimetres without relying on GPS.

The team conducted dual tests using a smartphone and LiDAR scanner mounted on a backpack to evaluate performance. The smartphone captured data from the positioning system while UTS's LiDAR system generated a detailed 3D map of the station.

NSW Chief Scientist & Engineer Professor Hugh Durrant-Whyte said the technology offered real promise to improve equity and access to public spaces for the visually impaired community.

Picture: supplied