RFID-assisted indoor localization and communication for first responders

An indoor localization and communication project is described that proposes to use RFID (radio-frequency identification) tags, placed in the building beforehand, as navigation waypoints for an inertial navigation system carried by a first responder. RFID devices commonly are attached to persons or to moveable objects so that the objects can be tracked by using fixed readers (special-purpose radio receivers) at different locations. In this project, we explore the "flip side" of this practice. Our concept is that detection of RFID devices in known, fixed locations by a moving reader provides a precise indication of location for tracking the person or moving object that is carrying the reader. This information can then be used to correct for any errors of an inertial tracking system.