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Smartphone sensor fusion will be a key technology for indoor location, says ABI
February 9, 2015 | By Fred Donovan

Smartphone sensor fusion will be a key technology for development of indoor location applications in retail, healthcare and other verticals, judges ABI Research.

So far, only one integrated circuit vendor, InvenSense, has actively invested in location-based sensor fusion, which involves applying algorithms to fuse data from multiple sensors into an accurate estimate of the device’s location.

However, ABI forecasts that the market for smartphone sensor fusion technology will take off over the next few, with more than two billion sensor-fusion-equipped devices being sold by 2019.

“Conditions are perfect for disruptive new entrants. All major sensor IC vendors have identified location-based sensor fusion as important, yet InvenSense is the only company to actively invest in this area.

Not true

This lack of priority is driven by a short-term demand issue, as the indoor ecosystem is not evolved enough to warrant major developer interest. This will create a void, as the aforementioned applications take off over the next two years,” observed ABI senior analyst Patrick Connolly.

ABI believes that there is significant opportunity for start-ups, such as SenionLab, indoo.rs, PathSense and others, to fill the void. More companies behind indoor location apps are looking to these startups because they offer products that are available, free and optimized for indoor location.

“The competitive environment is further complicated by handset vendors like Apple, creating their own location-based sensor fusion solution as part of an always-on ubiquitous offering. This will be disruptive, creating competition and opportunity in equal measures,” added Connolly.

ABI predicts that location-based sensor fusion technology will be included in ICs made by Qualcomm and Broadcom this year and next.

Its an ecosystem sort of platform, and the pieces will get put together.
QUIK has been working on this for some time now.