Anchor placement in indoor object tracking systems for virtual reality simulations

Indoor Object Tracking Systems (IOTS) allow sensing moving objects inside a closed space, where GPS is not available. Besides the most popular use, indoor navigation, IOTS may also contribute to extend the operational range and the possible applications of Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) based technologies, such as complex training scenarios or entertainment oriented simulations: in fact, providing devices with a reliable IOTS support adds realism and allows a higher degree of safety and interactivity, that allow a high number of people to take part and collaborate in a simulated scene with a very high degree of physical interaction. In this paper we introduce a novel approach for the optimization and the evaluation of movement tracking in a IOTS based system, oriented to VR/AR applications, with special focus on the training of teams. Our proposal is applied to a case study, an AR application designed to assist business buildings workers in fire extinguisher use training. Performances of our proposal are evaluated by means of a simulation, and results are validated in a test scenario based on Ultra Wide Frequency positioning by means of a simulation scenario fed with real data from anchors.