AR Mobile Navigation: Indoor + Outdoor Hybrid Wayfinding
Augmented reality mobile navigation that combines indoor positioning with outdoor GNSS for seamless turn-by-turn AR guidance.
AR Mobile Navigation is a hybrid wayfinding solution that blends GNSS-based outdoor routing with indoor positioning (Wi-Fi RTT, BLE beacons, visual-inertial odometry) to provide AR overlays and turn-by-turn guidance both indoors and outdoors. Released in 2025, the project solves the common problem of transitioning from streets into complex interiors (malls, transit hubs) and provides clear AR cues for navigation, accessibility, and contextual POI discovery.
SEO keywords: AR navigation app, indoor navigation AR, hybrid wayfinding, AR wayfinding 2025, visual-inertial navigation.
Core features include map alignment between GNSS maps and indoor floorplans, real-time AR overlays for turn instructions, POI highlights, and accessibility modes for low-vision users with haptic and audio guidance. The system uses a combination of local sensor fusion and cloud-assisted map matching to keep drift low and reduce map upload sizes.
Feature table:
| Feature | Benefit | Implementation |
|---|---|---|
| Indoor positioning | Accurate indoor location | Wi-Fi RTT / BLE / visual odometry |
| AR overlays | Intuitive guidance | ARKit/ARCore with anchors |
| Seamless handoff | Outdoor ↔ Indoor transitions | Map matching + sensor fusion |
| Accessibility modes | Inclusive navigation | Haptic + audio cues + high-contrast UI |
Implementation steps
- Collect indoor floorplans and calibrate anchor points for initial alignment.
- Implement sensor fusion stack combining GNSS, IMU, and beacon signals with confidence scoring.
- Build AR overlays using ARKit/ARCore with persistent anchors and POI metadata layers.
- Provide content management for POIs, directions, and accessibility tags.
- Monitor drift and provide re-localization flows to recalibrate positions when needed.
Challenges and mitigations
- Drift and re-localization: implement autosnap to anchor points and allow quick re-localization via QR anchors or image markers.
- Privacy in indoor spaces: store minimal visit traces and provide opt-out and ephemeral routing modes.
- Floorplan availability: provide tools for rapid floorplan capture using smartphone scanning and photogrammetry.
- Battery consumption: balance sensor sampling and AR rendering with power-friendly heuristics.
Business and SEO impact
Indoor AR navigation unlocks value for retail centers, transit authorities, and event venues by improving wayfinding and increasing dwell time near POIs. SEO content around "indoor navigation AR" and "hybrid wayfinding" attracts venue operators and product teams looking to improve visitor experiences.