This smartwatch can track your location with meter-level precision
Researchers at the University of Otago just demonstrated on a smartwatch that can pinpoint your location with crazy 8cm accuracy—a huge upgrade from the meter-level precision most smartwatches offer today.
This was made possible by using advanced satellite signal processing, a trick usually reserved for professional surveying gear.
Collaboration and breakthroughs
This project teamed up Otago researchers with Google and the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
In tests, the watch kept its ultra-precise tracking going for hours, hinting at big potential for health tracking, sports analytics, and safety features.
Technical details
The secret sauce: blending signals from multiple satellites with advanced carrier-phase measurements.
Associate Professor Robert Odolinski shared that past wearables struggled with hardware and power limits, but this approach finally bridges that gap.
Future of smartwatches
Most smartwatches today are great for basic navigation but fall short when you need pinpoint accuracy.
Otago's research brings pro-level GPS to your wrist—opening up new possibilities in tech and fitness.
Still, there are hurdles like battery life and cost before it hits store shelves.