Methods and apparatuses for automatic object heading determinations

1. A method for automatically tracking a heading of an object, the method comprising:

receiving, using one or more processors, one or more internal measurement values which pertain to an object, wherein each internal measurement value corresponds to a particular time point and wherein the one or more internal measurement values are measured by an inertial measurement unit associated with the object;

determining, using the one or more processors, an internal heading uncertainty value for each internal measurement value of the one or more internal measurement values;

generating, using the one or more processors and a probabilistic heading model, an estimated heading data object for the object based at least in part on the one or more internal measurement values, wherein the estimated heading data object describes one or more estimated heading values for the object; and

providing, using the one or more processors, the estimated heading data object to one or more associated user devices.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein generating the estimated heading data object further comprises:

receiving, using one or more processors, one or more satellite navigation location values for the object, wherein each satellite navigation location value corresponds to a particular time point; and

determining, using the one or more processors, a satellite navigation location uncertainty value for each satellite navigation location value,

wherein generating the estimated heading data object for the object is based at least in part on the one or more internal measurement values and one or more satellite navigation location values.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein each satellite navigation location uncertainty value is based at least in part on the time duration between two or more received satellite navigation location values.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the internal heading uncertainty value is based at least in part on the time duration between two or more determined internal measurement values.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the estimated heading data object further describes one or more estimated location uncertainty values for one or more of the one or more estimated heading values.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

detecting, using the one or more processors, an error event; and

in response to the detection of the error event, generating, using the one or more processors, a heading error data object.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the error event is detected in response to a determination that the estimated heading data object fails to satisfy one or more estimated heading threshold values.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein generating the estimated heading data object further comprises:

receiving, from one or more locator units, one or more locator location values for the object, and

determining, using the one or more processors, a locator location uncertainty value for each locator location value,

wherein generating the estimated heading data object for the object is based at least in part on the one or more internal measurement values and one or more locator location values.

9. An apparatus for automatically tracking a heading of an object, the apparatus comprising at least one processing component configured to:

receive one or more internal measurement values which pertain to an object, wherein each internal measurement value corresponds to a particular time point and wherein the one or more internal measurement values are measured by an inertial measurement unit associated with the object;

determine an internal heading uncertainty value for each internal measurement value of the one or more internal measurement values;

generate, using a probabilistic heading model, an estimated heading data object for the object based at least in part on the one or more internal measurement values, wherein the estimated heading data object describes one or more estimated heading values for the object; and

provide, using the one or more processors, the estimated heading data object to one or more associated user devices.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein during generation of the estimated heading data object, the at least one processing component is further configured to:

receive one or more satellite navigation location values for the object, wherein each satellite navigation location value corresponds to a particular time point; and

determine a satellite navigation location uncertainty value for each satellite navigation location value,

wherein generating the estimated heading data object for the object is based at least in part on the one or more internal measurement values and one or more satellite navigation location values.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein each global positioning uncertainty value is based at least in part on the time duration between two or more received satellite navigation location values.

12. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the internal heading uncertainty value is based at least in part on the time duration between two or more determined internal measurement values.

13. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the estimated heading data object further describes one or more estimated location uncertainty values for one or more of the one or more estimated heading values.

14. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the at least one processing component is further configured to:

detect an error event; and

in response to the detection of the error event, generate a heading error data object.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the error event is detected in response to a determination that the estimated heading data object fails to satisfy one or more estimated heading values.

16. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein during generation of the estimated heading data object, the at least one processing component is further configured to:

receive, from one or more locator units, one or more locator location values for the object, and

determine a locator location uncertainty value for each locator location value,

wherein generating the estimated heading data object for the object is based at least in part on the one or more internal measurement values and one or more locator location values.

17. A computer program product configured for automatically tracking a heading of an object, the computer program product comprising at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein, the computer-readable program code portions configured, upon execution, to:

receive one or more internal measurement values which pertain to an object, wherein each internal measurement value corresponds to a particular time point and wherein the one or more internal measurement values are measured by an inertial measurement unit associated with the object;

determine an internal heading uncertainty value for each internal measurement value of the one or more internal measurement values;

generate, using a probabilistic heading model, an estimated heading data object for the object based at least in part on the one or more internal measurement values, wherein the estimated heading data object describes one or more estimated heading values for the object; and

provide, using the one or more processors, the estimated heading data object to one or more associated user devices.

18. The computer program product of claim 17 , wherein during generation of the estimated heading data object, the computer-readable program code portions are further configured, upon execution, to:

receive one or more satellite navigation location values for the object, wherein each satellite navigation location value corresponds to a particular time point; and

determine a satellite navigation location uncertainty value for each satellite navigation location value,

wherein generating the estimated heading data object for the object is based at least in part on the one or more internal measurement values and one or more satellite navigation location values.

19. The computer program product of claim 17 , wherein the computer-readable program code portions are further configured, upon execution, to:

detect an error event; and

in response to the detection of the error event, generate a heading error data object.

20. The computer program product of claim 17 , wherein during generation of the estimated heading data object, the computer-readable program code portions are further configured, upon execution, to:

receive, from one or more locator units, one or more locator location values for the object, and

determine a locator location uncertainty value for each locator location value,

wherein generating the estimated heading data object for the object is based at least in part on the one or more internal measurement values and one or more locator location values.