Tag: GNSS OEM board

Septentrio expands product portfolio for marine market

The housed AsteRx-U3 Marine and the OEM board AsteRx-m3 Fg are the two new GNSS receivers for dredging, marine construction and offshore applications

Photo: CharlieChesvick/E+/Getty Images

Septentrio, a leader in high-precision GNSS positioning solutions, has launched two new GNSS products for marine applications: AsteRx-U3 Marine and AsteRx-m3 Fg.

Both products offer accurate positioning near shore and offshore via centimeter-level real-time kinematic (RTK) or the built-in Fugro precise point positioning (PPP) sub-decimeter subscription service, delivered either over NTRIP internet or over L-band satellite.

Corrections delivered over L-band allow dredging, bathymetry or marine construction projects even in areas where there is no internet service. The AsteRx-U3 Marine receiver, enclosed in an IP68-rated housing, offers a unique feature of a dedicated L-band demodulator with a separate L-band RF input, which allows for the use of dedicated antennas for excellent reception of L-band signals even at high latitudes.

“The new products are designed around our most powerful GNSS core, bringing the latest evolution in GNSS technology to the demanding marine construction and dredging markets,” said Silviu Taujan, product manager at Septentrio. “They build on the success of the field-proven AsteRx-U Marine Fg and AsteRx4-Fg, with more processing power to allow tracking of all visible satellite signals while enabling higher update rates. AsteRx-U3 Marine and AsteRx-m3 Fg are both feature-rich receivers, combining the best-in-class RTK base and rover functionality with an option of sub-decimeter PPP positioning.”

Orders for both products can be placed immediately. Deliveries for AsteRx-m3 Fg will follow the company’s standard lead times, while deliveries for AsteRx-U3 Marine will start from July.

Septentrio GNSS technology is resilient to RF interference, which on vessels can come from satellite uplinks such as Iridium modems or from other radio antennas. Having robust GNSS technology means accurate and uninterrupted positioning on any vessel, even in challenging marine environments. Both AsteRx-U3 Marine and AsteRx-m3 Fg receivers offer accurate heading and pitch or heading and roll orientation information with the dual GNSS antenna configuration.

May 6, 2022
Hemisphere GNSS announces Vega 34 heading and positioning board

Hemisphere GNSS has added to its lineup another Vega heading and positioning OEM board that uses Lyra II and Aquila chipset technology — the Vega 34. The Vega 60 board was previously announced as using the Lyra II and Aquila chipsets.

Hemisphere’s Lyra II and Aquila application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) designs simultaneously track and process more than 1,100 channels from all GNSS constellations and signals including GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou, QZSS, NavIC, SBAS and L-band.

Integrators who use predecessor Hemisphere 34-pin products, such as Crescent Vector H220 and Phantom 34 OEM boards, can easily transition to the improved positioning performance and the superior satellite tracking abilities of the Vega series, the company said.

The Vega 34 board connectors have no circuitry changes and are identical for all Vector users, enabling them to add Atlas H10 and H30 precise point positioning (PPP) into their solutions.

“Vega 34 gives our integrators an easy path forward to enrich their own product offerings,” said Miles Ware, director of marketing at Hemisphere. “For the first time, Crescent Vector integrators can upgrade to multi-frequency without changing pinouts. They can also take advantage of other standard features like more than 1,100 tracking channels, Cygnus interference mitigation technology and spectral analysis.”

NavIC Upgrade. The introduction of the Vega 34 board also brings a new firmware release. Version 6.05 extends several features and improvements and introduces NavIC (IRNSS) tracking and positioning across the entire Vega and Phantom product lines.

Both real-time kinematic and Atlas positioning solutions are enhanced with improved performance in challenging environments. Users of the BeiDou satellite systems and B2b PPP integrators also will see significant advances in their solutions.

February 17, 2022
Javad GNSS launches TRE-3S OEM board, evaluation kit
Photo: Javad GNSS

Javad GNSS has launched its TRE-3S GNSS OEM board. It measures 100 x 80 mm, weighs 87 g and tracks 874 channels with all-in-view satellite tracking. At the heart of the board is the company’s new Triumph-3 chip.

The board also includes numerous features to protect against interference and improve the signal output. These features include spectrum data output, spoofing detection, advanced multipath reduction, in-band interference rejection, GLONASS .2-mm dynamic calibration, heading determination, attitude determination and fast acquisition channels.

The TRE-3S receives:
- GPS L1/L2/L2C/L5
- Galileo E1/E5A/E5B/AltBoc/E6
- GLONASS L1/L2/L3
- BeiDou B1/B1C/B2/B3
- QZSS L1/L2/L5/L6 (L61/L62)
- SBAS L1/L5
The board has a 20-Hz update and real-time kinematic (RTK) rate for real-time positioning and raw data (code and carrier).

Optional features include tracking QZSS L6 (LEX) and IRNSS L5/S-band, and a data update rate and RTK rate of 100 Hz. Finally, a conformal coating can be provided.

Javad GNSS is offering a special in which customers who purchase the board can receive a second board and an evaluation kit for free. This way, customers can use one board for system integration in the field, and the other with the evaluation kit in the office or lab for testing and development.

For full specifications of the TRE-3S, see this page.
May 18, 2021
New Septentrio receiver integrates correction service

Photo: Septentrio

Septentrio has unveiled the AsteRx-m2 Sx OEM board, which provides a GPS/GNSS receiver with always-on sub-decimeter accuracy without the need for additional correction service subscriptions.

With the AsteRx-m2 Sx, Septentrio is pioneering a novel approach to high-accuracy positioning. Its latest core GNSS technology is integrated with a sub-decimeter correction service enabling simple plug-and-play positioning solutions.

High-accuracy positioning is available directly out of the box as GNSS corrections are automatically streamed to the receiver. This significantly simplifies the receiver set-up process and eliminates the hassle of corrections service subscription and maintenance.

“This product marks a new step for GNSS technology towards convenience and ease-of-use,” said Danilo Sabbatini, product manager at Septentrio. “By integrating the correction service directly into the GNSS receiver, we are removing the hassle of positioning service set-up and maintenance from the user. This means faster set-up times for our customers and worry-free, always-on high-accuracy positioning throughout the receiver lifetime.”

The AsteRx-m2 Sx is an efficient positioning solution for small robots, aerial drones and automation applications. Its optimized size, weight and power (SWaP) means longer operation on a single battery charge and better value in the field, according to Septentrio.

Advanced anti-jamming technology AIM+ ensures robust and reliable operation in challenging environments, even in the presence of RF interference.

Septentrio is offering a free GNSS corrections webinar on July 8 at 5 p.m. CEST/ 8 p.m. PST.

June 22, 2020
Septentrio to supply GNSS boards for WingtraOne mapping drone

Belgian GNSS receiver manufacturer Septentrio was selected by Swiss drone manufacturer Wingtra to supply GNSS OEM receiver boards and PPK processing software for the recently-launched WingtraOne PPK drone.

The combination of vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) technology and a high-spec post-process kinematics (PPK) brings wide-area coverage at ultra-high precision.

Following a flight, the GNSS data of the WingtraOne is processed offline using Septentrio’s PPK software. This combines the drone data with correction data from a nearby reference receiver to get accurate cm-level geolocations for every photograph.

The on-board high-resolution Sony RX1RII camera, AsteRx-m2 UAS receiver board combined with Septentrio’s PPK library, and Pix4D photogrammetry processing software are together able to produce ground precisions of 1.3 centimeter (cm) horizontal and 2.3 cm vertical.

Image: Wingtra

“With the WingtraOne PPK, we can offer a world first in drone photogrammetry — wide coverage at ultra-high precision,” said Armin Ambühl, CTO of Wingtra. “In a single one-hour flight, the WingtraOne can cover 130 ha (320 acres) delivering mapping with GSDs [ground sample distance] below 1 cm/pixel with absolute accuracy down to 1.27 cm.”

He continued, “WingtraOne’s advantage is twofold: it combines VTOL with the latest PPK technology from Septentrio. With VTOL we can offer the best of both worlds: multirotors and fixed-wings. Vertical take-off and landing means hands-free operation and a smoother ride for the on-board camera payload. Secondly, efficient flying in fixed-wing mode means far greater coverage than any comparable multirotor.”

“We are proud and excited to be part of this innovative project with Wingtra pushing the boundaries of aerial photogrammetry,” said Gustavo Lopez, product manager at Septentrio. “The WingtraOne incorporates our AsteRx-m2 UAS OEM board and, photogrammetry applications requiring high-precision, low-latency positioning are what it does best. The board is specifically designed for quick and easy integration and, with Septentrio’s world-first, multi-frequency PPK, cm-level precision can now reach the parts dual-constellation solutions feared to tread.”

February 28, 2018
ComNav releases Quantum algorithm for its OEM boards

ComNav Technologies has released its new generation Quantum algorithm to international market. The Quantum algorithm can be easily achieved through a firmware upgrade (version 2.5.2 and above), and suits all ComNav OEM boards and OEM-based receivers.

An upgrade to ComNav’s Quan algorithm, the Quantum algorithm dramatically improves the stability and reliability of RTK positioning in complex environments, as well as providing a DP-filter enhancement for the ComNav GNSS products.

Single-point positioning: version 2.30 (left) compared to the new version 2.5.2.

Applications such agricultural guidance and fleet management, where pass-to-pass accuracy is important, will benefit from the advanced smoothing filter in standalone mode. The company’s testing shows smoother and consistent performance, reaching 20-cm pass-to-pass accuracy.

Moreover, the Quantum algorithm provides better CORS compatibility, which means that users can acquire and keep high-accurate solutions even if the CORS network exhibits a poor geometry distribution.

A white paper is available on the Quantum algorithm. Also, see the video below.

July 26, 2016
ComNav releases new-generation OEM Boards

ComNav Technology has released its advanced K700 and K708 GNSS OEM boards to the international market.

K700 OEM Board

With the advanced ComNav application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) chip, K7-series OEM boards have higher observation data quality and lower power consumption compared to previous K5-series OEM boards. The data output rate also increases substantially by working with a new Atmel processor.

As a cost-effective GNSS OEM board, K700 is scalable for sub-meter to centimeter-level positioning applications such as geographic information systems (GIS), precision agriculture, marine and automotive systems.

It can track GPS L1, BeiDou B1, GLONASS L1 and SBAS, and also supports PPS, Event Marker and short baseline RTK. The size, weight and power specifications of the K700 make it easy to be customized and integrated, the company said.

K708 OEM Board

For the K708 OEM board, the inside GNSS tracking engine with 388 channels is capable of tracking all current and future constellations. K708 is designed with strong compatibility and built-in functions, including high-accurate PVT output, long baseline RTK and reserved webserver service.

The 8-GB onboard memory provides sufficient storage space to record the raw data without an external memory card. Therefore, K708 OEM board is designed for CORS, deformation monitoring system and related high-accuracy GNSS positioning applications.

July 18, 2016
SPAN GNSS/INS Now Available on NovAtel’s SAASM Receivers

NovAtel’s OEM625S GNSS board.

NovAtel’s SPAN GNSS/INS technology is now available on the company’s OEM625S dual-frequency SAASM GPS plus civil RTK receiver. The addition of SPAN offers system developers with SAASM requirements the benefit of continuously available 3D positioning, velocity and attitude (roll, pitch, yaw) for their U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) applications.

Authorized defense customers need access to the Precise Positioning Service (PPS) for DOD applications. When keyed, the existing OEM625S board level receiver provides an RTK PPS solution by taking the raw measurements from an L-3 XFACTOR SAASM and applying them to NovAtel’s industry leading RTK algorithm. SPAN technology couples NovAtel’s precision GNSS receivers with robust IMUs to provide a more reliable, stable solution, even during short periods of time when satellite signals are blocked or unavailable. The company offers a range of IMU options to meet the accuracy and size requirements for nearly any defense application.

NovAtel’s FlexPak-S enclosure.

SPAN technology is also available on NovAtel’s FlexPak-S enclosure, with multiple RS-232/RS422 serial ports for ease of integration.

June 25, 2015
Septentrio Introduces Next-Generation GNSS Receiver, AsteRX4

Septentrio’s AsteRx4 OEM.

Septentrio has launched its next-generation dual-antenna GNSS receiver, the AsteRx 4 OEM. The AsteRx 4 OEM is a multi-frequency, dual antenna receiver that incorporates the latest innovative GNSS tracking and positioning algorithms from Septentrio. It offers users in the marine, machine control and agricultural industries precision, accuracy, reliability and ease of use, the company said.

Thanks to Septentrio’s positioning engine, which uses advanced multipath and ionosphere modeling algorithms, the AsteRx4 offers robust positioning scalable from meter to centimeter accuracy. Together with precise heading and reliable error estimates, the AsteRx 4 OEM functions in tough conditions on land, at sea or in the air.

Use of all available constellations (GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo) provide the operator with a reliable solution even in obstructed areas such as in narrow city streets or at the corners of large structures, Septentrio said. The AsteRx4 OEM features the full range of positioning techniques from stand-alone to real-time kinematic (RTK).

For users who operate in more remote regions of the globe, the AsteRx4 OEM supports Veripos and Terrastar correction PPP services. Furthermore, the receiver features special interference mitigation technology which filters out ambient intentional and unintentional RF interference.

The AsteRx4 OEM is straightforward to set up and integrate with existing systems, Septentrio said. It has the similar hardware interface as earlier AsteRx receivers, and supports the same open and well documented command and binary output format. Users will be able to operate their receiver without special configuration software by using the very accessible web interface, which is available via network and USB connections.

“AsteRx4 incorporates many powerful improvements based on practical difficulties our customers face in the field every day,” said Jan Van Hees, vice president of Business Development, Septentrio. “We are particularly proud of the solutions for interference robustness that we have incorporated into our new ASIC, the GReCo4; the solid and reliable positioning algorithms that result from taking the receivers into the most extreme environments and from focusing not only on accuracy, but on reliability of the position solution.”

The AsteRx4, along with all the AsteRx family of receivers, will be on display at booth W40 for the duration of Ocean Business 2015 starting April 14 at the National Oceanography Centre, Southampton, UK.

April 8, 2015
ION GNSS+ 2014: ComNav Technologies, Ltd.

Andy Yin, ComNav Technology, Ltd., shares on the company’s K series GNSS OEM boards and receivers at the 2014 ION GNSS+ Conference September 9-12 in Tampa, Florida.

September 24, 2014
Broadcom Location Chip for Wearables Uses Less Power

Broadcom Corporation today introduced a GNSS system-on-chip (SoC) that will enable wearable location devices to operate with less power and more accuracy, Broadcom said. The Broadcom BCM4771 GNSS SoC is designed for low-power, mass-market wearable devices such as fitness trackers and smart watches. Broadcom will showcase its mobile innovations at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, February 24-27.

The Broadcom BCM4771 GNSS SoC with on-chip sensor hub enables consumers to more accurately track and manage their health and well-being by delivering precision activity tracking and location data while consuming less power than traditional architectures. This enables location intelligence and the extended battery life needed by the growing wearable market.

Wearable wireless device revenues are projected to exceed $6 billion in 2018 with sports, fitness and wellness as the largest segment with 50 percent share of all device shipments1.

“Today’s wearables like fitness trackers have surged in popularity, but often miscalculate speed and distance,” said Mohamed Awad, Broadcom director of the Marketing, Mobile and Wireless Group. “As the largest supplier of discrete GNSS solutions, Broadcom brings its location expertise to deliver more precise fitness and health measurements to the accelerating wearable market.”

Broadcom’s new chip constantly monitors user activity levels and location history to improve accuracy while adding advanced features such as location batching. In addition, Broadcom’s BCM4771 significantly reduces power consumption and board area by combining its location capabilities with an integrated sensor hub, contextual awareness, and GNSS. The SoC is complimented by Broadcom’s Wireless Internet Connectivity for Embedded Devices (WICED) Smart and WICED Direct software development kits (SDKs) to provide additional wireless connectivity to the platform.

Key Features. Designed in 40 nanometer (nm) process technology, the BCM4771 GNSS SoC includes a sensor hub that integrates sensor inputs for its on-chip algorithms to detect the user’s context, accurately compute speed and distance traveled, and provide fitness applications with the GNSS track. Power savings and advanced accuracy are achieved by intelligently leveraging context detection through the tight coupling of sensor inputs and GNSS on a single SoC. Broadcom’s BCM4771 also realizes a lower overall bill of materials (BOM) cost through the integration of a multipurpose sensor hub, the company said.

The BCM4771 will be sampling by the end of Q1 2014.

February 20, 2014
Qualcomm Introduces Chipset with Integrated 4G LTE World Mode for High-Volume Smartphones

Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., has introduced the Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 chipset with integrated 4G LTE World Mode. According to Qualcomm, the delivery of faster connections is important to the growth and adoption of smartphones in emerging regions, and Qualcomm Snapdragon chipsets are poised to address the needs of consumers as 4G LTE begins to ramp in China.

Snapdragon 410 chipsets support all major navigation constellations: GPS, GLONASS, and China’s new BeiDou, which helps deliver enhanced accuracy and speed of location data to Snapdragon-enabled handsets.

The new Snapdragon 410 chipsets are manufactured using 28-nm process technology. They feature processors that are 64-bit capable along with superior graphics performance with the Adreno 306 GPU, 1080p video playback and up to a 13 megapixel camera. Snapdragon 410 chipsets integrate 4G LTE and 3G cellular connectivity for all major modes and frequency bands across the globe and include support for dual and triple SIM. Together with Qualcomm RF360 front-end solution, Snapdragon 410 chipsets will have multiband and multimode support. Snapdragon 410 chipsets also feature Qualcomm’s Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, FM and NFC functionality.

The chipset supports all major operating systems, including the Android, Windows Phone and Firefox operating systems. Qualcomm Reference Design versions of the processor will be available to enable rapid development time and reduce OEM R&D, designed to provide a comprehensive mobile device platform. The Snapdragon 410 processor is anticipated to begin sampling in the first half of 2014 and expected to be in commercial devices in the second half of 2014.

Qualcomm Technologies also announced for the first time the intention to make 4G LTE available across all of the Snapdragon product tiers. The Snapdragon 410 processor gives the 400 product tier several 4G LTE options for high-volume mobile devices, as the third LTE-enabled solution in the product tier. By offering 4G LTE variants to its entry level smartphone lineup, Qualcomm Technologies ensures that emerging regions are equipped for this transition while also having every major 2G and 3G technology available to them. Qualcomm Technologies offers OEMs and operators differentiation through a rich feature set upon which to build innovative high-volume smartphones for budget-conscious consumers.

“We are excited to bring 4G LTE to highly affordable smartphones at a sub $150 ( ~1,000 RMB) price point with the introduction of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 processor,” said Jeff Lorbeck, senior vice president and chief operating officer, Qualcomm Technologies, China. “The Snapdragon 410 chipset will also be the first of many 64-bit capable processors as Qualcomm Technologies helps lead the transition of the mobile ecosystem to 64-bit processing.”

Qualcomm Technologies will release the Qualcomm Reference Design (QRD) version of the Snapdragon 410 processor with support for Qualcomm RF360 Front End Solution. The QRD program offers Qualcomm Technologies’ technical innovation; customization options; the QRD Global Enablement Solution, which features regional software packages, modem configurations, testing and acceptance readiness for regional operator requirements; and access to a broad ecosystem of hardware component vendors and software application developers. Under the QRD program, customers can rapidly deliver differentiated smartphones to value-conscious consumers. There have been more than 350 public QRD-based product launches to date in collaboration with more than 40 OEMs in 18 countries.

December 9, 2013