GPS World

Tag: Mosaic module

  • Septentrio showcases solutions for GPS jamming and spoofing

    Septentrio showcases solutions for GPS jamming and spoofing

    Septentrio will demonstrate how simple it is to spoof or jam unprotected GPS receivers at the upcoming ION Joint Navigation Conference, which takes place June 6-9 in San Diego. The company will showcase how its resilient technology makes a difference for overall security and availability of positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) .

    Photo: Septentrio
    The AsteRx-U3 receiver. (Photo: Septentrio)

    Septentrio will hold a GPS spoofing demonstration, as well as a detailed comparison of jamming solutions from various high-end receivers. The integration of the latest anti-spoofing authentication mechanism, Galileo’s Open Service Navigation Message Authentication (OSNMA), will also be shown.

    “With our growing dependence on GPS technology, resilience of PNT is an important point of attention, especially for mission-critical applications, tactical ground or aerial vehicles as well as autonomous systems,” said Gustavo Lopez, market access manager, Septentrio. “Since the number of malicious jamming and spoofing attacks is on the rise, it is crucial to understand how various GPS receivers can be affected. We are pleased to explain and display this with specific examples at JNC this year.”

    Advance Interference Mitigation (AIM+) is an interconnected set of sophisticated anti-jamming and anti-spoofing technology components, securing GPS/GNSS receivers against various forms of interference.

    AIM+ is an interconnected set of anti-jamming and anti-spoofing technology components comprising a robust defense system against various forms of GPS/GNSS interference. Such resilience to jamming combined with anti-spoofing measures ensures the safety of autonomous machines, improves the security of GNSS-based infrastructure, and increases efficiency with extended PNT availability.

    OSNMA anti-spoofing authentication from Galileo is available on Septentrio receivers such as the mosaic module as well as the recently released AsteRx-U3 boxed receiver. Other products such as AsteRx-SBi3 also add inertial sensors for increased protection against spoofing.

    Septentrio will be at booth 220 in the ION JNC exhibit hall.

  • Septentrio to provide GNSS positioning to MicroPilot UAV autopilots

    Septentrio to provide GNSS positioning to MicroPilot UAV autopilots

    Image: Septentrio
    Image: Septentrio

    The collaboration ensures smooth and easy integration of high-accuracy GPS/GNSS positioning and professional-level autopilots into control systems where safety and reliability matter

    Septentrio is collaborating with MicroPilot, maker of professional UAV autopilots.

    Septentrio receivers, including the small form factor mosaic modules, as well as the OEM board AsteRx-m3, will support seamless integration of positioning and orientation into MicroPilot’s autopilot ecosystem.

    MicroPilot chose Septentrio GNSS receivers for their resilience to radio interference such as jamming and spoofing, as well as security and robustness with high-accuracy real-time kinematic (RTK) positioning.

    Self-interference or self-jamming is a common occurrence in UAVs, where devices such as cameras, servos or antennas, which emit electromagnetic radiation, are located close to the GPS receiver. Incorporating GNSS technology that is resilient to jamming and spoofing, in combination with reliable professional-level autopilots, is key to safe and secure flight navigation, according to Septentrio.

    “Adopting new and resilient technology in UAVs is vital, and we want to ensure a smooth integration process into professional drone systems,” said Gustavo Lopez, senior market access manager at Septentrio. “We are very excited about the strong collaboration between Septentrio and MicroPilot, which now provides new alternatives to drone companies looking for safe and reliable flight operations.”

    In addition to developing autopilots, MicroPilot provides supporting software and services that enable customers to use development time more efficiently, reducing time to market.

    “Working closely with Septentrio gives MicroPilot the ability to better leverage resilient and robust GNSS technologies strengthening our offering to the professional UAV market for safe and reliable flight control,” said Howard Loewen, president of MicroPilot.

  • Septentrio begins production of mosaic-X5 for high-volume applications

    Septentrio begins production of mosaic-X5 for high-volume applications

    Image: Septentrio
    Image: Septentrio

    Septentrio is starting high-volume production of mosaic-X5, its next-generation multi-constellation and multi-band receiver module.

    Featuring the company’s latest GNSS technology, mosaic-X5 brings centimeter-level positioning to technologies such as robotics, automation, smart wearables and telematics among others. Its small form factor and low-power design makes high-performance positioning accessible to volume applications, the company said.

    “For smooth, uninterrupted operation in the field mosaic-X5 is the logical choice for an industrial-grade GNSS positioning module,” said Francois Freulon, head of Product Management at Septentrio. “In an industrial setting the cost of equipment downtime can quickly get out of hand. We designed mosaic to be robust in difficult environments, ensuring continuous operation as well as quick set-up times for our customers.”

    Septentrio’s mosaic-X5 was conceived to be the first GNSS receiver module on the market without performance compromises. Featuring complete multi-frequency multi-constellation technology mosaic receives every existing and future signal from all GNSS constellations including the American GPS, European Galileo, Russian GLONASS, Chinese BeiDou, Japanese QZSS, Indian NavIC and L-Band satellites. Such signal diversity allows maximum positioning availability even in difficult environments such as near tall structures or under foliage.

    The compact GNSS module features Septentrio’s proprietary Advanced Interference Mitigation (AIM+) technology, which shields the receiver from jamming and malicious spoofing. This allows machinery and robotics equipped with GNSS to keep on working, instead of being grounded by RF interference. mosaic-X5 also includes the unique RAIM+ integrity engine essential for safety-critical applications such as autonomous systems.

    For those who want to try out the mosaic-X5, evaluation kits can now be ordered directly at shop.septentrio.com.

    Volume order quotes can be requested at shop.septentrio.com/quote.

    For more information about mosaic or other Septentrio precise positioning and timing solutions, contact [email protected]/

  • Septentrio launches tiny Mosaic high-precision GNSS module

    Septentrio launches tiny Mosaic high-precision GNSS module

    Septentrio has launched the Mosaic high-precision GNSS receiver module.

    Despite its compact size (31 x 31 x 4 millimeters,  1.29 x 1.29 x 0.15 inches), the Mosaic module supports more than 30 signals from all six GNSS constellations, L-band and various satellite-based augmentation systems, the company said.

    As a multi-band module tracking all GNSS satellites in view, it is also designed to support future GNSS signals.

    It also supports correction services, and uses real-time kinematic (RTK) technology, together with Septentrio’s algorithms, to guarantee maximum accuracy and availability. The surface-mount design of Mosaic is optimized for automated assembly and ease of integration, with a full library of well-documented and flexible interfaces.

    “Our new Mosaic module represents the best-in-class option for reliable and scalable position accuracy, with integrity,” said Chris Lowet, product manager at Septentrio. According to Lowet, it provides RTK positioning with a power consumption of 0.6-1 W, and requires no or minimal additional components for the design-in. “These characteristics make it an ideal positioning cornerstone for a variety of mass market UAV, autonomous and robotics applications,” Lowet said.

    Photo: Septentrio
    Photo: Septentrio

    Robustness to interference. Due to the natural weaknesses of distant GNSS signals and a crowded radio-frequency spectrum, GNSS-based services are vulnerable to unintentional radio-frequency interference (RFI). They are also vulnerable to intentional RFI, attacks intended to disrupt receivers by means of counterfeit GNSS-like signals (known as spoofing), and to intentional transmission of RF energy to mask GNSS signals with noise (known as jamming).

    To defend against these threats, Mosaic features Septentrio’s AIM+ technology. AIM+ can suppress the widest variety of interferers, from simple continuous narrowband signals to complex wideband and pulsed jammers, the company added. In addition, the integrated spectrum analyzer allows the RF environment around any Mosaic module to be viewed in real time in both time and frequency domains.

    Effective interference countermeasures against threats to GNSS signals also require constant knowledge of the changing RF environment. The Mosaic module helps analyze these threats by continuously and automatically monitoring the GNSS frequency spectrum to detect, characterize, log and mitigate interference events when needed.