Category: Mobile

Qualcomm platform powers TomTom’s plans to crowdsource mapping data for autonomous driving

Qualcomm Technologies Inc., a subsidiary of Qualcomm Incorporated, is working with TomTom on using the Qualcomm Drive Data Platform for high-definition (HD) map crowdsourcing for autonomous driving.

Qualcomm Drive Data Platform collects and analyzes data from different vehicle sensors, supporting smarter vehicles to determine their location, monitor and learn driving patterns, perceive their surroundings, and share this perception with the rest of the world reliably and accurately.

TomTom’s HD Map, including RoadDNA, is a highly accurate, digital map-based product that assists automated vehicles to precisely locate themselves on the road and help determine which way to maneuver, even when traveling at high speeds.

Traditional development of maps requires deploying dedicated fleets of vehicles equipped with professional-grade sensors to collect location, raw imagery, lidar and other data, which is then transferred, stored and processed in data centers. Now that cars are increasingly connected and equipped with a range of sensors, new and complimentary approaches become possible.

Using the precise positioning, on-device machine learning, heterogeneous compute and connectivity capabilities of the Qualcomm Drive Data Platform, which features the Qualcomm Snapdragon 820Am automotive processor, TomTom and Qualcomm Technologies aim to facilitate adding an improved, scalable and cost-efficient crowdsourcing approach to the mix of sources for HD mapmaking.

The new concept is designed to allow massive numbers of connected cars to see and understand their environment, traffic and road conditions, and support real-time input for map and road condition updates.

“Feature-rich, highly accurate and frequently updated HD maps are critical to support some of the most advanced applications envisioned in the automotive industry, especially for autonomous driving,” said Willem Strijbosch, head of autonomous driving, TomTom. “We are building the cloud-based platform to make and maintain HD maps using a range of input sources, including crowdsourced data from swarms of intelligent connected vehicles. We’re excited to explore the connectivity and compute capabilities of the Qualcomm Drive Data Platform to help map the world for the future of driving.”

“Qualcomm Technologies is demonstrating today that an affordable and easy-to-integrate mapping solution for autonomous vehicles is realizable,” said Nakul Duggal, vice president, product management, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. “The Qualcomm Drive Data Platform is designed to integrate key technologies into a cost-effective edge compute solution required to support safer, highly connected and smarter transportation, and we are pleased to offer this technology for HD Map providers such as TomTom as well as automakers, shared mobility service providers and automotive industry at large.”

For more information about the Qualcomm Drive Data Platform, visit the Qualcomm booth at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Feb. 27–March 2, Hall 3, Stand 3E10, or go to www.qualcomm.com/automotive.

March 1, 2017
U-blox receives certification for Toby modules offering IoT access

U-blox has received PTCRB certification of its TOBY-R202 and TOBY-R200 LTE Cat 1 modules for T-Mobile’s U.S. 4G LTE network.

The u-blox Toby module. Photo: uBlox

Both modules will be available for both of T-Mobile’s IoT Access packs, which offer simple IoT pricing with a Cat 1 module and support a broad range of industrial internet of things (IIoT) applications, reducing the cost for product makers to introduce new LTE devices on the network.

The TOBY-R202 and TOBY-R200 modules deliver true industrial performance. They are robust and reliable with extended temperature range of negative 40 degrees Celcius to 85 degrees Celcius and manufacturing in ISO/TS 16949 certified production sites.

LTE Cat 1 provides efficient power consumption with battery life lasting up to five years, depending on the application. In addition, TOBY-R200 includes a wider supply voltage input that allows for less expensive design and further lowers power consumption.

“U-blox is a global leader in developing cellular modules designed for IoT and M2M applications,” said Drazen Drinic, product manager of cellular at u-blox. “We are excited to now have two LTE Cat 1 modules available to IoT product makers as part of T-Mobile’s IoT Access packs.”

The u-blox modules will now be included in T-Mobile’s IoT Access packs, which provide product makers with a simplified launchpad for their IoT devices. For a limited time, customers can get unlimited data at 64 kbps for $20 per year per device, with up to $16 per certified module covered via a bill credit from T-Mobile upon activation.

“T-Mobile’s low-cost IoT access packs give our customers industry-leading Category 1 chipset options to quickly launch their devices on the nation’s fastest 4G LTE network,” said Doug Chartier, senior vice president at T-Mobile.

The two u-blox TOBY-R2 LTE Cat 1 modules support many IoT and M2M applications and are specifically targeted at those markets requiring industrial performance, such as smart metering, alarm and security systems, connected health, automotive and transportation, as well as smart payment solutions.

They come in a compact 24.8 millimeter by 35.6 millimeter form factor and operate on LTE bands 2, 4, 5 and 12. TOBY-R202 provides fallback on 3G bands 2 and 5, while TOBY-R200 provides global 2G and 3G fallback. Thanks to u-blox nested design, migration between the TOBY-R2 modules and other u-blox 2G, 3G and 4G modules is easy, while enabling future-proof, seamless mechanical scalability across technologies.

March 1, 2017
Ceva, Astri unveil NB-IoT GNSS-configurable solution for LTE devices

Ceva, a licensor of signal processing IP for smarter, connected devices, and Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute Company Lt. (Astri) have unveiled the Dragonfly NB1, a comprehensive cost- and power-optimized NB-internet of things (IoT) solution aimed at streamlining and the development of LTE IoT devices.

The solution also features configurable software, allowing the addition of support for GNSS and sensing.

According to the companies, Dragonfly NB1 leverages Ceva’s long heritage of low power DSPs and modem design and Astri’s experience in RF and IC design technologies. Dragonfly NB1 has the ability to reduce the time taken to get NB-IoT products certified and also provides low-power wide-area SoC designers with a flexible, software-upgradeable platform with key benefits in terms of die size and power consumption, the companies added.

The Dragonfly NB1 solution is enabled by a Ceva-X1 IoT processor and incorporates highly power-efficient multi-standard RF with embedded PA, LNA, DC-DC and DCXO technology for NB-IoT and GNSS (GPS and BeiDou). It is specifically designed to operate with embedded flash by incorporating an optimized low latency memory subsystem with a dedicated cache controller.

“In the coming years, NB-IoT will become the dominant technology for low power wide area connectivity,” said Michael Boukaya, vice president and general manager of Ceva’s Wireless Business Unit. “For most companies, understanding how to develop this technology is a daunting task. To overcome this, we have worked relentlessly with ASTRI to develop a complete solution from the ground up, that removes the design burden and allows SoC designers to add NB-IoT connectivity to their product designs. We’re extremely excited to announce this solution and demonstrate our leadership in IP for NB-IoT.”

Ceva and ASTRI have also teamed up with GMV, a major player in navigation systems and solutions, to offer an integrated GNSS solutions for smart devices with location tracking of logistics, assets, wearables and more. According to the companies, the GNSS IP is available as an add-on software that runs on the Ceva X1 together with the NB-IoT and leverages ASTRI’s GNSS RF IP that is embedded in the solution.

February 27, 2017
Emergency 112 calls in Europe saving lives with GNSS

On Feb. 11, the European Union (EU) celebrated 112 Day in honor of the single European emergency phone number. The 112 system uses Advanced Mobile Location (AML) to receive location information from mobile phones.

Photo: 112 SOS

Every year, about 300,000 people who call the emergency services cannot describe their location because they may not know where they are, because they are too young to say or they are too injured to communicate. In these situations, knowing the exact location of the caller can help emergency services react quickly and save lives, according to the European Commission.

Europeans can dial 112 for free in any EU country if they need to contact emergency services, thanks to EU legislation introduced in 1991. Today’s mobile and smart devices are able to provide emergency services with accurate caller location via an SMS or data channel using GNSS or Wi-Fi capabilities.

An EU-financed project — HELP 112 — looked into how GNSS can improve caller location using the AML solution. It was tested in the United Kingdom, Lithuania, Italy and parts of Austria.

A new report shows significant improvement for caller location in several EU countries. Lithuania upgraded its network-based location solution to ensure significantly more accurate caller location. The United Kingdom and Estonia deployed the AML handset-based caller location solution that can locate a person to within 100 meters.

Currently, AML handset-based caller location for emergency services is available only on Android phones.

Life-saving assistance

(Photo: North West Air Ambulance/Flickr)

The system has already saved lives. On Jan. 10, an emergency call was received by the Klaipeda Public Safety Answering Point in Lithuania. The caller was an 8-year-old boy who reported he had found his father unconscious or dead, probably struck by electricity. He told the operator that he didn’t know his address or the telephone number of any of his relatives.

Although the boy unaware of his address, cell-ID location information received by the emergency services had a radius of 14 kilometers. Fortunately, around one minute after the call was received, the operator received the location via Android Emergency Location (Advanced Mobile Location), with a radius of 6 meters.

The police and ambulance services were dispatched, and emergency responders provided acute medical care to the man who had suffered an epileptic seizure.

In Austria, a woman riding a horse fell on her head and was unable to describe where she was. GNSS provided emergency services with her exact location within seconds, so she could be rescued.

Galileo increases accuracy

“Satellite navigation is crucial in determining the precise location of the 112 caller and saving lives,” says Commissioner Elżbieta Bieńkowska, responsible for internal market, industry, entrepreneurship and SMEs. “Galileo, Europe’s own satellite navigation system, will be able to locate the caller with much greater accuracy. The launch of Galileo’s initial services and first Galileo smartphones available on the market show how space data is making a difference in daily lives of EU citizens.”

In addition to funding research, the commission is also improving EU rules on 112. In September 2016, the commission proposed an update of EU telecom rules in the form of an Electronic Communication Code. The commission wants to enhance the relevant provisions of the Universal Service Directive to facilitate the use of handset-based caller location as complement to network-based location data.

According to the proposal, member states will be obliged to ensure that caller location, be it network based (provided by the mobile operator) or handset based (retrieved from a GNSS or Wi-Fi enabled phone), arrives in a timely manner to the public safety answering point that handles emergency calls.

Whichever technology is used, caller location will be free for citizens and the public safety answering points.

February 14, 2017
Handheld launches rugged Windows tablet Algiz 8X
Handheld Group, a manufacturer of rugged mobile computers and tablets, has launched the Algiz 8X ultra-rugged tablet computer. The Algiz 8X is built for field workers who require a powerful, portable computer for mobile tasks.

The Algiz 8X offers GPS and GLONASS positioning via u-blox, along with an 8-inch projective capacitive touchscreen that is ultra-bright and built for outdoor use. Enabling glove mode or rain mode allows for operation in changing weather. The chemically strengthened glass survives an impact test in which a 64-gram steel ball is dropped on the screen 10 times from a height of 1.2 meters. The Algiz 8X also comes with an optional active capacitive stylus.

“The new Algiz 8X is the most compact and ergonomic Windows tablet we have ever developed,” said Johan Hed, director of product management.”We’ve pushed the limits of modern field technology with this product, fulfilling customers’ needs for powerful computing, mobility, outstanding screen performance and battery life. We made no compromises.”

Built-in features

The Algiz 8X rugged Windows tablet by Handheld Group. Photo: Handheld Group

The Algiz 8X comes standard with Windows 10 Enterprise LTSB to meet the needs of enterprise customers who value long-term stability. Other features include:
- u-blox GPS and GLONASS
- WLAN a/b/g/n/ac
- BT 4.2 LE
- A rear-facing 8 MP camera with autofocus and LED flash
- 4G/LTE
- Expansion options
The Algiz 8X offers LAN port, COM port or barcode scanner options. It also features a “backpack” system that allows users to add custom features and electronics.

Ruggedness

The Algiz 8X is rigorously tested for use in tough outdoor and industrial environments. It’s IP65-rated for dust and water ingression and meets stringent MIL-STD-810G military standards for:
- Operating temperature: -20°C to 60°C (-4°F to 140°F) — Method 501.5, Procedure II
- Storage temperature: -40°C to 70°C (-40°F to 158°F) — Method 501.5/502.5, Procedure I
- Drops: 26 drops from 1.22 meters (4 feet) — Method 516.6, Procedure IV
- Vibration: Method 514.6, Procedures I & II
- Humidity: 0-95% (non-condensing) — Method 507.5
- Altitude: 4,572 meters (15,000 feet) — Method 500.5, Procedure I
Orders can be placed immediately. Units will be in stock in March 2017.
February 8, 2017
Navilock’s new GNSS receivers use u-blox untethered dead reckoning

The untethered 3D dead-reckoning GNSS module NEO-M8U by u-blox is at the core of Navilock’s new GNSS receiver series for service vehicles. The new portfolio will enable retrofitting of dead-reckoning and untethered dead-reckoning (UDR) technology in any vehicle.

Photo: Navilock

Combining multi-GNSS (GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo) with an onboard 3D gyro/accelerometer, the untethered dead-reckoning technology improves position accuracy even where GNSS signals are weak or unavailable, such as in urban canyons, tunnels or parking garages. Receivers with a serial MD6 interface can work in an extended voltage range from 5-48 Volt DC.

Applications for Navilock’s new GNSS receiver series include service vehicles from the police, fire departments, emergency physicians, disaster rescue teams and technical aid organizations that require accurate positioning at all times. Operational forces and their control centers must be constantly aware of their location to enable successful completion of any assignment. As a result, physical dangers and even life threats are clearly minimized.

“We have been collaborating for years with u-blox and highly respect the quality and reliability of its products,” says Karsten Reschke, Navilock product manager. “Particularly critical for our product range is the UDR technology that enables reliable and accurate location capability even without satellite navigation signals.”

“We are pleased to be associated with the Navilock brand and the quality and design reliability it represents,” says Andrew Miles, u-blox product manager. “The ease of use and robust packaging of these products perfectly enable the value of UDR in its target applications.”

Launched in 2016, the u-blox NEO-M8U enables reliable positioning even in case of GNSS signal interruptions, jamming, reflected or weak signals, and is independent of any connection to the car, other than power.

The eight new Navilock GNSS receivers will be available in Q1 2017.

February 8, 2017
Fieldbook designed for workflow in industrial environments
Fieldbook F60 from Logic Instrument. Photo: Fieldbook

The new Fieldbook F60 from Logic Instrument is a smartphone designed to optimize the workflow in industrial environments. Logic Instrument is a French manufacturer of professional mobility solutions.

The Fieldbook F60 combines the convenience of a large 6-inch touchscreen, the functionalities of a smartphone and a professional barcode scanner in one device.

Compared to traditional mobile terminals with built-in barcode scanners, the F60 displays 12 times more pixels (720×1280 vs. 240×320), allowing for easier data input and more reading comfort.

The F60 features a built-in Honeywell 1D/2D barcode scanner that scans barcodes quickly adn precisely and with a low failure rate.

The Fieldbook F60 integrates the technologies required to optimize tasks in vertical markets:
- 4G LTE mobile broadband, NFC, GPS, Wi-Fi, BT BLE
- Docking station and user replaceable battery
- Drop resistant to 1.2m
- High temperature range from -20°C to +60°C
- Resistant to the intrusion of liquids and dust (IP67)
The Fieldbook F60 will be available in March.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SrvDWO4zXGs
February 8, 2017
Mobile briefs: Silicon Labs acquires Zentri for IoT

Silicon Labs acquires Zentri

Silicon Labs has acquired Zentri, an innovator in cloud-connected Wi-Fi technologies for the Internet of Things (IoT). Zentri helps customers worldwide securely connect and manage products across a range of industrial, commercial and consumer applications. Zentri provides combinations of modules, embedded and cloud software, APIs and other tools for rapid development of secure IoT end-node products.

Comtech renews LBS contract

Comtech Telecommunications Corp.’s Commercial Solutions segment received a renewal agreement worth $2.8 million for use of its Xypoint Location Platform (XLP), providing precise location for a major mobile network operator. XLP is a standards-based solution suite that enables wireless carriers to launch a variety of location-based services (LBS). The renewal will support the continued roll out of services during the remainder of a three-year agreement.

Teleena, Cumulocity partner on IoT

IoT enabler Teleena is partnering with Cumulocity, an IoT device platform provider. Teleena will roll out its IoT Suite with functionalities for enterprises to build transformational IoT solutions and monetize new business models. The suite consists of five modules and is a configurable one-stop-shop for customers.

January 30, 2017
U-blox launches multi-GNSS module for wearables, UAVs

The u-blox ZOE-M8Q is designed for wearables, UAVs and asset trackers. Photo: U-blox

U-blox has launched a new positioning module, the ZOE-M8G. The ZOE-M8G is an ultra-compact GNSS receiver module designed for markets where small size, minimal weight and high location precision are essential.

ZOE-M8G offers exceptionally high location accuracy by concurrently connecting to GPS, Galileo and either GLONASS or BeiDou. It also provides -167 dBm navigation sensitivity, important for wearable devices, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and asset tracker applications.

The new u-blox ZOE-M8G helps simplify product designs, because it is a fully integrated, complete GNSS solution with built-in SAW-filter and Low Noise Amplifier (LNA). It can be used with passive antennas without the need for additional components, and doesn’t compromise performance.

The ZOE-M8G GNSS module measures 4.5 x 4.5 x 1.0 millimeters. Due to its small size, a complete GNSS design using a ZOE-M8G module takes approximately 30 percent less printed circuit board (PCB) area compared to a conventional discrete chip design with a CSP chip GNSS receiver.

“When you’re designing products such as smart watches, fitness trackers, asset trackers, UBI dongles and even drones, every square millimeter and every gram counts. The u-blox ZOE-M8G makes it significantly easier for product designers to achieve precise location tracking while keeping within their strict form factor and weight restrictions,” said Uffe Pless, product marketing, Positioning Product Center at u-blox.

Samples of the u-blox ZOE-M8G will be available in February 2017, and volume production will start in October 2017.

January 24, 2017
Caltrans takes delivery of Riegl INS/GNSS mapper

Caltrans — the California state agency responsible for highway, bridge and rail transportation planning, construction and maintenance — has taken delivery of the new Riegl VMX-1HA mobile mapping system.

The Riegl VMX-1HA dual-scanner mobile mapping system. Photo: Caltrans

The Riegl VMX-1HA is a high-speed, high-performance dual-scanner mobile mapping system. It provides high performance and dense, accurate and feature-rich data at highway speeds.

With two million measurements and five hundred scan lines per second, the turnkey solution is suited for survey-grade mobile mapping applications to meet the standards of departments of transportation nationwide, Riegl said.

The technology of the system comprises two Riegl VUX-1HA high-accuracy waveform lidar sensors and a high-performance INS/GNSS unit, housed in an aerodynamically shaped protective cover. Four 9-megapixel cameras, along with a LadyBug 5 camera, complement the waveform lidar data with precisely georeferenced images.

The Riegl software suite provides seamless workflows for mobile data acquisition, processing, adjustments and deliverables.

Riegl USA was awarded the contract of the Request For Quote (RFQ) on the open market.

January 23, 2017
App gives users a virtual safety halo

Virtual Halo is a new personal protection app for the iPhone and Apple Watch, aimed at increasing safety around the world.

Photo: Virtual Halo.

The app has three key features.

SOS is designed as a personal panic button. When pressed in the iPhone app or on the Apple Watch, an emergency notification is sent by the Virtual Halo cloud to the user’s emergency contacts, providing the nearest street address and a link to the user’s location on their map.

The Check In feature lets emergency contacts know the user is OK; optionally, the user can include a custom message and location.

With the Going Out feature, adventure sports enthusiasts let the app know their intended destination and when they’ll be back. If they don’t disable the app by their preset time, the Virtual Halo service sends a text to their emergency contacts letting them know the user went out, the activity they were participating in, that they expected to be back by the specific time and that they haven’t returned; it also provides the user’s last known location.

January 11, 2017
TomTom launches new car nav devices in US

Netherlands-based TomTom has launched two car navigation products in the U.S. under the TomTom GO and TomTom VIA lines. The advanced GPS devices offer TomTom’s latest innovations and most up-to-date maps.

TomTom made the announcement at the Consumer Electronics Show, CES 2017, which is being held this week in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The TomTom GO devices are available in two models, GO 520 and GO 620, in 5-inch and 6-inch capacitive touchscreens, respectively. They include a new Wi-Fi capability feature and integrate seamlessly with smartphones, the company said.

TomTom VIA 1625.

TomTom GO devices can read text messages aloud, enable full use of smartphone personal assistants and allow hands-free calling to keep drivers’ eyes on the road. Lifetime World Maps or software can be updated via Wi-Fi with no computer connectivity.

The devices are able to learn drivers’ habits and can predict destinations: The devices become familiar with regularly driven commutes, automatically alert drivers to traffic and provide alternate routes.

The slim TomTom VIA GPS devices are available in three models: VIA 1425, VIA 1525 and VIA 1625, available in 4-inch, 5-inch and 6-inch touchscreens, respectively. They offer an enhanced address search that helps drivers define destinations from the search menu or by touching a point on the map.

TomTom VIA devices also offer Advanced Lane Guidance, helping drivers prepare for exits and intersections by clearly highlighting the correct driving lane for a planned route. Drivers also have the ability to update maps for the device’s lifetime at no extra charge with Lifetime Maps.

TomTom Go 520.

“At TomTom we continue to bring innovation to our navigation products working to make the experience safer and smarter,” Corinne Vigreux, co-founder and managing director, TomTom Consumer. “We constantly strive to make more accurate maps, deliver faster and more detailed traffic information, and create smarter routing. This combination is what makes the TomTom driving experience so unique.”

“Listening to our customers, we understand the responsibility we have as the most trusted companion to drivers, and with the new TomTom GO and TomTom VIA series, we’re once again honoring that trust and confidence,” Vigreux said.

The TomTom GO and TomTom VIA devices will be available on TomTom.com in March 2017.

Visitors to CES can visit TomTom to find out more at Sands Expo Hall C, Booth No. 43705 (level 2).

January 6, 2017