GPS World

Category: Survey

  • RTK GNSS Receivers: A Flooded Market?

    Wow, if one counts the number of new RTK GNSS receivers introduced in the past ~six months, it’s impressive. If you’re in the market for such a GNSS receiver, this is good news for you. More competition in the product and distribution side of the equation usually means better products and better service for the consumer. While Trimble, Leica and Topcon still dominate the majority of RTK GNSS receiver sales in North America, it’s pretty clear that others are eating away at their market share, and most of the new competitors don’t even design their own RTK GNSS receivers! The high-precision user community has more choices for high-performance RTK receivers than ever before even though there are only a handful of companies capable of designing reliable RTK GNSS receivers:
    image005

    • Trimble
    • Leica/Novatel
    • Topcon/Sokkia
    • Hemisphere GNSS
    • JAVAD GNSS
    • Septentrio
    • Ashtech (owned by Trimble)
    • Navcom Technology (owned by Deere & Co.)

    Some of you may think that I should include “consumer” GNSS chipset designers like GlobalLocate/Broadcomm, SiRF/CSR, u-blox, NVS Technologies, etc. While some of the engineers at consumer GNSS chip companies clearly have the knowledge (and experience in some cases) of RTK design, none of these chipsets are integrated into commercial RTK products. Yes, I know some of you have “made RTK work” with consumer GNSS chipsets, and I think that speaks volumes about where RTK capability will end up, but it’s not quite there yet with respect to a reliable commercial implementation.

    image007Regardless of consumer GNSS chipsets, the multi-constellation, multi-frequency RTK GNSS receiver landscape is changing quickly, even before the deployment of the new L5 signal and Galileo as I’ve written about previously (Why the Price of Precision Receivers Will Drop). This is because of the proliferation of RTK GNSS receiver “boards” such as the Trimble BD series, Novatel OEM series, Hemisphere GNSS P series, and Septentrio AsteRx series. System integrators like Altus, Geneq, CHCNav, Stonex, FOIF, Carlson, etc., are scooping up these proven receiver boards and designing their own systems around them.

    There are more RTK GNSS system integrators in China than any other geographic region in the world. It makes sense because the Chinese market for RTK GNSS receivers is larger (much larger) than any other market in the world. Even though you don’t see many Chinese-made RTK GNSS receivers sold in North America (you do see them sold in Africa, Europe and South America), they sell a huge number of them within China. I would even go as far as to say that the North American market is likely considered a “leftover” market since the North American RTK GNSS receiver sales volumes are so low in comparison. In other words, North America is such a small market for RTK GNSS receivers, it’s not worth the marketing/selling effort it requires. That said, some companies, like CHCNav, are ramping up their marketing and selling efforts in North America.

    To put it in perspective, let’s take a look at some of the new RTK GNSS products (and services) introduced in the past ~6 months (in alphabetical order). I’m sure I’ve left some out because there are so many on the market, but this gives you an idea of the broad range of RTK GNSS receivers available. Again, these are products introduced just in the past ~6 months.

    Altus APS-3L

    Key benefit: Integrates Terrastar’s new 10cm real-time precise positioning service. Uses a Septentrio GNSS receiver board.

    Carlson SuperG

    Key benefit: Tablet-based RTK GNSS system capable of 1cm real-time accuracy. Uses a Novatel RTK GNSS receiver board.

    CHCNav X900+ GNSS

    Key benefit: Low-cost RTK GNSS made in China. Uses a Novatel RTK GNSS receiver board.

    FOIF A30

    Key benefit: Low-cost RTK GNSS made in China. Uses a Trimble RTK GNSS receiver board.

    Geneq SXBlue III-L

    image003Key benefit: Low-cost, palm-sized receiver integrates OmniSTAR’s G2/HP/XP 10cm service and also 1cm RTK capability. Uses a Hemisphere GNSS receiver board.

    Hemisphere A325 GNSS Smart Antenna

    Key benefit: All-purpose, low-cost RTK GNSS receiver.

    Javad J-Shield

    Key benefit: Innovative radio frequency (RF) interference visualization (onboard spectrum analyzer) and interference reporting feature.

    Leica CS25 GNSS

    Key benefit: Tablet-based RTK GNSS system capable of <10cm real-time accuracy.

    Navcom StarFire Over IP

    Key benefit: 5cm (horizontal RMS) real-time correction service delivered via IP (Internet Protocol) as an alternative to delivering via satellite communications.

    Sokkia GRX-2

    Key benefit: Low-cost, lightweight (1.00kg) RTK GNSS receiver. Same as Topcon HiPer V.

    Topcon HiPer SR

    image001Key benefit: Palm-sized, lightweight (.85kg) RTK GNSS receiver capable of surviving a two meter drop.

    Spectra Precision ProMark 700

    Key benefit: Lightweight (.65kg) RTK GNSS receiver. Uses Trimble RTK GNSS receiver board.

    Stonex S9III

    Key benefit: Lightweight (1.2kg) RTK GNSS receiver. Uses Trimble RTK GNSS receiver board.

    Terrastar Terrastar-D Satellite Correction Service

    Key benefit: World-wide, real-time 10cm (horizontal 2DRMS) GNSS correction service delivered via satellite.

    Trimble R-10

    Key benefit: Lightweight (1.12kg) RTK GNSS receiver.

    Trimble RTX

    Key benefit: World-wide, real-time 4cm GNSS correction service delivered via satellite.

    Looking at this list, there are two key trends:

    1. RTK GNSS receivers are becoming smaller. Moore’s Law, or a GNSS version of it, is definitely in effect.
    2. The price of RTK GNSS receivers is falling, as low as US$7,000 (retail price) for a full RTK GNSS receiver in North America and likely less than that in other parts of the globe.

    image009Another clear trend is the advancement of global GNSS augmentation services (OmniSTAR, StarFire, Terrastar, Trimble). RTK networks are great when you have access to them, but in many places of the world, RTK networks aren’t available or there isn’t a data link (wireless network) available to receive corrections. This has created an opportunity for satellite-based (and Internet-based) global correction services. Whereas OmniSTAR (serving the agriculture and mapping markets) and StarFire (serving primarily the agriculture market) have been long-term players in this market, Terrastar recently announced its entry into the market and Trimble (who also owns OmniSTAR) announced its new RTX service.

    The advantage of satellite-based correction services is that you can receive them virtually anywhere in the world as long as you have a clear view of the sky. The disadvantage is that the initialization time it takes to achieve the stated real-time accuracy (<10 cm) is up to one hour if you aren’t starting on a known point. The addition of GLONASS helps reduce the initialization time, but it’s still much longer convenient than RTK initialization due to the sparse network of reference GNSS receivers used.

    Furthermore, the accuracy provided by the satellite-based correction vendors isn’t as good as RTK. OmniSTAR and Terrastar advertise 10-cm (horizontal 2DRMS) real-time accuracy. StarFire advertises 5-cm (horizontal RMS, as opposed to 2DRMS values given for competing services) real-time accuracy, and Trimble RTX advertises 4-cm (horizontal 2DRMS) real-time accuracy. RTK accuracy is solid at 2-cm or less.

    Lastly, in order to access satellite-based correction services, GNSS receivers must be specifically designed (additional hardware is required), so the reality is that few receivers on the market are capable of utilizing these services. But, if you’re performing mapping work across a large geographic area where RTK networks aren’t consistently available and you don’t want the go through the pain of owning, maintaining, and setting up your own RTK base station, the satellite-based correction service is a solid solution.

    For more information on these satellite and internet-based correction services, GPS World’s Tony Murfin published a detailed article this month entitled “Look, No Base-Station! — Precise Point Positioning (PPP)“. Tony offers some detailed insight into these services.

    Nightmare on GIS Street: Accuracy, Datums, and Geospatial Data

    Changing the subject a bit, but highly related to RTK GNSS receivers, is the subject of datums and geospatial data. Last month, I wrote an article for Geospatial Solutions that is a first in what promises to be a very interesting and complex discussion. I received quite a bit of email on the article with many good points made. If you think you know how to handle horizontal datums in a GIS environment, you might want to take a look at the article and follow the thread over the next few months. You can read the article by clicking here.

    Thanks and see you next month

    Follow me on Twitter by clicking here.

  • Trimble Introduces All-In-One Device for Mobile Communications and Surveying Data Collection

    Trimble Slate Controller.
    Trimble Slate Controller.

    Trimble has introduced an all-in-one device for mobile communications and surveying data collection — the Trimble Slate Controller. The Trimble Slate Controller combines the convenience and ease-of-use of a smartphone with rugged durability. Optimized for Trimble Access field software and the Trimble R4 GNSS receiver, the Trimble Slate Controller supports a surveyor’s everyday workflows.

    “Surveyors require mobile, rugged solutions that can readily withstand and perform in the toughest of conditions,” said Erik Arvesen, vice president of Trimble’s Survey Division. “With the introduction of the Trimble Slate Controller, we are providing a rugged handheld device designed to run survey workflows while also delivering the capabilities and convenience of a smartphone.”

    Offering voice, SMS text, and 3.75G cellular data transfer capabilities on GSM cellular networks worldwide, the rugged Trimble Slate Controller enables enhanced connectivity in the field. Its wireless communication capabilities keep surveyors connected to the office. An integrated 8-megapixel camera offers enhanced job documentation and point attribution by providing geotagged, high-quality digital photos. 

    The Trimble Slate Controller’s slim, ergonomic design is easy to hold while its screen provides superior sunlight readability enabling all-day use by survey professionals. Designed to withstand even tough conditions, a 4.3-inch capacitive touch Gorilla glass display covers the entire front surface, increasing readability without sacrificing durability.

    Trimble Access field software available on the Trimble Slate Controller offers a variety of features and capabilities to streamline topographic, stakeout, control and other surveying applications. Partnered with Trimble Access and the Trimble R4 GNSS receiver, the Trimble Slate Controller provides a dedicated GNSS solution that is effective for both real time and post-processed GNSS surveys, Trimble said.

     

  • Handheld’s Ruggedized Computers and Smartphones Have u-blox GPS Inside

    Swedish-based Handheld, maker of mobile computers designed for extreme environments, has integrated u-blox’ GPS modules in four of its most popular products: the Algiz 7 and Algiz 10X tablets, Algiz XRW notebook, and Nautiz X1 smartphone. These tough computers are designed for and used in demanding environments such as polar expeditions, marine exploration, and rescue operations, as well as outdoor industrial applications such as utility maintenance and logistics. The devices depend on u‑blox’ LEA, NEO, and AMY families of compact, high-performance GPS modules to provide reliable navigation and positioning in challenging conditions.

    “Handheld is proud to have achieved an industry-leading position for dependable, ruggedized mobile computers that can be trusted to work in the most hostile environments” said Jerker Hellström, CEO Handheld Group, “To achieve this extremely high-level of performance, we only select components with the highest reliability on the  market. GPS positioning is one of the most important functionalities of our products. For this mission-critical feature, we chose u-blox.”

    Handheld’s lineup of rugged PDAs and mobile computers is specifically developed for use in tough environments in industries such as geomatics, logistics, forestry, public transportation, construction, mining, field service, utilities, maintenance, public safety, military and security.

  • Trimble Increases Functionality Across GNSS Survey Portfolio

    R10_studio_back_face_right
    Trimble

    Trimble announced today functionality updates to its integrated GNSS survey receiver portfolio, which includes the Trimble R4, Trimble R6, Trimble R8 GNSS systems and is rounded out by the recently released Trimble R10 GNSS System (pictured at right).

    The updates include increased satellite tracking and real-time kinematic (RTK) performance. These improvements modernize the integrated receiver portfolio to add functionality, flexibility and capability as well as more options for surveyors, Trimble said.

    “With the introduction of the next-generation Trimble R10 GNSS system, we felt it was an ideal opportunity to modernize the complete integrated receiver portfolio,” said Erik Arvesen, vice president of Trimble’s Survey Division. “The additional functionality in the Trimble R4, R6 and R8 provide surveyors with more capability, flexibility and additional receiver options to meet their ever-changing business needs.”

    Trimble R8 GNSS System. The Trimble R8 includes integrated Trimble Maxwell 6 ASICs offering 440 channels. Powered by Trimble 360 technology, the Trimble R8 provides consistent and reliable tracking of signals for all existing GNSS constellations and augmentation systems, including GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou and QZSS. Using the Trimble R8, surveyors can connect directly to the controller, receive RTK network corrections and access the Internet via comprehensive communication options.

    Trimble R6 GNSS System. Featuring Trimble R-Track satellite tracking technology, a Trimble Maxwell 6 ASIC with 220 channels and support for all GPS and QZSS signals with GNSS upgrade options, the Trimble R6 provides surveyors with a completely scalable and flexible solution. The Trimble R6 supports GPS L1, L2, L2C, and L5 signals and QZSS as standard and offers upgrade options to support GLONASS, Galileo and BeiDou signals. The Trimble R6 delivers the accuracy and reliability required for precision surveying with superior tracking and RTK performance.

    Trimble R4 GNSS System. Designed for use with the new Trimble Slate Controller and Trimble Access field software, the Trimble R4 GNSS System provides a dedicated and reliable GNSS solution that is effective for both real-time and post-processed GNSS surveys. The Trimble R4 now supports GPS L1, L2, and L2C and QZSS signals as standard and also offers GLONASS, Galileo and BeiDou support upgrade options. The system includes Trimble R-Track technology and a Trimble Maxwell 6 ASIC with 220 channels.

    Trimble R10 GNSS System. The Trimble R10 GNSS system is the premier solution of the integrated survey receiver portfolio. Designed to increase  productivity, the Trimble R10 provides powerful functionality, including Trimble 360 receiver technology, precise position capture with Trimble SurePoint technology, the cutting-edge Trimble HD-GNSS processing engine and Trimble xFill bridging technology to “fill in” for RTK corrections in the event of temporary radio or Internet connection outages.

    The updated configurations of the Trimble R4, R6 and R8 as well as the Trimble R10 GNSS system are available now through Trimble’s Survey Distribution Channel.

  • Janam Announces 3G/4G Cellular Rugged Mobile Computer

    XT85.NAngle.left.RGB.MR-W
    Photo: Janam Technologies LLC

    Janam Technologies LLC, a provider of rugged mobile computers that scan barcodes and communicate wirelessly, today announced the release of its new XT85, a high-bandwidth wireless rugged mobile computer designed to support demanding enterprise applications in equally demanding outdoor environments.

    Janam’s XT85 offers a complete set of features that enterprises require in a rugged wireless wide area device, at a price point that makes extending enterprise mobility affordable, Janam said. It is equipped with high-sensitivity GPS with anti-jamming technology.

    The XT85 survives multiple 5-foot drops to concrete at temperature extremes (and 6-foot drops at room temperature), offers a 3.5-inch high-transmissivity display that maximizes outdoor readability while minimizing power consumption, offers advanced 4G-ready cellular network connectivity with five-band UMTS for global roaming, and is small and lightweight.

    “Purpose-built mobile computers must appeal to today’s information worker who expects a device that is small, light, fast and highly capable while also serving the business needs of the enterprise for whom the mobile worker is performing mission-critical tasks,” said Harry B. Lerner, CEO of Janam. “Janam’s XT85 is optimized to appeal to both constituencies. It’s much more than a smart phone. It’s a brilliant PDA.”

    In addition to 4G-ready UMTS/HSDPA/HSUPA/GSM wireless wide area network communication, the XT85 is equipped with 802.11 a/b/g/n WLAN with enterprise-grade security and Bluetooth.  It is available with the SE965HP laser engine from Motorola or Honeywell’s Adaptus Imaging technology. Purpose-built to accommodate the realities of work processes and environments, the XT85 is UL-certified for use in hazardous environments, sealed to IP65 standards and available with QWERTY or numeric keypads.

  • Trimble Acquires Penmap Software for Survey and Cadastral Markets

    Trimble has acquired a suite of software solutions from Penmap.com Ltd. of Bradford, United Kingdom. Penmap.com’s solutions include both office and field data collection software specifically designed for the cadastral and surveying markets. The comprehensive software suite enables Trimble to further address local application requirements and customer needs by providing complete customized surveying software solutions for the cadastral market, the company said. Financial terms were not disclosed.

    The software solutions include:

    Penmap encore: A new solution specifically designed for PDAs and handheld GPS receivers running Windows Mobile operating system. The software’s revolutionary user-friendly interface takes advantage of virtually the entire display screen to maximize map real-estate and is designed for fingertip operation.

    Penmap encoreT: A new premium data collection software specifically designed for tablet PCs running Windows 8, 7, Vista or XP operating system. Its user interface shows collected data on the map in real-time. This feature gives users peace of mind that they have collected data correctly before leaving the site, Trimble said.

    Penmap Office: An intuitive office platform for Penmap encore software. The office software streamlines the land administration professional’s workflow — from project preparation and importing data to managing large raster and vector background maps collected in the field, Trimble said.

    “Penmap.com has built a very close and successful relationship as a customer of Trimble for many years,” said Erik Schütz, managing director for Penmap.com Ltd. “Since Penmap.com was founded, our vision has been to focus on the local requirements of the regional markets we serve and provide those customers with a fine-tuned and easy-to-use solution. The software is an ideal fit within the Trimble portfolio of solutions to address the cadastral market.”

    “The acquisition of Penmap.com’s software suite of office and field solutions reinforces Trimble’s continued commitment to the cadastral market, as well as our focus on providing customers with complete solutions that are customized for local market requirements,” said Matt Delano, business area director for Trimble’s Land Administration Solutions. “Penmap.com’s strength lies in its ability to customize surveying software applications for regional markets, providing users the most intuitive work processes for optimal efficiency and productivity, making it a perfect fit for our customers.”

  • Topcon HiPer SR and Pocket 3D Provide Help to Construction Sites

    HiPer SR_construction_Topcon
    Topcon HiPer SR and Pocket 3D in the field.

    With the introduction of a new version of Pocket 3D software for its HiPer SR GNSS receiver, Topcon Positioning Systems is expanding the delivery of high-accuracy 3D positioning technology to contractors needing a low-cost, one-man layout and measurement system.

    Pocket 3D is powerful, easy-to-use data collection and control software for grade checking and other measurement applications on a job site. Version 10.0.2 makes it fully functional with the HiPer SR receiver, introduced in August.

    The new receiver is not only “perfect for contractors, but also for other non-traditional GNSS users such as landscape architects, law enforcement forensics projects or any others requiring high-accuracy 3D positioning,” said Tony Vanneman, Topcon construction products marketing manager.

    Its field-rugged and fully-integrated design delivers a 1,000-foot working radius through Topcon’s new LongLink technology. “This innovative wireless data link was developed specifically for the HiPer SR, and provides reliable and interference-free base-to-rover communications that don’t require an FCC license to operate,” Vanneman said.

    “We took the best signal tracking technologies and packaged them in a small, energy-efficient design,” he said.  “Anyone looking for a rugged, easy-to-use, low-cost 3D GPS system will find what they need in the HiPer SR.”

    Additional key features of the HiPer SR include:

    • Shock-resistant magnesium alloy housing – allowing the HiPer SR to take a 6 ft. (2m) pole drop onto concrete;
    • Weighs 1.8 pounds (0.8kg);
    • 226-channel Vanguard technology, featuring Universal Tracking Channel technology, supports all satellite constellations;
    • Fence antenna technology;
    • Quartz lock loop technology for superior GNSS tracking in high-vibration environments, such as on a four wheeler;
    • Capable of simultaneous LongLink operation with multiple rovers;
    • Sealed battery pack provides more than 15 hours of operation.
  • HiPer V Featuring Vanguard Technology Offered by Topcon

    HiPer V Featuring Vanguard Technology Offered by Topcon

    Topcon has introduced the HiPer V receiver, which features Topcon’s Vanguard technology. The HiPer V provides users with the choice of GPS and GLONASS signals (as well as Galileo when operationally available), and also includes a variety of choices of internal radio, cellular and Bluetooth communication options and what Topcon calls a state-of-the-art power supply.

    The core of the HiPer V is the new Vanguard GNSS technology, according to Ewout Korpershoek, Topcon senior vice president and chief marketing officer. With its 226 channels and Universal Tracking, the Vanguard chipset is future proof, as it will track signals from all available and currently planned GPS, GLONASS and Galileo satellites.

    “Topcon’s Universal Tracking provides a whole new definition of ‘channel technology.’ There is nothing available like it. Universal Tracking allows a single receiver channel to ‘automatically’ select and track any satellite signal,” Korpershoek said. “Because our channels are not pre-programmed to receive only one specific signal or a type of signal, Topcon users will always receive the maximum number of signals at any given time. In addition, Topcon’s Universal Tracking will automatically weigh the best combination of available signals based on health, geometry and application, providing unmatched accuracy, speed of initialization and fixing. HiPer V will work at places where other receivers will not, at highest accuracy, and with greatest ease of use.”

    Other features include the rugged, durable magnesium alloy housing, the choice of communication options, “and longest life rechargeable battery while maintaining the lightest weight in its class,” Korpershoek said.

  • Why the Price of Precision Receivers Will Drop

    Why the Price of Precision Receivers Will Drop

    Eric Gakstatter
    Eric Gakstatter

    For quite some time, I’ve been writing in GPS World magazine and speaking at conferences about the declining prices of high-precision GNSS receivers and how the cost of high-precision data (especially vertical) is going to decline substantially. For my colleagues in Asia, Africa, Europe, and South America, you’ve already seen this. Dual-frequency, multi-constellation GNSS receiver prices in those areas are significantly lower than in the United States and Canada.

    Previously, I’ve presented to you that I think dual-frequency (L1/L5), dual-constellation (GPS/Galileo) GNSS receivers will be  inexpensive in the future. My reasoning, simply, is that L5 is an open signal (legacy L2 is not) and supported by both GPS and Galileo. Furthermore, both GPS and Galileo use a CDMA radio technology, so designing a GPS/Galileo receiver is a heck of a lot easier than a GPS/GLONASS receiver. Therefore, unlike today’s GNSS receiver competitive landscape of only a dozen or so manufacturers of high-precision GNSS receivers, there will be dozensssss (emphasis on s) and maybe hundreds of high-precision GNSS receiver manufacturers, based on oodles of L1/L5 GNSS chipsets that are sure to come.

    Will all GNSS chipset designers decide to expend the extra energy it takes to optimize their chipset for RTK FIX or Float solution? No, but certainly there will be “boutique” GNSS chip designers that will specialize in high-precision designs. It likely won’t be the companies selling a $3 GNSS chip to Apple or Samsung  today. Those companies rely on selling tens (or hundreds) of millions of GNSS chips per year. I’m talking about companies that can survive on selling hundreds of thousands of high-precision GNSS chipsets for $50-100 each.

    However, Galileo is still at least two years from a minimal usable constellation and the GPS operator, the U.S. Air Force, is in no hurry to launch GPS satellites with new capabilities (for example, L5) — so low-cost, high-precision GNSS chipsets are still a couple of years away. If this is the case, then why are high-precision GNSS receiver prices declining in some areas today?

    As I mentioned before, our colleagues in Asia, Africa, Europe, and South America are already seeing lower-cost high-precision GNSS receivers. There are brands offered in those geographic regions that aren’t known (or are very little known) in the U.S. and Canada. Brands like Stonex, FOIF, BHCNav, CHCNav, and others market themselves outside of the U.S. and Canadian markets, but not much in the United States or Canada. The increased competition in those foreign markets has driven high-precision GNSS prices down.

    Intergeo2012_eric1
    The CHC booth at Intergeo 2012.

    The reason high-precision GNSS prices are still high in the U.S. and Canadian markets are because it’s still primarily a Trimble, Leica, Topcon game. Yes, there are other brands like Ashtech/Spectra-Precision, SXBlue, Javad, Sokkia, Hemisphere, Altus, and Navcom, that may offer entry-level entry points, but the Big Three still dominate the U.S. and Canadian markets, partly because of their broader product lines and mostly because they have the best network of dealers. Differing from the others in this mix is Navcom, a subsidiary of John Deere & Co. Navcom’s GNSS technology is distributed by Deere & Co, and is focused almost exclusively on the agriculture market.

    In the United States and Canada, high-precision GNSS receiver users are still willing to pay a premium for leading brand-name products and their dealer networks. You might think that there’s a lot of price pressure from the other brands. There is some, but some of the other brands are owned by the big boys. Trimble owns Spectra-Precision and Ashtech. Topcon owns Sokkia.

    Intergeo2012_eric3
    Spectra Precision (here at Intergeo 2012) is owned by Trimble.

    For there to be serious price movement in the United States and Canada as there has been in other areas of the world requires more competition. I think we’re going to start to see more of that.

    I know you don’t want to hear this, but the competition for high-precision GNSS receivers is coming from China — and it’s serious competition. Chinese GNSS receiver manufacturers are already well-established in Africa, Europe, and Asia (of course). Their high-precision GNSS gear is coming soon to a place near you.

    CHCX91What exactly is a Chinese-made GNSS receiver? Mostly, they are receivers made using the guts (GNSS receiver boards) from mainstream GNSS receiver designers like Trimble, Topcon, NovAtel, and Hemisphere. The Chinese companies buy these receiver boards and design their own cases, battery packs, and other supporting systems around the GNSS receiver board. The finished products, like the CHCNav X91, look much like what you see from Trimble/Topcon/Leica today, and it sports a Trimble or Novatel GNSS receiver inside, for fraction of the price you’ll pay for the equivalent Trimble GNSS receiver.

    Of course, you wouldn’t benefit from Trimble (or whomever) dealer network support, and you would be risking that the manufacturer has designed a reliable system around the GNSS receiver board. What happens if the receiver needs service? Where’s the nearest support center? Who do you call? These are all very valid questions that any prudent businessperson would ask themself before making a significant equipment purchase.

    Some of the Chinese manufacturers rely on low price to attract your attention and then offer minimal customer support. Others, like CHCNav, are addressing this by setting up regional centers around the globe for support and repair. Can they produce high-quality GNSS products that will meet the expectations of U.S. and Canadian buyers? The reputation of Chinese manufactured products in the surveying market is not very good. Will they have the staying power to hang on for a few years, long enough to gain the confidence of U.S. and Canadian users?

    In their favor is their home market. China is the largest consumer of high-precision GNSS receivers in the world. In fact, it’s been said that more high-precision receivers are sold in China than in the rest of the world combined. Even if that’s not an accurate statement, it’s not incorrect by very much. That tells you something about the size of the Chinese market for high-precision receivers. With a market that size, I think it’s safe to say that Chinese receiver manufacturers are gaining a lot of experience in designing and manufacturing GNSS receivers, and one can assume that the next-generation receiver design is better than the previous one.

    While they haven’t quite ventured into offering their own GNSS receiver designs (still buying GNSS receiver “guts” from established manufacturers), last week one Chinese manufacturer took a step closer to doing so. On January 31, Hemisphere GPS announced that Beijing UniStrong Science & Technology Co Ltd. is acquiring Hemisphere’s core GPS design/manufacturing business. Hemisphere has chosen to divest itself of all non-agriculture related businesses and rename the company AgJunction, the same name as a software company it acquired recently. Of course, GNSS technology is highly related to agriculture, and there’s no doubt that AgJunction will continue to use GNSS technology, but clearly the AgJunction management team doesn’t think it’s an important enough technology to have to own it.

    UniStrong is no stranger to the GPS/GNSS business and is no small fry. It’s been in business since the mid-1990s and boasts more than 1,000 employees, offering a wide variety of high-precision GPS/GNSS receiver solutions from handheld GIS receivers to full-blown RTK GNSS receivers. With this acquisition (US $15 million), it becomes the first Chinese-owned GNSS receiver design/manufacturing group in North America.

    Thanks, and see you next time.
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    Intergeo2012_eric2
    Navcom, a subsidiary of John Deere, focuses on the ag market.

  • Taoglas Launches GPS/GLONASS Passive Flexible Loop Antenna

    Taoglas_passive_antennaTaoglas USA, Inc., provider of antenna solutions to the M2M and connected device market, has launched the FXP.611 Cloud, a GPS/GLONASS flexible loop antenna that the company says outperforms most active patch antennas with an efficiency of 80 percent and a peak gain of 3 dBi across the GPS and GLONASS bands (1575 to 1610Mhz).

    This antenna can resist external detuning effects due to dual resonance and has a small form factor of 38 x 37 x 0.1 millimeters. At less than half the cost of heavy active patch antennas, this peel and stick, flexible loop antenna is suitable for any GPS/GLONASS M2M device, Taoglas said.

    “We’ve been blown away by the performance of this linear polarized A-GPS GLONASS antenna,” said Dermot O’Shea, director at Taoglas. “Before we developed the FXP.611 Cloud, we had only seen this kind of performance from active patch antennas. We ran a drive test in downtown San Diego and were surprised by the real-time performance and first time to fix from cold-start of this passive loop, particularly in urban canyons where you expect active patches to out perform.”

    Original equipment manufacturers will find the FXP.611 suitable for assisted GPS/GLONASS applications for industrial handheld devices, tablets and smartphones. According to Taoglas, the patent-pending FXP.611 Cloud antenna

    • eliminates the need for a filter or low noise amplifier (LNA), and can connect directly to a module or to a connector on a board.
    • offers a “peel and stick” mounting with 3M tape that can be attached to plastic device housings freeing up board space.
    • costs half the price of active patch antennas.
    • incorporates a detuning design with dual resonance.
    • radiates power uniformly with an omnidirectional design, making it suitable for use in devices that have fixed positions.

    The FXP.611 Cloud antenna is available for purchase immediately from Taoglas by contacting [email protected] and online later in the first quarter of 2013 with Taoglas distributors.

  • Call for Participation: Round 2 of NGS Kinematic GPS Challenge

    NOAA’s National Geodetic Survey (NGS) is conducting a 12-year project, called Gravity for the Redefinition of the American Vertical Datum (GRAV-D), to redefine the vertical datum of the United States by flying airborne gravity missions. The accuracy of the resulting vertical datum depends directly on the quality of the aircraft’s GNSS position solutions.

    In August 2010, NGS issued a Kinematic GPS Challenge to seek community input on the best practices for processing this large positioning data volume. Ten international groups answered the call, submitting 16 different position solutions calculated with a variety of software and techniques. However, the majority of solutions were corrupted by a characteristic “sawtooth” pattern which was tracked back to the aircraft receiver used in the initial challenge; for this challenge reissue, a second onboard GNSS receiver is used.  Also in this new call for participation, inertial measurement unit (IMU) data are made available for joint GPS+IMU processing.

    “To further facilitate our software and method development, we invite interested researchers and practitioners to compute and submit solutions from samples of actual GRAV-D data,” said Gerry Mader and Theresa Diehl, NGS, in an invitation email. “In this new call, NGS requests that all participants submit a GPS-only solution utilizing the new aircraft GPS data. For those able to process with IMU data, we request additional submission of a second IMU+GPS solution. NGS would like to receive all solutions by April 1, 2013.

    “This is a strictly voluntary exercise for those interested in such a comparison and we will share our results with the participants. We are also interested in possibly co-authoring a publication with the participants on the topic if results are significant.”

    Detailed information on the challenge is available here:

    Those interested in participating should read through the PDF (link above), then email Gerry Mader (gerald.l.mader at noaa.gov) and Theresa Diehl (theresa.diehl at noaa.gov) with any questions.

  • Esri Announces 24 Organizations to Receive $2 Million in GIS Imagery Grants

    Esri and PCI Geomatics announced they have selected 24 organizations to develop and apply innovative methods for using GIS to analyze imagery for land-use management. Through the Esri Natural Resources Imagery Grant Program, Esri, the world leader in GIS, and PCI Geomatics, the world leader in geoimaging, provide each grant recipient with software and data valued at $100,000.

    “Esri is committed to the development of tools and processes that advance the use of imagery for geospatial analysis,” said Lawrie Jordan, Esri’s imagery solutions director. “The applications that participants design will offer proof-of-concept models useful to imagery analysts worldwide.”

    According to the announcement, participants are required to improve efficiency, productivity, or accuracy for detecting and analyzing land-cover change using MDA synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imagery from RADARSAT-2 and 5 m multispectral imagery from RapidEye. They will use Esri and PCI software to process and analyze imagery. Grant participants, project titles, and organizations are listed on the Esri Natural Resources Imagery Grant Program web page.

    “Imagery provides a cost-efficient means to monitor and measure what is happening on the ground and can be integrated with GIS to make better decisions,” said Terry Moloney, president and CEO of PCI Geomatics. “Our partnership with Esri on this program will significantly change the GIS approach participants will apply to land-use management, planning, and policy making.