GPS World

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  • Phase One launches cameras, lenses for UAV-based aerial imagery

    According to Phase One Industrial, the iXM 100MP is a high-productivity metric camera with a range of high-resolution lenses. Photo by Allison Barwacz

    Phase One Industrial has launched the iXM series, an aerial camera platform driven by its fast medium-format imaging sensor.

    Engineered for UAV-imaging missions, the iXM 100MP is a high-productivity metric camera with a range of high-resolution lenses. It is ready for integration with various UAV platforms, including Phase One’s DJI Matrice 600 Pro solution.

    The iXM 100MP metric camera incorporates the first medium-format sensor with backside-illumination technology, enabling high light sensitivity and extended dynamic range. Fast, highly responsive, robust and weatherproof (IP53 compliant), the iXM 100MP delivers superior quality aerial imaging and flexible operation to satisfy diverse mapping, surveying and inspection applications, the company said.

    In addition, Phase One announced four new specially developed RSM lenses — with focal lengths ranging from 35mm to 150mm — to seamlessly fit the new sensor’s 3.76 μm pixel size and 33 x 44 mm frame size, ensuring image sharpness across the entire FOV. The lenses are available with either fixed-focus or motorized-focus functionality.

    The fixed-focus 35mm and 80mm lenses provide superior image radiometric quality, high ground resolution and large coverage, suitable for surveying applications.

    The motorized-focus 80mm and 150mm lenses are designed for a wide range of inspection applications, including electricity poles, wind turbines, bridges, and other private-sector or government structures.

    Motorized-focused lenses, having no external moving parts, enable a number of new uses for inspection applications where the focusing distance can be predefined based on flight planning, or by the operator, using a wireless remote control. With the motorized lens, the camera captures sharp and highly detailed images of multi-distance or 3D objects.

    The cameras’ RSM lenses incorporate a new leaf-shutter technology, which supports 3 fps capture — with a speed of 1/2500 sec — while guaranteeing 500,000 actuations. The lenses are thermally stable to ensure consistent focus over a wide range of temperatures and flight altitudes.

    With optics designed to exploit the full benefits of the new sensor technology, the lenses provide with greater productivity, flexibility and reliability, offering superb image quality.

    The new iXM platform adds XQD high-speed storage technology to handle the sensor’s extremely fast frame rate. Also on all cameras, HDMI output from actual exposure provides UAV operators simple and outage-free feedback of actual view, exposures, and camera status in overlays.

    In addition, the new platform includes USB-C and 10G Ethernet for versatility of connectivity to large UAVs and aircraft.

    “Working with our UAV partners, we see a fast-growing market driven by great potential for time and cost savings over traditional inspection and surveying methods,” said Dov Kalinski, General Manager of Phase One Industrial. “With its new technology, design, and capabilities, the iXM 100MP promises to help start a new era in inspection missions with UAVs. Phase One Industrial continues to push technical boundaries to equip drones and larger UAVs with superior imaging technology — engineering advanced systems, cameras, and software — to help achieve that potential.”

    The iXM 100MP and iXM 50MP metric cameras are available for advance order  from Phase One Industrial partners worldwide  with delivery in June 2018.

  • 3DR launches ground control point app for drones

    3DR, makers of the Site Scan drone software platform for construction and engineering professionals, has released 3DR GCP, an Android app enabled by the Trimble Catalyst on-demand GNSS service that makes it simpler for Site Scan users to capture and use ground control points (GCPs) on commercial drone projects.

    Now, instead of having to export ground-control-point data files and manually upload them into Site Scan, 3DR customers can use 3DR GCP to quickly capture ground control points and automatically transfer them to their corresponding projects in the Site Scan cloud for georeferencing and processing. According to the company, this makes it easy for any Site Scan user to create accurate drone maps and models of their projects.

    3DR GCP is enabled by Trimble Catalyst, a software-defined GNSS receiver and on-demand positioning service for Android phones and tablets. Developed by Trimble, the service uses a small, lightweight, plug-and-play digital antenna to deliver high-quality satellite data to the 3DR GCP app running on the user’s Android device.

    The service is available as a monthly subscription, which unlocks a range of precision levels from meter to only a few centimeters. Customers simply go on-site, plug the Catalyst DA1 antenna into their Android device, launch 3DR GCP, and capture ground control points at the level of accuracy enabled by their Catalyst subscription.

    “3DR GCP provides our customers an end-to-end, cloud-based ground control point workflow from the field to the office,” said Chris Anderson, CEO of 3DR. “With this app, we’ve closed the loop on ground control points by making one simple, connected workflow from start to finish.”

    “Trimble is excited for 3DR to join our ecosystem with the launch of 3DR GCP,” said Gareth Gibson, business development manager for Trimble Catalyst. “With this innovative ground control app, 3DR is making it easier than ever for their customers across the world to create accurate, reliable drone maps and models and better capture their projects.”

    3DR GCP can be purchased along with Site Scan subscriptions, and will require a Trimble DA1 antenna and Catalyst subscription.

  • u-blox high-precision GNSS module based on its F9 technology

    u-blox, a global provider of leading positioning and wireless communication technologies, has released the ZED-F9P multi-band GNSS module with integrated multi-band real-time kinematics (RTK) technology for machine control, ground robotic vehicles and high-precision unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) applications.

    The ZED‑F9P measures 22 x 17 x 2.4 millimeters and uses technology from the recently announced u‑blox F9 platform to deliver robust high-precision positioning performance in seconds.

    The u-blox ZED-F9P is a mass market multi-band receiver that concurrently uses GNSS signals from all four GNSS constellations (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo and BeiDou). Combining GNSS signals from multiple frequency bands (L1/L2/L5) and RTK technology lets the ZED‑F9P achieve centimeter-level accuracy in seconds, the company said.

    Receiving more satellite signals at any given time maximizes the availability of centimeter-level accuracy even in challenging environments such as in cities.

    With its high update rate, the ZED‑F9P is suitable for highly dynamic applications such as UAVs. Featuring on-chip integration of advanced multi-band RTK algorithms, it requires no additional hardware or third-party RTK libraries. Ready to use on delivery and easy to integrate, it helps product developers quickly bring their ideas to the market.

    ZED-F9P is fully geared to clearing the three main hurdles that have kept centimeter-level positioning accuracy from breaking into mass-market applications: cost, size and power consumption. Significantly smaller and more energy efficient than existing solutions, and as a cost efficient alternative, the ZED-F9P will enable new high-precision positioning applications for the mass market.

    “The new ZED-F9P GNSS receiver builds on the success of our NEO-M8P high-precision GNSS module, but takes performance to another level by leveraging all the available GNSS signals,” said Mårten Ström, senior principal product management, product center positioning at u‑blox. “By making robust and affordable high-precision positioning technology more accessible, we hope to fuel innovation and enable a new generation of high-precision GNSS navigation applications.”

    Engineering samples will be available at the end of July.

  • Esri to donate software to in-need nations for census work

     

    Through the new Esri Official Statistics Modernization Program, the company will donate perpetual use licenses for ArcGIS software to eligible official statistical agencies in least developed countries (LDCs) and small island developing states (SIDS).

    The program provides access to Esri ArcGIS Enterprise technology in support of the upcoming census counts that all countries will undertake during the Census, 2020 Round.

    The data collected as part of these census counts is crucial to nations for competing on the global stage. By using authoritative methods of collection and the cutting-edge mapping and analytics tools that Esri is donating, developing nations can gain an advantage in making data-driven policy decisions suited to a globalized economy.

    The Esri Official Statistics Modernization Program provides access to the same software that hundreds of thousands of Esri customers—from public agencies to private enterprises—rely on every day to run their organizations. Esri will also provide guidance and best practices workflows at no cost so countries can implement their own systems to help with collecting data for their census.

    “Population and housing censuses are big efforts for countries, especially those that may not have the resources readily available,” said Linda Peters, Esri global business development manager. “These censuses are important, as the data collected is one of the primary sources of information needed for formulating, implementing, and monitoring policies aimed at inclusive socioeconomic development and sustainability.”

    Modernization efforts around census activities are helping countries leapfrog from paper-based workflows to digital and mobile ones. The United Nations (UN) expert group that specifically focuses on integrating statistical and geospatial information advised all countries to use a Global Statistical Geospatial Framework (GSGF) to aid in the modernization program.

    This framework requires nations using GIS technology like Esri’s to ensure the implementation of up-to-date capabilities like data accessibility, ease of use of the technology, and the conversion of addresses into geographic coordinates on maps (geocoding).

    The Esri Official Statistics Modernization Program was announced at the GIS for a Sustainable World conference in Geneva, Switzerland, co-organized by Esri and the UN. For more information on the program and nation eligibility, visit go.esri.com/officialstatisticsprogram.

  • Septentrio AsteRx-i provides IMU-enhanced GNSS positioning

    Septentrio AsteRx-i provides IMU-enhanced GNSS positioning

    GNSS receiver manufacturer Septentrio has launched the next-generation AsteRx-i at the IEEE/ION Position Location and Navigation Symposium in Monterey, California.

    The AsteRx-i combines Septentrio’s latest compact, multi-frequency multi-constellation GNSS engine with an external industrial-grade MEMS-based inertial measurement unit (IMU). It can deliver accurate and reliable GNSS/IMU integrated positioning to the centimeter level as well as full 3D attitude at high update rates and low latency.

    Key benefits for users:

    • IMU-enhanced GNSS positioning with full attitude: heading pitch and roll
    • Quad-constellation, multi-frequency, all-in-view real-time kinematic (RTK) receiver
    • AIM+ interference monitoring and mitigation system
    • High-update rate, low-latency positioning and attitude

    Designed around demanding requirements for size, weight and power consumption, the AsteRx-i is suitable for optical inspection and photogrammetry.

    Accompanied by a UAS-tailored carrier board, the AsteRx-i integrates seamlessly into light UAVs. The versatility of design and range of connection interfaces extend the AsteRx-i applicability to automation and robotics and as well as logistics.

    The AsteRx-i includes Septentrio’s GNSS+ suite of positioning algorithms to convert difficult environments into good positioning: LOCK+ technology to maintain tracking during heavy vibration, APME+ to combat multipath and IONO+ technology to ensure continued position accuracy during periods of elevated ionospheric activity.

    It also features AIM+ interference mitigation and monitoring system which can suppress the widest variety of interferers, from simple continuous narrowband signals to the most complex wideband and pulsed jammers.

    “Complementing our GNSS portfolio with an INS offering is a natural evolution of our product range. At Septentrio, we design our GNSS solutions with a focus on reliability and availability. Smart integration of inertial sensors builds on these strengths to make affordable high-precision positioning and orientation solutions possible for ever more demanding applications,” said Francesca Clemente, product manager at Septentrio.

  • Boundless Anywhere enables real-time mobile data collection

    Boundless Anywhere is a new mobile application for enterprises needing to collect and distribute location information from handheld devices and tablets, available for iOS or Android.

    BoundlessAnywhereMobile-WWith Boundless Anywhere, organizations can collect data in the field and store it instantly in a database. Collected data can then be visualized on clients such as desktop GIS, web and mobile. With real-time access to location-based data, the entire organization can now accomplish work faster and more efficiently.

    “Mobility is at the heart of today’s technology, and the rapid proliferation of smartphones and tablets in recent years has had a profound impact on the GIS industry,” said Anthony Calamito, chief geospatial officer at Boundless. “The ability to access all kinds of data — including location data — from the palm of our hands at any given time or place has become essential. With this extended offering, Boundless offers mobile capabilities that empower users to do more while on the move.”

    With Boundless Anywhere, users of the Boundless enterprise GIS platform can collect geospatial data wherever they are and use maps to engage a community, validate data, make observations, report, respond and communicate in real-time. The new solution simplifies field collection workflows and improves the accuracy of geospatial data, saving time and money.

    Users are able to capture new data and edit or delete existing data with or without an internet connection, and can sync instantly once they are back online. Updates and edits are instantly available on Boundless Exchange, where the entire team can analyze and share findings with the rest of the organization.

    Key advantages:

    • Collaborate in real-time to make faster decisions. View mobile edits instantly on the web, making it easy to pull data into your GIS for mapping, analysis, and reporting.
    • Ground-truth data to improve accuracy. Take expensive transcription errors out of the equation. Mobile workflows modernize field collection away from clipboards and cameras, ensuring data collected on-location is current and accurate.
    • Empower responders to collect, even when offline. A good network connection is never guaranteed in the field – the Boundless Anywhere solution lets you edit GIS data in even the most remote areas and sync it when you’re back online.
    • GIS apps don’t have to be cumbersome. Collect GIS data and photos in a straightforward interface that’s easy to use and can turn your entire team into data collectors.

    Boundless solutions are built on open GIS technology and APIs that generate actionable location intelligence across third-party apps, content services and plugins for enterprise applications.

  • TCarta delivers surface models for Caribbean disaster recovery

    TCarta, a global provider of marine geospatial products, has delivered pre- and post-disaster surface models for the Caribbean islands of Antigua and Barbuda for use in Hurricane Irma recovery efforts.

    The satellite-derived surface models contain seamless datasets of onshore elevation and offshore water-depth measurements for each island.

    The United Kingdom government commissioned the Hurricane Irma disaster mapping for Antigua and Barbuda as part of the Commonwealth Marine Economies Programme. TCarta won a competitive tender, which specifically requested end products derived from satellite imagery.

    “By specifying satellite-derived data as the deliverable in its tender, the U.K. government acknowledged the speed and cost advantages this technology offers compared with traditional shipborne surveying or airborne lidar collection,” said TCarta CEO David Critchley.

    Hurricane Irma devastated the Caribbean in September 2017. The governments of Antigua and Barbuda requested accurate data for onshore land elevations and offshore water depths from before and after the storm hit.

    The datasets will be used in digital change detection analyses to determine how Irma altered the surfaces of the land and seafloor. This will be vital information in repairing onshore drainage systems and updating coastal navigation charts.

    “A seamless onshore-offshore dataset is crucial for the hydrographic computer modeling to accurately visualize the integrated nature of the dynamic terrestrial and near-shore environments,” Critchley said.

    For the seafloor dataset, the TCarta team generated satellite-derived bathymetry products by extracting accurate water-depth measurements from high-resolution multispectral imagery acquired by the DigitalGlobe WorldView satellites. In the clear Caribbean waters around Antigua and Barbuda, bathymetric points were delivered on a 2-meter spacing to deeper than 20 meters.

    The TCarta team created digital surface models of the terrain on Antigua and Barbuda, using a technique to derive surface elevations at 0.5-meter point spacing from multiple WorldView images captured over the islands. Vegetation was then removed from surface models to yield bare-Earth elevation models.

    TCarta delivered the high-quality before-and-after datasets to the UK government which in turn distributed them to scientists on Antigua and Barbuda for damage assessment and planning for the coming hurricane season.

  • Teledyne Optech to showcase survey systems at GEOINT 2018

    Teledyne Optech will exhibit at the United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation’s GEOINT Symposium April 23-25 in Tampa, Florida.

    Technology partners from Teledyne Scientific & Imaging, Teledyne DALSA and Teledyne CARIS will exhibit together as part of Teledyne Imaging – Space & Defense in booth 1148.

    At GEOINT 2018, visitors can discover the advanced capabilities of the Optech Galaxy PRIME, the latest model of Teledyne’s Galaxy airborne laser terrain mapper, with enhanced range performance, collection efficiency, vegetation penetration and low-reflectance target detection.

    The Polaris Terrestrial Laser Scanner (TLS) will be on hand so that visitors can experience its highly automated and user-friendly interface and see its performance at ranges from 1.5 to more than 2,000 meters.

    In addition, attendees can learn about the Optech Maverick, the company’s first wearable mobile-mapping system that fits on a backpack.

    The Teledyne Imaging – Space & Defense initiative brings together the experience and capabilities of Teledyne Optech, Teledyne Scientific and Imaging, Teledyne DALSA, Teledyne e2V and Teledyne CARIS to expand the breadth of Teledyne Imaging solutions for geospatial intelligence. Representatives of end-user agencies, integrators or original equipment manufacturers (OEM) can visit booth #1148 to learn about a range of new developments and offerings.

  • Xsens INS module uses GNSS for positioning

    Xsens has expanded its MTi product portfolio with the introduction of the MTi-7, a miniature inertial navigation system (INS) module that uses input from an external GNSS receiver to provide an accurate, real-time position, velocity and orientation data stream.

    The module has a compact 12 x 12-millimeter footprint, weighs less than 1 gram and consumes under 100 milliwatts, making it suitable for use in space- and power-constrained devices such as drones, as well as autonomous or remote-controlled mapping and imaging equipment.

    Image: Xsens
    Image: Xsens

    Operating at output data rates up to 800 Hz, the MTi-7 achieves very low latency of 2 milliseconds, allowing for real-time operation of dynamic functions such as flight control and camera stabilization, the company said.

    The module also offers a position and velocity output suitable for the navigation of autonomous ground vehicles in sectors such as smart farming and robotics.

    The high performance of the MTi-7 is due to the advanced sensor fusion algorithms developed by Xsens to synchronize the inputs from the module’s onboard accelerometer, gyroscope and magnetometer with the signals from an external GNSS receiver or barometer.

    The raw sensor signals are combined and processed at high speed in the MTi-7 module to produce a real-time data stream showing the device’s horizontal and vertical position, velocity, roll, pitch and yaw. This user-friendly data stream may be supplied to a host processor via a standard I2C, SPI or UART interface.

    Based on the design of the successful MTi 1-series, the MTi-7 offers a straightforward upgrade path for current MTi-1 users on the same form factor. It is also able to provide heading, positioning and orientation accuracy more commonly found in much larger, heavier and higher power devices.

    Image: Xsens
    Image: Xsens

    :We are seeing exploding demand for accurate control of autonomous or computer-guided equipment such as drones and smart farming ground vehicles,” said Hein Beute, director of product marketing at Xsens. “With its tiny footprint, light weight and low power consumption, the MTi-7 provides the industry’s best solution for any such application that is limited in terms of space or power but that needs a high degree of accuracy and precision in position and orientation data.’

    The MTi-7 module is supported by an Arduino-compatible development kit (the MTi-7-DK), which provides access to the module’s I2C, SPI and UART interfaces via micro-USB connections.

    Developers can configure the operation of the MTi-7 via the freely available Xsens MT Software Suite. The MT Software Suite includes a GUI for PCs operating on the Linux or Windows platforms, as well as a full Software Development Kit including example source codes and complete documentation.

  • European Drone Summit to take place as part of Intergeo 2018

    European Drone Summit to take place as part of Intergeo 2018

    The first European Drone Summit will take place Oct. 15 in Frankfurt, Germany, to bring together stakeholders to discuss the future of drones in Europe. The summit is sponsored by UAV DACH e.V. and Interaerial Solutions of Intergeo.

    In addition to being a smart, up-and-coming technology, commercial drones are also an integral part of the digitalisation of business and society. The EU member states have agreed to introduce legislation regulating the operation of unmanned aircraft in Europe that takes into account both economic potential and safety requirements.

    The programme will be put together by UAV DACH experts and will explore legal aspects, technological issues and various application areas. Legislators, industry representatives and user groups will meet on the eve of Europe’s largest trade fair for commercial drones.

    The following experts will speak (with more to be named later):

    • Peter van Blyenburgh, UVSI
    • Max Scheck, Vereinigung Cockpit
    • Jules Kneepkens, EASA a.D.
    • Martin Brandenburg, DJI
    • Andreas Lamprecht, AIRMAP
    • Jörg Seebach, DeDrone

    UAV DACH is an association for commercial unmanned aviation in Europe. It represents the interests of 175+ corporate members from research, manufacturing and application located in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Spain and the Netherlands.

    The Interaerial Solutions part of Intergeo is the largest commercial drone trade fair in Europe. It takes place Oct. 16-18, also in Frankfurt.

  • Imaging tech from Australia’s Spookfish heads to North America

    Australian geospatial startup Spookfish has won a major Asia Pacific industry award for exporting imaging technology to the North American market.

    Spookfish has partnered with U.S.-based EagleView Technology Corporation, a North America provider of aerial imagery, and the two companies have collaborated to develop new technologies to meet the demands of the North American market.

    In mid-2017, EagleView placed its first large order for multiple Spookfish platforms following an extensive flight-test program. Spookfish is now building the platform in significant volumes to meet EagleView’s demands.

    Meanwhile, rollout of the Spookfish imaging technology for Australian customers is underway. Perth-based Spookfish offers high-resolution imagery of Perth, Melbourne and Adelaide online, with Sydney and Brisbane in the works.

    Spookfish’s technology enables rapid imaging of vast areas in high resolution from a multitude of angles at a fraction of the cost of contemporary systems, the company claims. Spookfish aims to use these capabilities to make it easy for organizations of all sizes to gain access to premium imagery content and pervasive 3D models allowing concise, accurate and cost effective decision-making.

    The Asia Pacific Spatial Excellence Awards (APSEA) showcase excellence within the spatial industry. Presented at Locate & GeoSmart Asia Conference in Adelaide, Australia, the APSEA award recognizes Spookfish’s success in innovating, commercializing and exporting its imagery capture and processing technology. Spookfish took home the APSEA Export Award after competition from companies around the Asia Pacific region.

    “This is an exciting achievement for Spookfish and the beginning of a substantial export opportunity for Australia,” said Spookfish CEO Jason Waller. “The award is a testament to the entire Spookfish team and their ability to research, innovate and successfully bring new technology into operation.

    “Spookfish has begun delivering multiple systems to our strategic partner, EagleView Technologies, with the export program generating significant revenue from capture systems and expected future royalty payments.

    “More importantly, the partnership with EagleView delivers extensive benefits to our Australian customers because as our world-leading technology continues to develop, it immediately becomes available in the domestic market.”

  • AUVSI reveals Xponential 2018 keynote speakers

    The Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) announced the keynote speakers for AUVSI Xponential 2018, taking pace April 30-May 3 at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver.

    According to AUVSI, the experts will present keynotes devoted to themes critical to the advancement and growth of unmanned systems.

    On Tuesday, May 1, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s David Autor and PrecisionHawk’s Michael Chasen will highlight how unmanned systems are changing the way we work and how technology is influencing different industries.

    On Wednesday, May 2, the University of North Carolina’s Zeynep Tufekci, Lockheed Martin’s Stephanie Hill and UPS’ Eduardo Martinez will explore the cross section between technology and society. This keynote will also cover the emergence of artificial intelligence, unmanned systems and robotics in the military, and the automated delivery of medication and vaccines to remote areas around the globe.

    Finally, on Thursday, May 3, Northrop Grumman’s Chris Hernandez, as well as a panel, will discuss the humanitarian and public safety applications of unmanned systems to provide aid and support.

    The panel will consist of the National Council on Public Safety UAS’ Charles L. Werner, Texas A&M University’s Robin Murphy, the Alameda County (California) Sheriff’s Office’s Thomas Madigan and the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control’s Mike Morgan.

    “We are pleased to welcome this exceptional line-up of experts to keynote the themed sessions at Xponential 2018,” said Brian Wynne, AUVSI president and CEO. “These outstanding speakers will enhance Xponential’s educational programming by lending their expertise, experience and unique perspective in unmanned systems, giving attendees a priceless opportunity to apply critical learning to real-life business challenges.”