GPS World

Tag: automotive dead reckoning

  • u-blox Launches Indoor/Outdoor Positioning Module with 3D Sensors

    The new NEO-M8L Automotive Dead Reckoning (ADR) module by u-blox has integrated motion, direction and elevation sensors. The module integrates gyro and accelerometer with u‑blox’ GNSS platform u-blox M8 to achieve high indoor/outdoor positioning performance for road vehicle and high-accuracy navigation applications.

    In addition to accessing the integrated module’s gyro and accelerometer data, accident reconstruction systems can provide the location of an accident to facilitate insurance claims even if a collision occurs in a tunnel or park house. High-end navigation devices are able to guide drivers through tunnels of several kilometers because of the accuracy of u-blox’ ADR system. Stolen vehicles can be located instantly due to continuous monitoring of sensor data and storage of location in non-volatile memory.

    “Devices for usage-based insurance, stolen vehicle recovery, road pricing, fleet management, emergency services, and vehicle navigation depend on reliable, uninterrupted positioning including tunnels, park houses and stacked highways,” said Thomas Nigg, vice president of product strategy at u-blox. “The NEO-M8L is the ideal solution for all road vehicle based applications, able to calculate a position in all circumstances based on its own internal sensors, regardless of satellite visibility and end-device orientation.”

    The NEO-M8L module will be demonstrated at the u-blox stand at electronica 2014 in Munich, November 11-14, Hall A4 Stand 219.

    The compact module is 12.2 x 16.0 x 2.5 mm, requires minimum host integration resulting in no risk, is low cost, and provides fast time-to-market design, u-blox said. With uncritical orientation of the installed module, odometer function and autonomous data logging, it is an all-in-one solution for all road vehicle applications requiring reliable and uninterrupted position in challenging environments such as urban canyons, tunnels and underground parking.

    The NEO-M8L embeds u-blox’ 3D Automotive Dead Reckoning (3D ADR) chip technology. Using the vehicle’s speed information and the module’s onboard sensors enables accurate positioning in three dimensions, even when satellite signals are completely lost and the end-device installation is not horizontal, u-blox said. An odometer function, based on the ADR technology, also provides accurate and continuous distance traveled.

    The module is able to track all visible GNSS satellites including GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, QZSS and all SBAS (European’s Galileo will be supported in a future firmware version). Concurrent reception of two GNSS systems is supported. The NEO-M8L module can output a position up to 20 times per second.

    The module uses u‑blox’ M8 GNSS chip and is available in Professional Product grade. This grade includes qualification according to the ISO16750 standard “Road vehicles — Environmental conditions and testing for electrical and electronic equipment” and manufacturing in ISO/TS 16949 automotive-certified factories.

    Samples and evaluation kits will be available in December 2014.

  • u-blox Introduces 3D Automotive Dead Reckoning

    u-blox Introduces 3D Automotive Dead Reckoning

    The u-blox ADR chip.
    The u-blox ADR chip.

    u-blox has introduced its next-generation semiconductor technology dedicated to advanced in-dash navigation, emergency call (including eCall, a European rapid response initiative, and ERA-GLONASS, Russia’s Government Accident Emergency Response System), usage-based insurance, road-pricing, and stolen-vehicle recovery systems.

    The UBX-M8030-Kx-DR chip integrates 3D Automotive Dead Reckoning (3D ADR) technology, which enables it to calculate a vehicle’s position, speed, and elevation in areas of poor or no satellite visibility, a common scenario in high-density urban environments, stacked highways, or parking garages.

    Here is a two-minute YouTube video demonstration.

    “Drivers expect car navigation systems to be fast, accurate, and work everywhere, regardless of satellite visibility. As cities expand, construction of more tunnels, multi-level overpasses and park garages is increasing,” said Thomas Nigg, VP Product Marketing at u‑blox. “Our solution meets this challenge head-on; regardless of satellite visibility, our 3D ADR chip shows movement in three dimensions to maintain continuous and accurate positioning in tunnels, stacked highways, multi-level or underground parking facilities.”

    The technology aids traditional GNSS navigation systems such as GPS, GLONASS and BeiDou by blending them with individual wheel speed, gyroscope and accelerometer information to maintain accurate 3D positioning even when satellite signals are completely lost.

    The UBX-M8030-Kx-DR chip is self-calibrating to compensate for sensor aging and temperature effects. It is compatible with virtually all vehicles and drive trains (i.e. front-, rear-, all-wheel drive), and supports a variety of sensor combinations. Sensor information can be derived from the vehicle’s sensors for the most cost-efficient implementation, or from external sensors for after-market solutions.  The chip is AEC-Q100 qualified and is produced in ISO/TS Automotive certified production sites.

    The chip requires minimum host integration or customization resulting in no risk, low cost, and fast time-to-market, u-blox said. Installation is uncritical thanks to automated software calibration. 3D ADR is accurate even at low speeds.

    The chip allows for easy testing, simple and modular production set-up, and minimal BOM. The chip comes in a 40-pin QFN package measuring only 5 x 5 mm and includes I2C, SPI, UART and USB interfaces.