GPS World

Tag: automotive

  • HRL Laboratories offers small, rugged IMU

    HRL Laboratories offers small, rugged IMU

    HRL Laboratories has introduced a new inertial measurement unit (IMU) that provides near navigation-grade accuracy in a palm-sized package.

    Smaller and lighter than grade-equivalent conventional sensors, HRL’s AXI-R100 delivers range-extending accuracy for GPS-contested navigation. The product is now ready for pre-production orders.

    Using silicon microelectro-mechanical systems (MEMS) technology, HRL’s gyros exceeds the performance of many tactical-grade IMUs in the same or smaller package size, and is manufactured in high volumes at wafer-scale. This near navigation-grade performance is available at a tactical-grade price.

    The new IMU is suitable for use in defense, aerospace and automotive applications, including missile-guidance systems and drone navigation, as well as for commercial automotive applications with higher levels of autonomy. The product is ready for integration as it has been designed and tested against challenging vibration, shock and thermal conditions representative of those applications.

    HRL will present product specifications at the 2026 Joint Navigation Conference, taking place this week in Cincinnati, Ohio, and is exhibiting in booth 129.

      By leveraging high volume design automotive methodologies, HRL designed AXI-R100 navigation sensors to scale for high-volume automotive demand while maintaining performance superiority over traditional tactical-grade sensors. The result is a gyroscope compatible with foundry fabrication processes for high volume applications.

      “Our gyroscopes and inertial sensors support navigation, pointing and stabilization systems for autonomous vehicles, aircraft and guided missile and munition applications,” said Jeff Dickman, director, Precision Sensing, HRL Laboratories. “We leveraged our extensive microelectronics legacy along with innovations in micromechanical and manufacturing processes to pave the way for AXI-R100 to address the urgent needs from our industrial base.”

    • u-blox expands auto GNSS portfolio, enabling ADAS & increasing safety

      u-blox expands auto GNSS portfolio, enabling ADAS & increasing safety

      U-blox has expanded its automotive GNSS portfolio with the launch of two highly specialized modules: the ZED-X20K and the ZED-A20K. This dual release addresses engineering needs of both mass-market advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and safety-critical autonomous architectures.

      Both modules feature pin-to-pin compatibility, enabling platform flexibility and simplifying product development across vehicle generations as well as jamming and spoofing detection to mitigate the impact of security risks.

      The ZED-X20K is designed for mass-market ADAS L3 and TCU/IVI applications, delivering lane-level accuracy worldwide using all-band GNSS and native Galileo High Accuracy Service (HAS). By eliminating the need for paid correction services, backend infrastructure, or service management, it reduces total cost and accelerates time-to-market while maintaining consistent global performance. 

      For applications that require a functional-safety concept for GNSS sensors, the ZED-A20K introduces a new architectural approach. It provides ISO 26262 ASIL-B(D)-compliant GNSS RAW data simultaneously to high-performance QM positioning outputs within a single module. This enables OEMs to transition from traditional dual hardware based-GNSS systems to a single module approach, reducing system complexity and cost. 

      With flexible support of externally hosted positioning engines, especially for ADAS of Levels 3 and up, the A20 concept enables enhanced flexibility for SDV–based architectures. The form-factor compatibility between ZED-X20K and ZED-A20K allows the flexibility to equip different trim levels with or without functional safety requirements out of a single socket.

      The ZED-X20K has reached the engineering sample stage, and its evaluation kit is available. Samples for the ZED-A20K will be available starting in August.

    • Innoviz Technologies demos InnovizThree lidar at CES 2026

      Innoviz Technologies demos InnovizThree lidar at CES 2026

      Innoviz Technologies, a Tier-1 direct supplier of automotive-grade lidar sensor platforms and software stacks, is demonstrating its fully colored long-range lidar with camera at CES 2026 this week in Las Vegas.

      The InnovizThree creates a compact sensor-fusion module designed to significantly reduce OEM integration complexity. The solution combines lidar and RGB sensing in a single compact perception module, purpose-built for behind-the-windshield installations, drones, micro-robotics and humanoids.

      The consolidation of an RGB camera inside InnovizThree reinforces Innoviz’s commitment to scalable, OEM-friendly sensor-fusion perception solutions designed for series production and long-term deployment with the potential to enable faster deployment and cost saving.

      The RGB sensing capabilities are factory-aligned with the lidar, with an ability to ensure precise and consistent visual-to-lidar geometry across production units. This alignment, combined with hardware-synchronized capture, will enable reliable multi-modal sensor-fusion data correlation while reducing calibration effort during vehicle integration., the company said.

      Delivered through a single integration interface, the solution will minimize wiring, interfaces, and system complexity. This approach will reduce the overall integration burden for OEMs, which is expected to enable simpler validation processes, optimized engineering effort, lower cost and faster time-to-production.

    • Quectel releases 5G-advanced 3GPP R18 automotive-grade cellular module

      Quectel releases 5G-advanced 3GPP R18 automotive-grade cellular module

      Quectel Wireless Solutions has launched a 5G-advanced (5G-A) automotive-grade cellular module, the AR588MA. The module integrates dual-band GNSS supporting both L1 and L5 bands with up to 30 Hz output.

      Based on MediaTek’s latest-generation MT2739 platform, the AR588MA supports 5G-A communication technology and complies with the 3GPP R18 standard protocol. It features both NB-NTN and NR-NTN satellite communication capabilities and supports dual-SIM dual-active (DSDA) technology, offering improved stability and reliability on cellular connections. It also includes intelligent driving scenario recognition.

      Designed in compliance with the AEC-Q104 Grade 2 automotive standard, it delivers fast, stable connectivity and reliable security for in-vehicle communication and benefits on-roof applications, like smart antennas for automotive, with higher temperature support.

    • Genesys launches high-definition ADAS maps for India

      Genesys launches high-definition ADAS maps for India

      Genesys has developed India’s first large-scale high-definition maps engineered specifically for vehicles enabled with advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS).

      Covering more than 1 lakh km of India’s national highways, expressways and strategic corridors, this initiative marks one of India’s most ambitious road intelligence programs and establishes a new benchmark for automotive-grade precision.

      India’s highways account for a disproportionately high share of road fatalities, driven by fast-moving traffic, inconsistent lane discipline, and limited real-time awareness for drivers and vehicles. HD maps narrow this gap by adding the centimeter-level context that traditional maps cannot provide — lane geometry, curves, slopes, signage, barriers and localization cues that help ADAS systems anticipate danger instead of merely reacting to it. This is a big leap forward from current sensor-based ADAS systems, Genesys said.

      The HD maps include ADAS-critical features such as lane geometry, road markings, barriers, signage, medians, elevation and curvature profiles, and localization objects like poles and gantries — all processed to achieve centimeter-grade precision.

      CORS network plays a key role

      To achieve the centimeter-level accuracy required for ADAS Level 2 functionality, Genesys relies on the Survey of India’s Continuously Operating Reference Stations (CORS) network. Real-time GNSS correction signals along major corridors dramatically strengthen field operations, allowing survey teams to capture lane-level and asset-level detail that meets global automotive standards.

      This work builds on the existing memorandum of understanding between Genesys and Survey of India, enabling collaboration on digital twin projects, national mapping programs, and high-accuracy geospatial missions.

      These datasets are owned by Genesys and can be licensed across industries, creating opportunities in commercial fleet navigation, logistics optimization, mobility platforms, safety analytics and automotive R&D.

    • Swift Navigation and Asensing partner on automotive-grade GNSS for industrial autonomy

      Swift Navigation and Asensing partner on automotive-grade GNSS for industrial autonomy

      Swift Navigation and Asensing have announced full compatibility between the Asensing NAV3120 high-precision GNSS positioning module and Swift’s Skylark Precise Positioning Service. Skylark is a cloud-based service that improves the accuracy of GNSS from several meters to a few centimeters.

      The widespread deployment of connected and autonomous IoT systems — including smart delivery robots, UAVs, precision agriculture and logistics — demands reliable, centimeter-level positioning that performs consistently across diverse environments and at scale.

      Swift’s Skylark Nx RTK, the highest precision variant of Skylark, leverages a proprietary atmospheric model to deliver continuous 1-2 cm accuracy across vast geographic areas, including Western Europe. The carrier-grade network eliminates the need for developers to manage base stations or switch between multiple correction providers, simplifying the deployment of high-precision outdoor robots at scale.

      The seamless interoperability between Skylark Nx RTK and Asensing’s NAV3120 module provides customers with a highly reliable, centimeter-accurate solution packaged in a compact, automotive-qualified hardware module. Joint testing demonstrated this high performance, with the solution achieving a sustained 1.7 cm horizontal position error at 95% confidence during a 24-hour period, which significantly accelerates time-to-market for applications requiring the highest level of positioning integrity.

      The NAV3120 is full-constellation and quad-frequency signal reception module engineered for demanding applications. Features include:

      • Automotive-grade. Complies with AEC-Q100 standards for integrated circuits used in automotive applications.
      • Extreme operating range. Sustains temperatures from -40°C to +105°C.
      • Compact design. Small size and standard 17 x 22 x 3.1 mm footprint, weighing only 2g.
      • Efficient power. Low power consumption of just 0.4W.

      The integrated solution is available now for use for autonomous mobile robots, UAVs, fleet management, advanced handhelds and wearables, and precision agriculture.

    • GNSS chipset shipments to hit 2.4B by 2029

      GNSS chipset shipments to hit 2.4B by 2029

      Demand for GNSS chipsets is rising globally, driven by growth in key verticals such as automotive and transportation, consumer electronics, and asset tracking applications. According to global technology intelligence firm ABI Research, global GNSS chipset shipments are projected to grow to 2.4 billion by 2029. 

      China is expected to lead this growth with the highest Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 7.2% between 2024 and 2029, followed closely by Western Europe at 6.7% and the rest of the Asia-Pacific region at 5.6%. In contrast, the Middle East and Africa is anticipated to see slower growth, with a CAGR of 2.7%.

      “We are seeing a growing demand for consumer electronics, especially in countries like India, Indonesia, Vietnam and Thailand,” explains Rachel Kong, research analyst at ABI Research. “This is fueled by the rapidly growing middle-class populations and smartphone penetration rates, which are boosting the adoption of GNSS-enabled smartphones, wearables and tablets. In particular, the Sport & Wearables category – which includes devices such as smartwatches, smart glasses, fitness and wellness trackers, and wearable cameras – is forecast to see the highest CAGR of 13.2% between 2024 and 2029.”

      Increased E6 band support

      Another key technology experiencing rapid growth is GNSS chipsets supporting the E6 band, an emerging GNSS frequency designed for high-precision applications. These chipsets are expected to achieve a strong CAGR of 36.7% between 2024 and 2029, largely driven by high-precision applications such as autonomous driving, aerospace, critical infrastructure monitoring, land surveying, and new location-based services.

      With increasing global interoperability and integration of multiple GNSS solutions, worldwide demand for seamless, high-precision navigation continues to rise.

      “Manufacturers are more willing to adopt multi-constellation chipsets to support a broader range of applications and geographies,” said Kong.

      In addition, vendors such as Quectel, Unicore, Trimble and ComNav Technology are increasingly launching and developing products that support the E6 band. Recent updates, including Trimble’s firmware enabling Galileo High Accuracy Service (HAS) on its devices, and Unicore introducing the UM981 high-precision positioning model, demonstrate the growing traction of this frequency band. Multi-frequency bands are also gaining significance by offering enhanced positioning accuracy, improved signal reliability, and better resistance to interference.

      “These bands are already widely used in sectors such as aviation, maritime and automotive, and their adoption will continue to grow as new use applications emerge and evolve over time,” Kong said.

      These findings are from ABI Research’s Outdoor/Wide Area Location Technologies market data report, part of the company’s Space Technologies and Innovation research service, which includes research, data and ABI Insights.

    • Trimble and TDK join forces to accelerate precision navigation

      Trimble and TDK join forces to accelerate precision navigation

      Trimble and InvenSense, a TDK group company, will work together to deliver an advanced navigation solution that combines the Trimble ProPoint Go engine and Trimble RTX correction service with TDK’s SmartAutomotive inertial measurement units (IMUs) module from InvenSense.

      The solution is expected to provide greater accuracy and reliability in positioning and navigation across various automotive and IoT applications.

      The Trimble ProPoint Go positioning engine is designed to deliver high-accuracy position and orientation data by utilizing internationally accessible Trimble correction services. With quad-frequency GNSS signal support and Trimble ProPoint Go’s first-in-market Automotive Safety Integrity Level-C (ASIL-C) certified correction data, this positioning ecosystem helps companies enhance their automated driving capabilities with a focus on safety. It also helps drive accuracy for IoT applications such as field robotics.

      TDK IMUs integrate a triaxal accelerometer and a triaxal gyroscope in a compact six-axis motion sensor to detect the linear acceleration and angular velocity of vehicles and objects with superior level of accuracy. With its proprietary six-axis and MEMS fabrication platform, TDK inertial sensors enhance applications possibilities thanks to their high-performance, small-size and low-power features.

      “Together with TDK we are bringing the power of high-accuracy and precise positioning along with state-of-the art ASIL-certified sensors to help our customers build innovative solutions for automotive and IoT markets,” said Olivier Casabianca, vice president, advanced positioning at Trimble. “As we continue to expand our positioning services with TDK and other tier one companies, we are powering the connected world while ensuring the safety and accuracy of connected systems.”

      Positioning Solutions Built for the Connected World
      Key benefits of the ProPoint Go positioning engine and RTX correction with TDK’s modules include:

      • Accuracy. The synergy between the two solutions delivers superior positioning accuracy under all conditions: open sky, urban canyons and indoor, even in harsh environments and among wide temperature variations.
      • Reliability. Customers can rely on consistent and dependable orientation and navigation data, crucial for applications such as autonomous vehicles, drones and industrial machinery.
      • Versatility. The integrated solution is adaptable to a wide range of applications, such as automotive positioning, advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), cellular vehicle-to-everything (C-V2X), field robotics and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

      “Inertial and positioning data have become critical in enabling automation, improving efficiency and monitoring conditions,” said Stefano Zanella, automotive motion VP and general manager, TDK. “Building on almost a decade of collaboration with Trimble, we are delighted to take our efforts to the next level: by offering an integrated solution, we empower customers to accelerate deployment, streamline integration and maximize the value of this transformative technology.”

      The TDK automotive safety IMU components, developed as SEooC according to ISO 26262, are suitable for applications with requirements up to ASIL-D. In addition to its six-axis solution, TDK provides quality-managed solutions that also include a three-axis magnetometer in a nine-axis solution.

    • Geolocation companies consolidate as NextNav acquires Nestwave

      Geolocation companies consolidate as NextNav acquires Nestwave

      NextNav-Nestwave-logosNextNav Inc., a GPS and 3D geolocation company, has acquired Nestwave SAS, a privately held company specializing in low-power geolocation.

      The acquisition was completed Oct. 31 for $18 million.

      NextNav is based in McLean, Virginia, and Nestwave is located in based in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France. Nestwave provides advanced geolocation solutions to internet of things  (I0T) modem and digital signal processor vendors and end IoT users.

      Nestwave will adopt NextNav’s name and be integrated into existing TerraPoiNT engineering and technology efforts, with all Nestwave employees remaining with the company. Nestwave CEO Ambroise Popper will become NextNav’s vice president and general manager in France and is joining NextNav’s executive leadership team, while Nestwave CTO and Founder Rabih Chrabieh will serve as vice president of engineering.

      The combination of NextNav’s technology with Nestwave’s LTE/5G capabilities will allow NextNav to intelligently combine signals from existing terrestrial LTE/5G networks with its own highly synchronized TerraPoiNT system to deliver near nationwide resilient 3D position, navigation and timing (PNT) capabilities that contribute to dramatically lower deployment costs.

      The company serves markets including timing for critical infrastructure, aviation, automotive, IoT and other mass market applications sooner.

      “The acquisition of Nestwave presents a unique opportunity for NextNav to optimize further the use of its existing spectrum bandwidth, while contributing to a drastic decrease of our TerraPoiNT system’s future capital and operating expenditures,” said Ganesh Pattabiraman, NextNav co-founder and CEO.

      “By leveraging Nestwave’s unique technology and ambient LTE/5G waveform, NextNav can gain significant spectral efficiency, accelerate the availability of resilient PNT and release the underlying spectrum’s capacity for additional data-oriented services. An LTE/5G waveform also enables broader penetration of NextNav’s applications and technology across the handset and device ecosystem for all of its products and target markets,” Pattabiraman said.

      Pattabiraman continued, “Nestwave brings not only a physical presence in Europe, but also a team of professionals who have established strong relationships with European Union representatives that will be beneficial as we continue active conversations with government officials in the United States, Europe and globally over GPS/GNSS resilience.

      “The transaction is not expected to materially increase the company’s operational cash burn, and the lowered capital requirements will enable us to quickly scale our GPS resiliency capabilities in both the United States and global markets sooner than previously anticipated.”

      NextNav posted a pre-recorded conference call to discuss the acquisition.

    • Trimble adds integrity monitoring to Centerpoint RTX FAST service

      Trimble adds integrity monitoring to Centerpoint RTX FAST service

      Trimble has introduced data integrity monitoring for CenterPoint RTX Fast, its precise point positioning (PPP) correction service.

      The Trimble RTX Integrity monitoring system is an innovative, patented solution, built in direct response to client requirements for production-ready applications. It continuously validates the reliability of correction data processed by the network, which is broadcast to users in the agriculture, geospatial, construction and automotive industries, ensuring positioning data is right the first time.

      Through a two-step process, the Trimble RTX Integrity system verifies the integrity of GNSS data and filters faulty information in the network server before the data is broadcast. A secondary post-broadcast check is conducted on the entire data transmission process where additional errors may be detected and removed.

      The integrity monitoring system is fully automated and reacts in seconds to detect, isolate and block faulty data to provide even more highly accurate and reliable positioning.

      Trimble RTX Integrity is comprised of independent monitoring stations strategically positioned across RTX Fast networks in the United States, southern Canada and across Europe. These stations continuously monitor data output during multiple stages of the Trimble RTX positioning process. Any suspicious satellite data is removed during the integrity protection process and positioning is calculated using only validated data.

      Photo: Trimble
      Trimble Alloy GNSS reference receiver. (Photo: Trimble)

      Trimble Alloy GNSS reference receivers power the independent monitoring stations using redundant internet connectivity for added reliability. To date, no other positioning network offers the same level of data integrity validation across such expansive, contiguous geographies.

      Trimble RTX Integrity monitoring system was developed in accordance with Automotive Software Performance Improvement and Capability dEtermination (ASPICE) and ISO 26262 automotive safety standards, making it easy to integrate into major automotive manufacturers’ autonomous driving systems.

      Trimble RTX Integrity can also be used by Trimble’s customers in the agriculture, geospatial and construction industries to ensure correction stream integrity and reliability for applications such as machine control and high-accuracy surveying applications.

      “Trimble remains committed to exceeding expectations by providing accurate corrections to our customers to support safety-critical and other day-to-day applications,” said Patricia Boothe, SVP of autonomy, Trimble. “Implementing additional checks and balances to ensure our data is authenticated, trustworthy and accurate is of paramount importance to maintaining the integrity of our RTX network and instilling confidence with our users that the data is correct.”

    • Orolia releases Skydel GNSS simulation software upgrade

      Orolia releases Skydel GNSS simulation software upgrade

      Skydel 22.5 features advanced hardware-in-the-loop testing

      Orolia has released Skydel 22.5, a significant software upgrade to its Skydel simulation product line that features advanced hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing solutions providing very low to zero effective latency.

      The enhanced visualization tools can monitor internal latency through real-time curves showing when the data is generated and sent to the RF signal. Users can also review the transmission of HIL packets for optimizing the entire network’s latency, checking its stability (jitter), and that data is available and used at the right time in Skydel.

      HIL testing is an essential step in the verification process of the model-based design (MBD) approach because it involves all the hardware and software that will be used operationally. HIL verification can test a standalone device-under-test (DUT) or, more generally, an entire complex system consisting of multiple DUTs in both open- and closed-loop architectures.

      “The vast majority of problems encountered by engineers on HIL systems are related to poor control of the latency of the entire simulation chain, as they are insufficiently accessible, transparent and controlled on the competing systems,” said Pierre-Marie Le Veel, principal system architect and product manager for GNSS simulation. “Thanks to these tools, our high-end performance and well-known intuitive automation, Skydel dramatically reduces the implementation time of a HIL system (which can be very significant) and, therefore, the project’s overall cost.”

      Photo: Orolia
      Photo: Orolia

      In addition to these tools, Skydel implements modern extrapolation algorithms that achieve zero effective latency. These algorithms make it possible to keep position errors negligible, even for equipment with very high dynamics used in national defense applications such as missiles, rockets and guided shells.

      “These advanced HIL algorithms and tools are available – and with the same performance – on our Wavefront simulation systems to test controlled reception pattern antenna (CRPA) systems,” Le Veel added.

      Additional constellations, signal types and options such as real-time kinematic (RTK) and multi-instance are available along with dedicated bundled simulation starter packages for automotive.

      The upgrade is available at no additional cost for existing users operating Skydel 22.5. Application notes, support documents and tutorials are available online.

    • U-blox upgrades GNSS receivers for faster cm accuracy

      U-blox upgrades GNSS receivers for faster cm accuracy

      GNSS correction service receivers and the firmware-upgraded ZED-F9P upgraded to achieve reliable centimeter-level accuracies in seconds

      Photo: U-blox
      Photo: U-blox

      U‑blox is offering a suite of products and feature additions that simplify access to reliable centimeter-level positioning accuracies for the industrial, navigation and robotics markets.

      The upgraded ZED-F9P high-precision GNSS receiver module and the corresponding NEO-D9S and NEO-D9C GNSS correction data receivers offer customers flexibility in assembling scalable solutions for their specific use cases, including robotic lawnmowers, unmanned autonomous vehicles (UAV) and semi-automated or fully automated machinery.

      The software-upgraded u‑blox ZED-F9P-04B high-precision GNSS receiver is the first to support a secure SPARTN GNSS correction data format. It seamlessly connects to two new GNSS correction service receiver modules that stream correction data from communication satellites:

      • The u‑blox NEO-D9S will initially cover the European and U.S. markets before rolling out to the other areas of the globe.
      • The u‑blox NEO-D9C will cover Japan.

      The NEO-D9S receives correction data using the SSR SPARTN data format over the satellite L-band channel. It uses cryptography to securely deliver PPP-RTK GNSS correction data, such as that offered by u‑blox’s PointPerfect service.

      The NEO-D9C leverages the subscription-free Centimeter-Level Augmentation Service (CLAS) broadcast over mainland Japan provided by the Japanese Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS) constellation on the L6-band channel.

      While u‑blox GNSS receivers are designed to work with most correction services on the market, pairing the ZED-F9P with the NEO-D9C or the NEO-D9S correction data receiver enables customers to save data transmission cost and operational efforts, the company said.

      ZED-F9P-04B offers a new feature called protection level, which increases the trust applications can place in its position output. By continuously outputting the upper bound of the maximum likely positioning error, referred to as the protection level, the receiver lets autonomous applications, such as UAVs, make efficient real time path planning, increasing the quality of their operations.

      In the case of robotic lawnmowers, the increased accuracy and reliability of the position will, for example, make it possible to do away with boundary wires, which today are buried under the turf to delimit the mowing area. Furthermore, it will allow lawnmowers to systematically cover a plot based on a digital map, as opposed to the random mowing approach commonly used today.

      First samples of these products are available today, in professional and automotive grade. The correction data receivers will be available in automotive grade for the automotive markets.