Eos Positioning Systems has released its Arrow Gold+ GNSS receiver, which supports the Galileo high-accuracy service (HAS). Arrow Gold+ enables users to achieve better than 20 cm accuracy with 95% confidence using Galileo HAS.
The Arrow Gold+ is one of the first high-accuracy GNSS receivers that supports Galileo HAS and is designed specifically for the geographic information systems market. Additional signal support for Arrow Gold+ includes: the concurrent use of the BeiDou B3 and GPS L5 signals as well as GLONASS, BeiDou, QZSS and IRNSS signals.
Galileo HAS is a differential correction service from the European Space Agency and European Union Agency for the Space Programme. The service became available on January 24, and it is the first global differential correction service to provide sub-meter accuracy to compatible GNSS receivers anywhere in the world.
For more information on the Arrow Gold+ click here.
The danger of hitting a buried water or gas pipe when digging for a construction project persists despite many efforts to reduce it, such as “call before you dig” phone numbers. For example, in Minnesota there were 4,000 such hits in 2019. That is one reason why it is very important to map “as built” underground utilities accurately. This must be done quickly and efficiently, before trenches are filled and without slowing progress of the project.
Traditionally, crews have mapped the underground pipes and cables on paper. In turn, when a construction project needs to know the location of underground utilities before digging, it typically relies on someone who consults those paper maps, uses an electromagnetic utility locating tool, and marks the ground with spray paint. The construction crew then must correctly interpret those marks on the ground. In 2019, Minnesota-based utility consultancy Ellingson Companies was asked to develop a new and more efficient process.
Capturing Data in Real Time
By leveraging solutions from Esri and from Canadian hardware and software manufacturer Eos Positioning Systems, Ellingson Companies GIS Manager Damon Nelton developed a solution that allows his team to capture new pipe construction in real time. By streamlining documentation workflows, the new process improved field productivity and allowed Ellingson Companies to produce digital as-builts that meet the needs of its gas utility clients and improve the safety of future construction projects.
While construction crews have been putting pipe in the ground for generations, today they are expected to produce a digital record of their work in real time — for the sake of safety and efficiency.
Using Esri’s Utility Pipeline Data Model, Nelton created a system that enables crews to map their as-built pipe projects while also tracking components. The system improves data integrity — in other words, reduces human error — by relying on scannable 16-digit alphanumeric bar codes developed by the American Society for Testing and Materials that provide seven attributes for each conduit, including thickness, diameter, lot number and manufacturer date. To collect and store these data, Nelton set up an ArcGIS Enterprise geodatabase.
Gas meters, which also need to be mapped, are often in locations that are hard to map directly with a GNSS receiver because line-of-sight to the satellites is obstructed by trees, roof eves, or adjacent buildings. Therefore, they must be shot with an offset. For these situations, Nelton used Eos Positioning Systems’ laser mapping solution, which enables surveyors to use lasers attached to their range poles to feed data directly into their GIS.
No More Battleship
Using Eos Positioning System’s Arrow Gold receiver and the MNCoors RTK network, Nelton said, his team was able to average an accuracy of 0.25 throughout a project in the city of Owatonna, Minnesota, as confirmed by spot checks with other survey equipment and with the city’s survey team.
“Not every shot was easy, and some took multiple attempts and tricks of the trade to get them,” Nelton pointed out.
On projects in the middle of mountains, where real-time kinematic (RTK) networks do not exist, the company has used the Atlas Service, averaging accuracies of 12 in.
“Given the circumstances of these projects,” Nelton said, “we still consider that to be great.”
Using the new system, foremen use a survey in ArcGIS Survey123 to input their inspection notes and other information, feeding it all from the field to the office and into layers shared between divisions. This way, the data are available in real time, not at the end of the project.
For customers who still want a piece of paper to file in a physical folder in a filing cabinet, Nelton creates a Microsoft Word document template in their format, populates it using dynamic text with syntax in ArcGIS Pro, inserts a map, then saves the Word document as a PDF.
“At the end of the project, we got almost 17,000 digits with no human entry other than pressing the button on the barcode scanner, which means zero data errors,” said Nelton.
No pieces of paper with critical data on the underground utilities languish in a glove compartment or are eaten by a surveyor’s dog, and all the data is available in real time.
Additionally, the combination of the barcode scanning workflow and the high accuracy GNSS receiver enables Nelton’s team to locate gas asset pieces that need to be replaced — for example, due to a recall by the manufacturer — “without playing battleship,” he said.
Professionals can capture high-accuracy laser offsets directly into ArcGIS Field Maps on Android devices with Arrow Series GNSS receivers
Image: Eos Positioning
Eos Positioning Systems Inc. announces the release of its Eos Laser Mapping for ArcGIS solution on Android devices. Previously, the free solution was available only on iOS. It allows mobile crews to capture asset locations from a distance with survey-grade accuracy.
“We are excited to provide this already popular iOS solution also to our customers using Android devices,” Eos Chief Technology Officer Jean-Yves Lauture said.
The solution combines technology from geographic information system (GIS) provider Esri, laser rangefinders from Laser Tech, and Eos’ own Arrow Series GNSS receivers.
“The Eos Laser Mapping solution was extremely well-received with its initial release, so we are excited to see the same features now available for ArcGIS Field Maps users on Android devices,” Esri Field Apps Engineering Lead Jeff Shaner said.
The Eos Laser Mapping release on Android supports three workflows, or mapping methodologies: Standard Laser Offset (sometimes called Range-Azimuth), Range-Range (or Range-Intersect), and Range-Backsight (a total station-like method).
The original laser offset solution was released in 2018 by Eos in partnership with Esri and Laser Tech.
A roundup of recent products in the GNSS and inertial positioning industry from the August 2021 issue of GPS World magazine.
OEM
GNSS board
Photo: Javad GNSS
With GLONASS dynamic calibration
The TRE-3S GNSS board measures 100 x 80 mm, weighs 87 g and tracks 874 channels with all-in-view satellite tracking. It includes numerous features to protect against interference and improve signal output: spectrum data output, spoofing detection, advanced multipath reduction, in-band interference rejection, GLONASS 0.2-mm dynamic calibration, heading determination, attitude determination and fast acquisition channels. The TRE-3S receives GPS L1/L2/L2C/L5; Galileo E1/E5A/E5B/AltBoc/E6; GLONASS L1/L2/L3; BeiDou B1/B1C/B2/B3; QZSS L1/L2/L5/L6 (L61/L62); and SBAS L1/L5. It has a 20-Hz update and real-time kinematic (RTK) rate for real-time positioning and raw data (code and carrier). Optional features include tracking QZSS L6 (LEX) and IRNSS L5/S-band, and a data update rate and RTK rate of 100 Hz.
For high-precision applications with L-band corrections
Photo: Maxtena
The M9HCT-A-SMA is a patented helix antenna for GNSS plus L-band corrections services, suitable for high-precision and autonomous multi-frequency applications. It provides simultaneous GNSS reception in a rugged, compact form factor. The M9HCT-A-SMA is suitable for high-precision applications such as the UAV market, where high performance and low weight are driving features in antenna selection. The active helix design features Maxtena’s patented compact and lightweight Helicore technology, which provides excellent pattern control, polarization purity and high efficiency in a compact form factor.
New eXtended Filtering (XF) is now employed in the TW3900 series of Accuntena precision antennas. The XF feature mitigates interference from all near-band signals and ensures the antenna provides the purest possible GNSS signals. The custom XF filtering has been tested to mitigate new (in Europe and Japan) and existing LTE signals, enabling the XF antennas to produce clean and pure GNSS radio frequency data. The XF models are TW3972XF, TW3972EXF, TW3972LGXF, TW3967XF and TW3967LGXF. All are triple-band antennas that support GPS/QZSS (L1/L2/L5), GLONASS (G1/G2/G3), Galileo (E1/E5ab), BeiDou (B1/B2/B2a), NavIC L5 and L-band correction services.
The iGS320 cycling computer builds on the u-blox M10 positioning platform, leveraging the M10’s ultra-low power consumption, compact size, and ability to track all four GNSS to offer endurance athletes a superior user experience. Adopting the M10 in its iGS320 cycling computer brought iGPSPORT an 80 percent increase in the power autonomy to deliver 72 hours of continuous tracking, up from 40 hours in their previous device. Concurrent reception of up to four GNSS constellations increases coverage and accuracy in otherwise challenging signal environments.
The Beamo 3D mapping platform enables surveyors to scan a project site and immediately collaborate with teams in the field without lengthy delays or cumbersome equipment. The digital twin created in the platform provides a single and secure source of truth for teams without requiring highly technical knowledge. With a 360-degree camera, surveyor teams can create detailed digital environments that remote teams can use to track progress, collaborate with coworkers, and take accurate measurements without having to physically visit the site.
The Triumph-3 receiver tracks efficiently even in difficult conditions. It can track all current signals and is ready for future satellites. The Triumph-3 can operate as a base together with Triumph-LS and Triumph-LS Plus to efficiently accomplish any geodetic job. Its RTK system communicates via integrated UHF, 4G/LTE, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth channels, and eliminates the need to subscribe to a real-time network for corrections. A powerful and reliable receiver for high-precision navigation systems, the Triumph-3 is based on the Javad GNSS 874-channel chip. It is equipped with an internal 4G/LTE/3G card and secure and accessible microSD and microSIM cards. It also supports Javad’s lift-and-tilt technology.
Eos Bridge enables almost any instrument to become iOS Bluetooth compatible. The pocket-sized device connects to instruments via Bluetooth Classic or serial port, and then transmits data to any Apple iOS device, such as iPhone or iPad, Android device or Windows mobile device. Instruments equipped with non-iOS Bluetooth can connect to Apple iOS devices using the Eos Bridge, including laser rangefinders and utility-locating instruments. Instruments whose only connectivity option is a serial port also can connect, such as any instrument or sensor with an RS-232 serial port. The Eos Bridge is lightweight, at approximately 150 grams (about 5.3 ounces). It can be worn clipped to a belt, stored in a pocket, or mounted to an instrument or sensor. The battery lasts 48 to 72 hours.
The OceanReports web tool provides users with specialized “ocean neighborhood analyses,” including maps and graphics, by analyzing more than 100 ocean datasets instantaneously. Reporting data includes information about habitats and species, industries in the area, potential hazards (such as undersea cables or shipwrecks), the economic value of ocean commerce, and other detailed oceanographic information. The web-based interactive tool for ocean mapping and planning, created by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, provides professional users and the general public with opportunities to explore the ocean from their own computer.
HxGN Mass Transit is a geospatial transportation infrastructure management system with 3D and AI capabilities for visualizing and analyzing transit and rail assets and operations. Built on Hexagon’s M.App Enterprise, HxGN Mass Transit provides an advanced digital twin of a city’s entire public transportation network — including tracks, stops, switches, construction sites, ticket machines, benches and garbage cans. It integrates asset and spatial data so operators can visualize and analyze an entire network with accurate and up-to-date information.
The GAJT-410MS provides anti-jamming to marine vessels. (Image: NovAtel)
The GAJT-410MS provides NovAtel’s GPS Anti-Jam Technology (GAJT) for the commercial and defense marine markets. The low SWaP variant protects civil and military operations from interference and jamming, with jammer direction-finding capabilities for enhanced situational awareness in the marine environment. The GAJT-410MS provides dynamic protection on both GPS L1 and L2 bands, as well as Galileo E1, QZSS L1 and L2, and SBAS L1 to combat intentional and unintentional interference.
The ACR 2830 GlobalFix V4 EPIRB marine distress beacon has multiple built-in redundancies to increase chances of survival in an emergency situation. The internal GPS receiver pinpoints the user’s location, which is then transmitted on the 406-MHz distress signal. In the absence of GPS-derived coordinates, the signal can be used to triangulate the position. The beacon’s 121.5 MHz homing signal will bring local search-and-rescue forces directly to the position; an LED strobe light allows them to see the position in low light. A Category 1 Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB), the GlobalFix V4 is a float-free device that will automatically activate when submerged in water. Two self-tests monitor transmission, power and battery performance as well as GPS acquisition.
A new connected platform for rail passengers with Wi-Fi, information and entertainment content is being installed on OUIGO Spain trains through the OUIFUN portal. Passengers can connect via smartphones, tablets or PCs, access the internet on board to check email or browse the web, and enjoy entertainment content. Passengers also will be able to get travel status information in real time via an interactive map, access tourist guides or consult a menu for on-board catering. The service, provided by Moment, launched on May 10 on OUIGO’s first high-speed line in Spain connecting Madrid to Barcelona, and will gradually be extended to the whole high-speed OUIGO network.
The ANAFI Ai UAV uses 4G as its main data link between the drone and the operator. The 4G link improves data transmission and enables precise control at any distance. For BVLOS flights, it stays connected even behind obstacles. The 4G link between the drone and the user’s phone is encrypted, with a secure element protecting both software integrity and data privacy. A software development kit enables creation of custom code for flights and gives access to all sensors, including obstacle-avoidance sensors, occupancy grid and internet access.
An introductory model in Sony’s new Airpeak line, the small S1 drone can be equipped with the company’s full-size mirrorless interchangeable-lens Alpha camera. Its proprietary motor, propeller, control system and sensing technology allow it to fly at high speed (a maximum speed of 55 mph) with stable wind resistance. Propulsion technology using a combination of devices developed by Sony provides wind resistance in strong wind speeds up to 44.7 mph. The Airpeak S1 includes obstacle detection, automatic flight control via sensing, and increased safety via cloud management of the aircraft.
At 80 grams, George is a low SWaP certifiable solution for enterprise operations and those wishing to type certify their UAS. Built around the open-source autopilot Cube from CubePilot, George combines Cube with Design Assurance Level C (DAL-C) hardware and safety and sensor monitoring, enabling customers to meet the type certification and safety case requirements for BVLOS operations. Its triple-redundant IMU includes three accelerometers, three gyroscopes, three magnetometers and three barometers. The hardware platform is designed and built to RTCA DO-254 DAL-C and meets rigorous DO-160G and MIL-810H power and environmental qualifications.
The Arrow Gold+ and Arrow 100+ plus models build upon the company’s highest demand GNSS receivers
Eos Positioning Systems, the global manufacturer of the Arrow series of GNSS receivers, has released two new Arrow Series GNSS receiver models: the Arrow Gold+ and Arrow 100+.
These plus model receivers expand upon the features of Eos’ two most popular GNSS standard receiver models, the Arrow Gold and Arrow 100.
Arrow Gold+
The Arrow Gold+ (Photo: Eos Positioning)
The Arrow Gold+ includes all the features of the standard Arrow Gold GNSS receiver model. However, the plus model also includes several enhanced features:
A battery life 3.5 hours longer, for a total of 11 hours of field autonomy
Support for additional GNSS signals, including concurrent use of BeiDou B3 and GPS L5 signals when using RTK corrections
Support for the upcoming Galileo E6 High-Accuracy Service (HAS), which will broadcast differential corrections for GPS and Galileo satellites directly from the Galileo satellites
Built-in capabilities of the Eos Bridge to connect with external sensors
The ability to connect multiple mobile devices to a single Arrow GNSS receiver via Bluetooth (sometimes called “multipoint”)
Arrow 100+
The Arrow 100+ (Photo: Eos Positioning)
Arrow 100+ includes all the features of the standard Arrow 100 GNSS receiver model. However, the plus model also includes several enhanced features:
A battery life 6 hours longer, for a total of 18 hours of field autonomy
Support for Atlas H50 (Basic) service subscriptions, which provides 30-50 cm positioning accuracy worldwide when no SBAS or RTK network is available
Built-in capabilities of the Eos Bridge to connect with external sensors
The ability to connect multiple mobile devices to a single Arrow GNSS receiver via Bluetooth (sometimes called “multipoint”)
For a full comparison between standard and plus model Arrow GNSS receivers, view this FAQ article.
An Eos representative can help customers determine whether the new plus models are right for your needs. Authorized Arrow GNSS receiver reseller, contact Eos online.
It has been 78 years since 110,000 Japanese-Americans were forcibly interned in 10 camps across the United States.
In 1942, President Franklin Roosevelt signed an executive order announcing their internment. When World War II ended in 1945, the 10 camps were unceremoniously abandoned. The people interned there, their descendants, and historical groups are now trying to preserve memory of the camps.
A new Esri StoryMap from Eos Positioning Systems explores the stories of two men whose lives were connected by Amache Internment Camp in southeastern Colorado.
In the first chapters, we meet Dennis Otsuji, a renowned landscape architect who was born at Amache in 1943. Then we meet Jim Casey, GIS user and philanthropist on a quest to preserve Amache. Besides using Esri ArcGIS Online tools, Casey used the Arrow Gold GNSS receiver from Eos Positioning Systems for ground control points.
In an unlikely story twist, Otsuji and Casey happened to meet when Otsuji went searching for his past, just as Casey was working to preserve the past. The StoryMap ends with the first augmented-reality look at Amache.
As in January 2020, we are starting the year by providing insights from manufacturers of GNSS receivers. We asked these industry leaders to look back at the past two years and forward at the next two, and discuss key innovations in the following areas:
utilizing Galileo and BeiDou
dealing with jamming and spoofing
integration with inertial measurement units (IMUs) and other sensors
positioning using cell phones and other consumer devices
any other areas or challenges they find particularly significant
Photo: Emma Hardy/Eos Positioning Systems
The single most important trend that emerges from manufacturers’ responses is the improvement in receiver performance due to the increase in the number of satellites (now 150) and signals (now more than 100). With four usable constellations, GNSS is now a reality. Multi-constellation receivers are quickly becoming the norm, even in consumer devices, and new user segments are benefiting from satellite-based PNT. Already, some smartphones and tablets are achieving decimeter-level or even centimeter-level accuracy. Over the next two years, new GNSS services will become available and, as the GNSS constellations continue to develop, the availability, reliability and repeatability of their signals will improve further.
A second important trend is the growth in satellite-delivered correction data, which substantially lowers the entry barrier for high accuracy applications by obviating the need for costly local infrastructure. This is starting to change the traditional cost-benefit calculation regarding real-time kinematic (RTK) vs. precise point positioning (PPP) corrections (see also our Editorial Advisory Board PNT Q&A).
A third and continuing trend is the increasing threat from intentional and unintentional jamming and interference across the globe, paralleling the increasing ubiquity of GNSS and potentially impacting most users. Therefore, receiver manufacturers continue to improve hardware and software techniques to defeat, or at least mitigate, this threat, greatly assisted by the increase in the number of available signals.
Finally, as automakers and high technology companies continue their efforts to develop autonomous vehicles (aka “self-driving cars”), the concept of GNSS integrity is getting renewed attention. Here, too, the increase in the number of available signals is extremely helpful.
With François Martin, Vice General Manager, International Division
Utilizing Galileo and BeiDou
The addition of Galileo and BeiDou to GPS and GLONASS not only extends GNSS positioning to more obstructed environments, but also allows the use of new survey methods, such as the hybrid IMU-GNSS pole-tilt compensated surveying and stakeout with survey-grade accuracy. Further expansion of GNSS navigation systems will result in even greater availability, reliability and repeatability.
Dealing with jamming and spoofing
As an integrator and developer of GNSS systems, we focus our design on strong electromagnetic shielding and sealed isolation chambers. From a technology standpoint, the combination of advanced GNSS signal processing, optimized antenna design, and advanced filtering ensures minimal interference.
Photo: CHC Navigation
Integration with IMUs and other sensors
The integration of interference-free, high-dynamic IMU fused with GNSS technology brings an obvious benefit to surveying and autonomous navigation applications. The latest algorithm developments make it possible to get rid of tedious initialization processes, increase the productivity of typical survey tasks, bring extra safety to operators, and compensate for transient GNSS outages.
Positioning with consumer devices
Multi-constellation GNSS chips are accelerating the development of untapped user segments, but the repeatability of position accuracy remains an issue. The integration of high-performance GNSS chips and helical antennas as high-precision add-on modules on smartphones and tablets enables centimeter- or decimeter-level accuracy. This democratization of technology is increasing earlier adoption of GNSS technologies by a broader user base.
Eos Positioning Systems
With Jean-Yves Lauture, Chief Technology Officer
Utilizing Galileo and BeiDou
The past two years have seen considerable maturation of the Galileo and BeiDou constellations. Considering the now four usable GNSS constellations and the aggressive launches of Galileo and BeiDou, the number of available satellites and the list of frequencies they use have considerably increased. Accuracy itself is slightly improving with the availability of BeiDou phase 3 signals, whereas performance and productivity experience a significant boost under tougher conditions with more satellites and stronger signal availability. It is not uncommon for our customers to use 30 to 35 satellites out of 40+ in view using an Arrow Series GNSS receiver. We are waiting for the availability of the High Accuracy Service (HAS) (PPP) on the Galileo E6 frequency, hopefully in a couple of years.
Photo: Eos Positioning Systems
Integration with IMUs and other sensors
Eos has put a lot of effort recently in supporting external sensors and accessories to facilitate mapping of certain types of assets or mapping in certain types of conditions. For instance, this past year Eos released our underground mapping solution called Eos Locate for ArcGIS (see cover photo), which integrates with external utility locate devices to allow a user to precisely map buried assets. Eos Laser for ArcGIS interfaces with laser rangefinders to map assets in GNSS-impaired environments.
Positioning using consumer devices
With our bring-your-own-device (BYOD) approach on the market to support high-accuracy data collection for GIS, we have made it possible to override the consumer devices’ locations with accuracies down to the centimeter from our Arrow receivers. Customers can use any of their cell phones or tablets and immediately start mapping with submeter or centimeter accuracy.
Hemisphere GNSS
With Kirk Burnell, Senior Product Manager
Utilizing Galileo and BeiDou
The Galileo and BeiDou phase 3 systems introduce modern signal structures that allow more accurate measurements to be made than GPS first introduced. The new signals and increased satellite count are significantly improving receiver performance. Our Phantom and Vega product lines harness these new signals.
Dealing with jamming and spoofing
The increasing number of incidents of intentional and unintentional jamming and interference across the globe has impacted nearly every type of GNSS user. Our Cygnus interference mitigation technology automatically detects and mitigates the interference in real time, as well as providing spectrum analysis of the GNSS signal bands.
Photo: Hemisphere GNSS
Integration with IMUs and other sensors
Today’s autonomous-focused environment increases the need to share data across platforms. Both Vector and Vega provide robust GNSS heading, position and velocity to marine, machine control, UAV and internet of things (IoT) integrators, helping augment their sensor data.
Positioning with consumer devices
Positioning in consumer products will continue to drive innovation, while chasing accuracy and precision requires a strong understanding of geodesy fundamentals. As design requirements push well beyond the limits of what consumer GNSS delivers, and with the help of our knowledgeable staff, our precision receivers are delivering reliable performance in some very impressive applications.
Other significant challenges and opportunities
New GNSS signals and new surrounding technologies continue to come online, and the RF environment continues to see increased activities. Our underlying Lyra II ASIC technology and Cygnus enable our Phantom and Vega integrators and users to reliably coexist with these changes.
Hexagon | Novatel
With Sandy Kennedy, Vice President Innovation, Hexagon’s Autonomy & Positioning division
Utilizing Galileo and BeiDou
GNSS is now reality, not just inclusive phrasing to replace GPS. We are well into the era of multi-constellation receivers, and users will notice distinct improvements in solution availability with the addition of Galileo and BeiDou measurements. Over the next two years, we expect users in a variety of applications to start exploiting our globally available, fast-converging RTK From the Sky technology, which is enabled by the addition of quad-frequency signals supplied by Galileo and BeiDou (see page 29).
Dealing with jamming and spoofing
The RF spectrum is crowded and will only become more crowded over time. In 2020, we introduced our GNSS Resilience and Integrity Technology (GRIT), a suite of firmware options for the OEM7 receiver family. In addition to interference detection and mitigation, GRIT adds spoofing detection and time-tagged digitized samples for advanced situational awareness of the RF spectrum. With GRIT’s spoofing detection, opponents can try to spoof us. But fool us? Not a chance.
Photo: Hexagon | NovAtel
Integration with IMUs and other sensors
IMUs have become more accessible to more applications due to size, weight, power and cost reductions. At the same time, our algorithmic capability has significantly advanced to use lower quality inertial measurements for greater benefit. Originally reserved for truth systems, high-end mapping, and aerospace and defense applications, GNSS+INS solutions are now available in products like our SMART7 line of smart antennas for precision agriculture applications. Closer integration of the inertial and GNSS processing will bring further benefits in hostile RF or just plain difficult positioning environments. There is no perfect single sensor, but you can get more accurate by combining a set of sensors that offset each other’s vulnerabilities and limitations.
Positioning with consumer devices
The general population is accustomed to looking at their smartphone to see not only their location, but also the size of the “blue dot” of positioning uncertainty that accompanies it. We have always said accuracy is addictive, and we will no doubt start to see consumer demands for smaller blue dots with increasingly accurate positions. Making the digital reality match our real world demands continuously available and reliable positioning. Being lost is a terrifying feeling, especially for those who have been staring at their phone for the past 30 minutes and have no recollection of the physical world through which they have passed.
Other challenges and opportunities
The transition to autonomous vehicles, for both on-road consumer and off-road industrial applications, is inevitable. It is becoming increasingly necessary to prioritize the development of functional safety and integrity requirements to achieve the safe operations of autonomous systems. These requirements are necessary and entirely non-trivial to develop.
Photo: Stephen Drake
Javad GNSS
With the Javad GNSS Team
Utilizing Galileo and BeiDou
Simultaneous RTK and PPK processing of all available GPS, GLONASS, Galileo and BeiDou signals in receivers powered by our 874-channel TRIUMPH chip has resulted in significant productivity gains. User Darren Clemons told us “These Plus units are at least 40%–50% faster… The combination of the four super engines and the RTPK is unbeatable. You can get an accurate shot just about anywhere.”
Dealing with jamming and spoofing
Usually, more than 100 signals are available at any given time, and we need only a small number to compute a position. By tracking and verifying all these constellations and their signals, it is extremely unlikely that we can be spoofed without our knowledge. Javad GNSS receivers will immediately recognize spoofing and take corrective actions. Spoofing protection is available on all Javad GNSS receivers and OEM boards.
Integration with IMUs and other sensors
The Javad GNSS engineering team relentlessly works to identify and integrate the latest sensor technologies that can boost productivity. Our TRIUMPH-LS’s integrated camera sensor has for years supported onboard photogrammetry, and now our TRIUMPH-3 receiver’s integrated IMU provides high-precision tilt compensation.
Other challenges and opportunities
Our innovative RTPK feature is improving GNSS surveying and monitoring. Our Triumph-LS and Triumph-3 RTK rover systems combine the strengths of RTK and PPK into a system that can post-process RTK data and verify its results in parallel and real time. Users get the best of both worlds. If RTK fails, RTPK comes to the rescue in a fraction of a second.
Septentrio
With Gustavo Lopez (pictured) and Stef van der Loo, Market Access Managers
Utilizing Galileo and BeiDou [GL]
With 150 GNSS satellites in space, multi-constellation has been a natural transition for improved GNSS availability. We see this in rover applications and in upgraded reference networks modernizing correction services. The next two years will be transcendent as constellations finally start delivering new services. We see our products soon integrating
GAL-OSNMA for anti-spoofing and then moving to new high-accuracy services.
Dealing with jamming and spoofing [GL]
We have witnessed a large increase in jamming and spoofing events as GNSS ubiquity increases. Users are becoming conscious of this, yet many integrations are still using vulnerable receivers, and we see manufacturers falsely claiming to have proper resilience. Septentrio’s AIM+ technology uniquely mitigates all these risks, and users come to us for expert advice on this area. In the coming years, we expect further receiver innovations and developments in adjacent technologies.
In 2020, Septentrio opened an R&D center in Espoo, Finland. (Photo: izhairguns/iStock/Getty Images Plus/Getty Images)
Integration with IMUs and other sensors [SVL]
Integration of sensors and sensor fusion moved from the research stage to the major production and adoption phase as an element in autonomous systems. Using a GNSS/INS (see our AsteRx-i products) is crucial for various applications — for example, being able to work in difficult environments — and for vehicle orientation. The development of lower cost IMUs while keeping high performance will enable a shift in focus from hardware to software. This will result in multi-sensor technology that is better scalable, easier to use, and more stable to integrate in relation to a full system with various sensors.
Positioning with consumer devices [GL]
We see further integration of dual-frequency GNSS chipsets in mobile technology for increased accuracy, which is key for future consumer applications. Septentrio has also witnessed the important involvement of telecom operators in GNSS correction services. Septentrio products (such as the PolaRx5 or AsteRx-SB) are deployed on new generation networks as operators prepare for the new generation of positioning in cell technology.
Other significant challenges and opportunities [GL]
Two areas are emerging thanks to the autonomy era and due to further regulations in the market. The first is the concept of GNSS integrity, which has a strong link to the reliability of autonomous solutions. The second is security, which, beyond anti-spoofing, is linked to the cybersecurity of GNSS systems as the demand increases for the protection of electronics and software.
Trimble
With Stuart Riley, Vice President of GNSS Technology
Utilizing Galileo and BeiDou
Most Trimble precision receivers can utilize any combination of GNSS satellite constellations (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou and QZSS) to deliver centimeter accuracy and optimize performance, even in degraded conditions. Users can select the constellations they want the receiver to use.
Dealing with jamming and spoofing
Spoofing is rare and low risk in locations in which Trimble’s precision GNSS agriculture, construction and geospatial customers operate. However, to protect users, modern Trimble Maxwell-based GNSS receivers implement hardware- and software-based techniques to detect and mitigate spoofing. Jamming sometimes impacts customers, but is not their primary challenge. The same issues are still present today as they were in the early days of precision GNSS. The main productivity concerns remain related to multipath and problems around obstructions and trees. Trimble continues to improve our GNSS systems’ robustness with advances in processing algorithms and hardware enhancements such as integrating inertial technology.
Trimble SiteVision uses Catalyst and augmented reality to preview a new housing development in an open field. (Photo: Trimble)
Integration with IMUs and other sensors
The Trimble R12i and SPS986 represent Trimble’s third-generation receivers (preceded by the R10 and the R12) capable of integrating inertial measurements into 3D GNSS positioning. In addition to speed and convenience for the user, integration with IMU provides immunity to magnetic interference and real-time integrity monitoring.
With the introduction of the Trimble R12 with the ProPoint GNSS positioning engine, we significantly improved the performance in challenging environments. This was further enhanced with the addition of an IMU for tilt compensation in the R12i. The new solution provides a system that delivers more accurate results in more places and in less time.
Positioning with consumer devices
The Trimble SiteVision augmented reality solution and Trimble Catalyst GNSS receiver operate on Android devices. Trimble Catalyst technology provides a software-defined GNSS receiver capable of survey-grade accuracy. Catalyst is the ideal solution for third-party applications that benefit from precise real-time positioning. Trimble SiteVision combines Catalyst positioning with augmented reality to deliver real-time, on-site visualization of proposed structures and existing underground assets.
Other significant challenges and opportunities
An ongoing challenge in GNSS positioning is the ability to obtain positions with suitable accuracy when and where they are needed. Solutions such as RTK and VRS provide solid performance at local and regional levels. Today, these technologies are complemented by subscription-based Trimble RTX positioning services, a global approach that uses a network of GNSS tracking stations and satellite-delivered correction data to achieve required accuracies. In 2020, coverage for Trimble CenterPoint RTX Fast, which enables users to achieve two-centimeter or better accuracy with initialization time of less than one minute, was expanded to cover the continental United States as well as much of Canada and Western Europe. The CenterPoint RTX Fast network now covers more than 5 million square miles worldwide. Trimble RTX coverage enables global users such as farmers, land surveyors and GIS professionals using RTX-capable receivers, to untether from the cost and complexities of GNSS base stations. In addition, the service offers a single, continuous corrections network ideal for enabling a broad range of safety-critical autonomous applications in markets such as automotive, agriculture and construction.
GIS Manager Kenny Ratliff, Oldham County Water District, collects utility data. (Photo: Eos Positioning)
Across North America, the use of high-accuracy GNSS technology has proliferated among water and wastewater service providers. Water utilities are saving time, cutting operational expenses, and definitively improving the accuracy of their asset management systems by capturing survey-grade location data.
Oldham County Water District serves more than 8,300 residences with 369 miles of pipeline in rural Kentucky. In 2001, the utility digitized its assets for the first time. In 2016, they decided it was time to improve the assets’ accuracy. GIS Manager Kenny Ratliff deployed ArcGIS Collector, iPad 2 mobile devices, and the Arrow Gold GNSS receiver by Eos Positioning Systems. As a result, OCWD was able to more quickly arrive exactly at the location where meters were to be replaced. With the savings of time, labor and fuel, OCWD cut the cost of installing each water meter by half, from $212 to $111.
Other water utilities are using GNSS technology to improve the office-to-field workflow, accelerate deployment of new systems, and map buried pipelines.
A roundup of recent products in the GNSS and inertial positioning industry from the October 2020 issue of GPS World magazine.
OEM
GNSS antennas
Active and passive
Photo: 2J Antennas
A new range of high-precision GNSS antennas is designed for superior accuracy and reliability, with both active external antennas and passive internal ceramic antennas. The antennas provide precision, high bandwidth, and an advanced signal design for GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo, IRNSS and SBAS navigation. They are designed for demanding GPS applications that require centimeter-level accuracy by combining precise point positioning (PPP) of L1 and L2 or by combining L1 and L5 bands with real-time kinematic (RTK) satellite navigation. Applications include aviation safety, UAVs, transportation, autonomous vehicles, agriculture and land and hydrographic surveys.
The HC976 housed and HC976E embedded helical antennas are light and compact, suitable for applications ranging from autonomous navigation to GNSS timing. Both models support GPS/QZSS-L1/L2/L6, GLONASS-G1/G2, Galileo-E1/E6, and BeiDou-B1/B3 frequency bands as well as regional augmentation systems and high-precision L-band correction services. The HC976 and HC976E support QZSS-L6, Galileo-E6 and BeiDou-B3. The HC976 is 44 x 62 millimeters and weighs 42 grams. It features a precision-tuned helical element that provides an excellent axial ratio and operates without the requirement of a ground plane, making it suitable for a wide variety of high-precision applications.
The mosaic-T GPS/GNSS receiver module is built for resilient and precise time and frequency synchronization under challenging conditions. Its multi-frequency, multi-constellation GNSS technology with AIM+ Advanced Interference Mitigation algorithms allows mosaic-T to achieve maximal availability even in the presence of GNSS jamming or spoofing. The compact surface-mount module is designed for automated assembly and high-volume production. Mosaic-T delivers timing and has additional inputs for an external high-accuracy clock.
The HGuide n380 inertial navigation system (INS) communicates an object’s position, orientation and velocity when GNSS signals are unavailable. It is built to withstand harsh environments in the air, on land or at sea. It is designed to meet the need for a small, high-performance INS for 3D mapping, surveying and other applications where space is at a premium. It is composed of Honeywell’s HGuide i300 inertial measurement unit (IMU), a GNSS receiver and Honeywell’s proprietary sensor-fusion software, which is based on the algorithms used for navigation on millions of aircraft every day.
The LC29D eMobility module is a sub-meter-level GNSS module that integrates dead-reckoning and multi-band (L1/L5) real-time kinematic (RTK) algorithm technologies with fast convergence times and reliable performance. The module supports dual-band GNSS raw data output and integrates a 6-axis IMU sensor to deliver high-accuracy positioning performance in seconds. Based on the Broadcom BCM47758 GNSS chip, the LC29D can concurrently receive signals from up to six constellations (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, IRNSS, BeiDou and QZSS), which maximizes the availability of sub-meter level accuracy. It offers a position update rate of up to 30 Hz (fusion output), enabling dynamic applications like shared emobility, delivery robots and precision agriculture to receive position information with lower latency.
The AlphaUni 300/900/1300 lidar series provides light, versatile long-range laser scanner systems for the high-end market. The series provides optimized data sets powered by advanced GNSS/inertial navigation system (INS) sensors and long-range Riegl scanners. AlphaUni’s design adapts to a variety of applications and can be installed on a variety of platforms, including multi-rotor UAV, fixed-wing vertical-takeoff-and-landing (VTOL) UAV, vehicles, rail trolleys, backpacks, boats and more.
The F100 GNSS receiver, an upgrade to the F90, is designed to meet surveyors’ demands for high field performance, flexibility and cost-effectiveness. It tracks multiple constellations (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou) and can maximize the acquisition and tracking process with all-in-view GNSS frequencies. The 1.45-inch color LCD display is a multi-touch capacitive screen. The F100 has 32GB of internal memory. Its integrated second-generation web user interface control is compatible with all devices and browsers.
Eos Tools Pro for Windows 10 implements powerful new features that enable users to exploit all four global GNSS constellations and a state-of-the-art NTRIP client to access real-time kinematic (RTK) bases and RTK networks all over the world via NTRIP, Direct IP and wireless radios. It provides the latest support for Windows Geolocation and other features by Microsoft to allow customers to use high-accuracy locations directly in their apps, such as RTK network/RTK base connectivity, support for all new Beidou and Galileo satellites, and SafeRTK functionality for areas with marginal cellular coverage. Features for app developers are also available.
The BB4 UAV high-end multi-rotor drone is optimized for the AlphaUni 300/900/1300 lidar series. Its modular design simplifies deployment in just a few minutes. Its 7-kg payload breaks the capacity barrier, and its more than 45 minutes of flight time increases the airborne lidar survey ability. The redundant CHCNAV and DJI inertial measurement unit (IMU) and GNSS unit provide reliable centimeter real-time kinematic (RTK) positioning, meeting the demand for high accuracy in the geospatial and mapping industries.
The ADNET autonomous delivery network is a technical solution to transport medical samples and quarantine materials in cities. It uses an RA3 drone, unmanned vehicle RG1 and RH1 hub station to deliver medical supplies without relying on manpower, alleviating time spent in traffic and the cost of traditional delivery. Supplies retrieved by the RG1 vehicle are delivered to the RH1 hub for sorting and redirecting, while the drone transfers the supplies between hubs. The RG1 then delivers goods on the receiving end. The system was demonstrated during China’s COVID-19 epidemic prevention and control period, reducing contact between samples and personnel.
The VECTOR-400 is a compact autopilot designed specifically for unmanned aerial vehicles. It features a robust enclosure and a military-grade connector for harsh environments (MIL-STD 810 and MIL-STD 461). Features enable sea-skimming (extremely low-level flight) and the capability to navigate without GNSS. The VECTOR-400 is able to continue a mission in case of individual sensor failure and when subject to jamming, maintaining accurate estimations of attitude and position. Advanced algorithms provide stall prevention and the ability to carry out an efficient gliding maneuver in case of engine failure. Its air data attitude and heading reference system and inertial navigation system provide high-precision attitude information and reliable navigation under demanding circumstances.
The F700 DroneHunter UAS is a radar-based autonomous interceptor drone for tracking and stopping dangerous drones. Its flexible undercarriage offers interchangeable counter measures for single, multiple or swarm-based threats, while its lightweight carbon-fiber frame enables quick speed and response. The F700 can carry multiple types of anti-drone countermeasures and deploy them in real time, based on which dynamic threat is detected miles beyond the protected area. The pogo pins and payload snaps of the undercarriage are integrated with artificial intelligence for firing and flight software.
Drones equipped with cost-intensive cameras and sensors need protection in the event of a flight-system failure. A parachute system for the DJI M210 drone is now available. Both commercial and emergency response operations are using the M210; its design and flexibility allow for a variety of industry-specific applications. The DRS-M210 parachute system is designed to ensure high pendulum and wind stability, allowing a damaged drone to land safely with minimal impact.
Altitude indicator (AI) or directional gyro (DG) replacement
Photo: uAvionix
The AV-30-C aircraft panel display adds a suite of in-flight information for pilots, including GPS navigational data, a probeless angle of attack indicator, baro-corrected altitude, indicated/vertical/true airspeed, non-slaved heading, bus voltage and G load. It is designed to fit into any aircraft with a 3 1/8-inch round instrument slot without cutting or modifying the panel. It is authorized for FAR Part 23 Class 1 and Class 2 aircraft listed on the AV-30-C Approved Model List (AML), containing 635 aircraft models including Cessna, Piper, Beechcraft, American Champion, Maule, Boeing, Swift, Mooney, Aviat and others.
The R3S series of rugged, EN-50155-certified fanless vehicle/rail computers is equipped with a u-blox NEO-M8N module, which receives GPS, Galileo, GLONASS and BeiDou with the default set for GPS + GLONASS dual band. The series offers power-efficient performance for consolidating in-vehicle workloads such as video surveillance, control/monitoring, passenger information and Wi-Fi hotspot sharing. For edge-to-cloud connectivity, R3S uses its internal GPS/GLONASS chipsets for GPS tracking and has two M.2 slots with up to 4x SIM card readers for failover LTE connection. To ensure proper operations in moving vehicles, the series is certified with EN50155, EN50121-3-2, EN50121-4, EN50125-3, EN45545 and E13 standards and has passed MIL-STD-810G shock and vibration resistance certifications. The series can operate under a wide temperature range and offers excellent reliability in harsh railway settings. It has one external removable 2.5-inch HDD/SSD drive bay for recorded footage storage. For consolidating in-vehicle workloads such as in-vehicle control/monitoring and passenger information, the R3S features a variety of I/O support, including 2x HDMI, DI/DO, 3x COM/CAN BUS and 4xUSB ports.
Eos Locate for Collector for ArcGIS underground mapping is now compatible with three Subsite Electronics products.
Introduced in 2019 by Eos Positioning Systems, Eos Locate is a real-time, survey-grade solution for mapping underground utilities with ArcGIS field apps. With Eos Locate, one field worker can collect both GNSS locations and locator data (such as depth below cover) for any buried asset including water, sewer, electric, cable, gas, fiber infrastructure and more. They can do so quickly, accurately and without the need for any additional field or office support.
The solution requires an Arrow GNSS receiver, Esri licensing, an iOS device, and a compatible locator.
This expansion adds compatibility for two new utility locator models and one HDD guidance system: the UtiliGuard (with Bluetooth option enabled), UtiliGuard 2, and TK Recon. Eos Locate for Collector combines three core technologies: Eos Arrow GNSS receivers, Esri Collector and the Vivax-Metrotech vLoc Series of locator devices.
“We are extremely excited to expand this popular underground mapping solution to Subsite Electronics customers,” said Eos Chief Technology Officer Jean-Yves Lauture. “Utilities have been asking us to add compatibility, and we are pleased to announce that this integration is now available today, for no extra cost, to our existing customers.”
“At Subsite, we are constantly listening to customer needs and providing solutions accordingly,” Subsite Electronics Senior Product Manager Christopher Thompson said. “We have a lot of customers who perform this type of work, and by partnering with Eos, we are able to provide a solution today to continue providing our customers with the tools and technology for total underground awareness.”
Thanks to the TK Recon integration, it is now possible to map horizontal directional drilling operations in real-time with Eos Locate, for both performing as-built reports and monitoring.
To use Eos Locate with Subsite devices, customers must download Eos Tools Pro (version 1.89 and higher) from the App Store for free. Eos Locate is compatible with both Esri ArcGIS Collector and ArcGIS Field Maps. Follow this manual or watch these video tutorials to get started.
Eos Tools Pro implements powerful new features that enables users to exploit all four global GNSS constellations and a state-of-the-art NTRIP client to access real-time kinematic (RTK) bases and RTK networks all over the world via NTRIP, Direct IP and wireless radios.
“This is a huge step forward in functionality and flexibility for our Windows users,” said Jean-Yves Lauture, CTO of Eos. “We implemented the latest support for Windows Geolocation and other features offered by Microsoft in order to allow our customers to use high-accuracy locations directly into their apps.”
Eos Tools Pro includes new features for both field professionals and application developers.
For field professionals
RTK network/RTK base connectivity. Eos Tools Pro implements state-of-the-art NTRIP connectivity to connect to any RTK network or RTK base in the world. For geographic areas without cellular coverage, Eos Tools Pro supports Bluetooth wireless radios (UHF/VHF, etc.) for base/rover connectivity.
The software supports all new BeiDou and Galileo satellites in addition to GPS and GLONASS as well as SafeRTK functionality for areas with marginal cellular coverage.
Eos Tools Pro for Windows shows all current satellites in use from GNSS constellations such as GPS, Galileo, BeiDou, GLONASS and QZSS. (Screenshot: Eos Positioning)
Geoid models. Eos Tools Pro implements the latest geoid models for many regions in the world, providing survey-grade orthometric heights directly into any Windows applications.
Datum shift. Eos Tools Pro adds a new feature to apply a simple X, Y, Z shift to the current location to match any local datum.
Alarms. A vast number of audible alarms can be set to warn the user if parameters such as estimated accuracy, differential status, correction age, Bluetooth connectivity, are not met.
For Windows developers
Geolocation/Sensor API. Eos Tools Pro supports apps that rely on the Windows geolocation service to retrieve accurate latitude, longitude and altitude from their Arrow receiver. In addition, the Sensor API allows programmers to access the wide array of GNSS metadata while removing the laborious task of parsing NMEA data.
Virtual COM port and TCP/IP server. Eos Tools Pro features a built-in duo of virtual COM port and TCP/IP server to output streams of standard NMEA sentences. This enables multiple apps capable of parsing NMEA messages to have simultaneous access to the Arrow GNSS location and metadata.
“Eos Tools Pro for Windows enables users and developers to benefit from our leading-edge, high-accuracy GNSS receivers,” Lauture said. “When Windows tablets are the device of choice among our customers, the combination of Eos Tools Pro and Arrow GNSS receivers provide the absolute latest GNSS technology for GIS, engineering, construction, and surveying users. When Windows tablets are the device of choice among our customers, the combination of Eos Tools Pro and Arrow GNSS receivers provide the absolute latest GNSS technology for GIS, engineering, construction and surveying users.”
Eos Tools Pro for Windows is available for free to users of Arrow GPS and GNSS receivers. It is compatible with any Windows 10 desktop, laptop or tablet computer via Bluetooth or USB.
In the second part of our receiver feature, top receiver manufacturers discuss what’s on the horizon for GNSS receivers: recent and upcoming innovations, combating spoofing and jamming, fusing GNSS with other sensors, and the impact of increasing accuracy both for professional surveyors and consumers.
In January, we featured responses from NovAtel, Trimble, Unicore, Topcon, Hemisphere GNSS, CNC Navigation and Septentrio to questions about their recent and upcoming innovations in the design and manufacturing of GNSS receivers. We continue in this issue with responses to the same questions from Javad GNSS, Swift Navigation, Eos Positioning Systems, Tersus GNSS, TeleOrbit, Allystar Technology and NTLab.
All GNSS receiver manufacturers agree that spoofing and intentional and unintentional jamming are serious challenges. Their approaches to dealing with these challenges differ, however, as they rely on different combinations of technologies on both their receivers (such as monitoring cycle slips and using analog-to-digital converters, correlators and notch filters) and their antennas (such as using array antennas), as well as the new Galileo authentication service.
Photo: Tersus GNSS
Many receiver manufacturers now routinely use optical, inertial and other sensors — which continue to drop in price and increase in performance — to supplement GNSS signals where they are degraded or denied, especially in the automotive market.
Carrier phase positioning and correction services are increasingly improving the accuracy of survey stations and reducing their price. Meanwhile, submeter accuracy is spreading beyond surveying to other industries. Performance in challenging conditions also continues to improve, thanks largely to the increase in the number of GNSS constellations, available satellites and frequencies. (For a review of recent developments in antennas, see our companion article here.)
On the consumer side, the introduction of multi-frequency GNSS receiver chips, the increased use of correction services, and, in a few countries, the deployment of thousands of additional base stations will continue to increase the location accuracy of cell phones and other consumer devices, enabling new applications. However, in these devices size and cost limitations make antenna performance particularly challenging. (See Part 1 here.)
Javad GNSS
Jamming and Spoofing. “We protect you against jammers and spoofers like no one else can,” said Javad Ashjaee, founder and CEO of Javad GNSS. “We use multiple techniques to detect spoofers, the most important being the use of digital signal processing to detect more than one peak. First, with 864 channels and about 130,000 Quick Acquisition Channels in our Triumph chip, we have resources to assign more than one channel to each satellite to find all signals that are transmitted with that GNSS PRN code. If we detect more than one reasonable and consistent correlation peak for any PRN code, we know that we are being spoofed and can then identify the spoofer signals and ignore the wrong peak.”
An example of two peaks. (Chart: Javad GNSS)
Ashjaee described additional techniques:
The J-Shield filter blocks out-of-band interference.
Sixteen 255th-order FIR anti-jam digital filters protect against static in-band interference, and 16 adaptive 80th-order digital filters protect against dynamic interference.
Javad products measure the level of interference as a percentage of in-band noise above normal.
The Triumph chip has a powerful spectrum analyzer. Each spectrum shows the power and the shape of the interfering signals and jammers. This is more powerful and more efficient than using a commercial spectrum analyzer to evaluate the environment.
The chip also keeps a record of Automatic Gain Control, which is another indicator of external signals. A change in AGC can indicate interference.
Deviation of SNR from the expected value is another important indicator of interference.
“Usually there are over 100 signals available at any given time, and we need only four good signals to compute position. It is extremely unlikely that we can be spoofed without our knowledge.” Ashjaee concluded. “We will immediately recognize and take corrective actions.”
Jamming and spoofing protection is available on all Javad GNSS receivers and OEM boards. Read more about Javad GNSS’s jamming and spoofing protection in the December 2019 issue.
Sensor Fusion. “To support users in environments where GNSS RTK solutions are difficult or impossible to obtain,” Ashjaee said, “Javad GNSS has invented the J-Mate, which is a remotely controlled robotic EDM device and digital camera. GNSS RTK and optical can be seamlessly integrated using the J-Mate as the seventh RTK engine. Just set up a Triumph-3 on top of a J-Mate and a Triumph LS on top of a zebra rod, making the former pair the RTK base station and the latter pair the RTK rover.” Read more about Javad GNSS’s RTK and Optical United solution in the November 2019 issue.
Swift Navigation
Jamming and Spoofing. “Receivers have become more robust to intentional jamming by mimicking the jammers’ behavior to cancel it,” said Alex Pun, staff product manager for Swift. “Nevertheless, advanced jamming and spoofing mitigation often imply array antennas. A real evolution lies in considering these threats only in terms of the availability of the GNSS sensor, now part of a complete multi-sensor positioning engine such as Starling.”
Sensor Fusion. IMUs, visual sensors and GNSS will aid each other in different types of environments and scenarios, explained Pun. “Sensors are becoming more affordable, and their performance increases with each new generation. Sensor fusion will be the glue that will bind them to provide a precise positioning solution.”
Surveying. The combined use of carrier-phase positioning and correction services, such as Swift’s Skylark, will greatly improve accuracy and reduce the cost of survey stations, because they make their accuracy less dependent on the intrinsic performance of the receiver and the antenna, Pun said. “A global service eliminates the need for an individual base station.”
Consumer Devices. “The introduction of dual-frequency GNSS receivers from chip manufacturers will help improve positioning in cell phones and other consumer devices,” Pun said. “These chips, coupled with a widely available correction service such as Skylark, will greatly improve their performance accuracy to sub-meter levels.”
Other Challenges. Performance stability of the antenna and its characterization will become the main challenge to exploiting the new GNSS ASICs (application-specific integrated circuits) and correction services at their highest level of performance, Pun said. “A positioning engine can exploit this information to accelerate the convergence to the high-accuracy solution, and then improve its availability.”
Eos Positioning Systems
A surveyor uses the Arrow Gold receiver to map assets in Terrebonne, Quebec, Canada. (Photo: Eos Positioning)
“The past three years have seen considerable innovations and trends in the GNSS industry,” said Jean-Yves Lauture, CTO of Eos Positioning. “Receivers are becoming increasingly affordable and the adoption of higher-accuracy (submeter, centimeter) positioning by other industries, outside of conventional surveying, is growing. Considering the now four usable GNSS constellations and the aggressive launches of Galileo and BeiDou satellites, the number of available satellites and the list of frequencies they use has considerably increased.
“Although accuracy itself is not really improving, performance is — particularly in tougher conditions. It’s not uncommon for customers to use 30 to 35 satellites out of more than 40 in view using an Arrow Series GNSS receiver. The numbers are even higher in the Pacific regions, thanks to geostationary BeiDou satellites. This is, by far, more than double the number of satellites available with just GPS and GLONASS.”
Consumer Devices. “It will be challenging for smartphones and consumer devices to achieve survey-grade accuracy in the next few years. They face certain limitations. For instance, there is a cost and physical size associated with using a high-end GNSS antenna with a minimum of ground plane to achieve these levels of accuracy.
The Arrow Gold RTK GNSS receiver. (Photo: Eos Positioning)
“Also, it is unlikely that the manufacturers of consumer devices will invest in developing the advanced algorithms needed for a high level of constant accuracy and performance. In order to fit into a smartphone, consumer-grade GNSS chipset manufacturers must drop the use of many available signals and frequencies to keep both size and power consumption to a minimum.”
Allystar Technology
Photo: Allystar
Jamming and Spoofing. The GNSS chip in Allystar’s TAU1301 module supports eight adaptive notch filters to reduce the effects of GNSS jamming, explained Shi-Xian Yang, senior principal engineer in the company’s Baseband Algorithm Department. “It significantly improves the performance of GNSS tracking measurements, even in the presence of strong and fast-varying jamming signals.”
Sensor Fusion. The TAU1310 integrates a six-axis micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) gyro, which makes its affordable for the mass market, Yang said.
The Lenovo Z6. (Photo: Lenovo)
Consumer Devices. In its Z6 smartphone, Lenovo has taken advantage of the great improvement in multipath mitigation provided by the L5 signal’s higher chip rate and the output of high quality raw data via the TAU1302’s HD8040 GNSS chipset to improve the accuracy experience in the consumer market, Yang explained. Additionally, he pointed out, cell phones and other consumer devices now enable developers to access the raw sensor data from such sensors as accelerometers and barometers to input into their fusion algorithms.
Other Challenges. In the future, the TAU1310 could also support the L6 signal for PPP-RTK application.
NTLab
NTLab anti-jamming GNSS receiver. (Photo: NTLab)
Jamming and Spoofing. The problem of jamming and spoofing worries customers, according to Konstantin Yuriev, lead GNSS engineer at NTLab. The combination of anti-jam and anti-spoofing is in greater demand because the anti-jam feature alone is becoming insufficient. Yuriev cited the European Union’s new requirements for the European Railway Traffic Management System (ERTMS), which makes anti-spoofing mandatory.
The key issue today is “the solution to the problem of reducing the size and cost of anti-jam receivers, so that they become available to consumers on the civilian market. The key technology for this will be increasing the degree of integration of the component base, first creating a chipset for solving anti-jamming and anti-spoofing tasks, and then moving on to a single-chip solution. We have created a chipset and are ready to start work on the further integration into a single chip.”
Sensor Fusion. The traditional task of integrating data from a GPS antenna and a MEMS sensor has been solved, Yuriev said, with many such solutions on the market. One task is to track the antenna’s tilt. “The antenna, GNSS receiver, and MEMS sensors should be located very closely to each other — if possible, on a single small board,” Yuriev said. “Here, again, the solution is to increase the degree of integration, up to placing the baseband processor on the same chip with the digital CMOS circuitry of the MEMS sensor.” Another application of MEMS is serving as the core of an inertial navigation system (INS), providing an auxiliary subsystem for detecting the presence of spoofing. “This is more of an algorithmic task,” Yuriev said, “because traditional coupling using recursive filters is not enough. It is necessary to ensure the independence of the INS subsystem from the GNSS solution, or their intelligent mutual cross-control.”
Surveying. A major part of the cost of a survey-grade device, Yuriev pointed out, is for additional services, know-how, and other added values. There is market demand for a business model in which device price could go down while maintaining the main values for the customer. “This could be achieved if end-users tightly cooperate with hardware manufacturers, skipping third-party integrators. Alternatively, multiple third parties could compete, keeping the cost of the software low. One of the technical solutions for this is to provide software application programming interfaces (APIs) that will allow multiple third parties to offer application-level software for the same hardware. We call it the ‘open platform’ approach. One of our products implements this strategy.”
Other Challenges. Despite some skeptics, Yuriev argued, new GNSS systems have been successful. “A good example is IRNSS (NavIC), with India’s population of 1.3 billion forming a potential market. Moreover, according to our studies, good coverage is provided not only in India’s territory. We are working on creating an economically affordable solution with support for the NavIC S-band. A new chip-scale packaged RFIC (radio-frequency integrated circuit) should minimize the size, consumption, and price of NavIC-oriented modules, while maintaining all the advantages of the S-band signal in areas close to the equator. This is our solution to the problem.”
TeleOrbit
GOOSE platform. (Photo: Fraunhofer IIS)
GNSS Receiver Development Platform. The company’s GOOSE platform is a field-programmable gate array (FPGA)-based GNSS receiver, developed by Fraunhofer IIS, making it flexible in processing new or proprietary signals, according to Katrin Dietmayer, software development engineer at Fraunhofer IIS. “It comprises 60 hardware channels in real time and provides an open software interface for customer applications,” she explained.
Jamming and Spoofing. “It grants deep access to the hardware interface, down to, for example, the correlation values. Additionally, anti-jamming functions (such as notch-filter or pulse-blanker) can be added and anti-spoofing algorithms are already implemented. Thanks to the open architecture, our customers can also implement these or other algorithms.”
Sensor Fusion. Vector tracking in real time is already implemented on code base. Deep coupling with INS/IMU multi-sensor fusion — for example, with an odometer, ultra wideband or 5G — are possible and under development, Dietmayer said.
Surveying.TeleOrbit provides GNSS-RTK using RTKLIB. “The implemented Open GNSS Receiver Protocol (OGRP) is fully documented with a parsing tool using CONVBIN from RTKLIB as RINEX converter,” Dietmayer explained.
Consumer Devices. GOOSE is also used as the reference receiver in the ESA project Receiver Technologies for Future Mass Market (RT4FMM) devices. The project validates state-of-the-art dual-frequency mass-market receivers based on Broadcom BCM47755 and u-blox F9 and compares their performance against GOOSE E5AltBOC processing.
Other Challenges. GOOSE already processes the new Galileo OS-NMA (Open Service – Navigation Messages Authentication), while implementing the new Galileo High Accuracy Service (HAS) is on the roadmap. “The combination of these new features will result in a robust and reliable high-accuracy position,” Dietmayer said. “For system testing, the intermediate frequency signals can be recorded, processed and replayed with the platform.”
Tersus GNSS
The Oscar. (Photo: Tersus GNSS)
Jamming and Spoofing. Xiaohua Wen, founder and CEO, said his company has done much research and testing on jamming and spoofing. “We already implemented a high dynamic analog-to-digital converter to overcome jamming. To mitigate spoofing, we think that internet of things (IoT) devices can leverage cloud services. Alternatively, the new Galileo authentication service may serve the same function.”
Sensor Fusion.Tersus GNSS makes an INS product, and its Oscar receiver contains an inertial measurement unit (IMU). “The sensor fusion hub is a very hot topic in the automobile industry,” Wen said. “We are quickly adapting our Oscar and INS product line for the creation of high definition maps and for indoor navigation. We think it’s still the major pain point for a crowded country such as China.”
Surveying. As has been the case in many other industries, Wen said, the widespread adoption of GNSS technology and the increase in the number of players in the field has led to a drop in prices. “Tersus’ David and Oscar models are low cost but still perform well compared with Tier 1 players for professional survey machines using our own OEM GNSS board,” he said.
Consumer Devices. The fact that a few vendors are providing dual-frequency chipsets in smartphones opens the door for consumer-grade sub-decimeter applications, Wen said. “But we think the antenna could be a big challenge for the small devices.”
Other Challenges. “Mobile carriers are building thousands of base stations,” Wen said. “For example, Softbank in Japan completed 3,300 stations this year. China Mobile just issued a bid for a phase one project for 4,400 stations. We think mobile phone innovations for the new high-accuracy application may have some impacts in the coming years. We have been actively looking at some new GIS (geographic information systems) applications based on our in-house Nuwa platform.”
