When completed, the Karlatornet will be Sweden’s tallest building and redefine the skyline of the city of Gothenburg, rising to 74 stories and 246 meters (the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, currently the tallest human-made structure, is 828 meters high). Ensuring that the building remains stable even when deformed by very strong winds, sun exposure, seismic activity, settling or shrinkage will require very high precision construction methods. To ensure its vertical alignment, the engineers are using the core wall control survey (CWCS) method, which relies on active GNSS control points, and SinoGNSS T300S high accuracy GNSS receivers.
A SinoGNSS multi-constellation T300 GNSS receiver and a 360° prism mounted at the top of a building under construction. (Photo: ComNav Technology)
The CWCS method was first used during the construction of the Burj Khalifa and was subsequently applied in the construction of many other high-rise buildings around the world. Swedish surveying company Teodoliten decided to apply this method for the Karlatornet project. Core walls, which are key structural components of high-rises, require a layered construction approach, with multiple concrete pours for each core wall element. CWCS makes it possible to precisely align these core walls with the vertical axis of the building during construction, using GNSS receivers, total stations, inclinometers, and other tools.
When constructing a tall building, it is essential to continuously measure the positions of various elements at its summit to ensure their vertical alignment. This is typically done by placing at the top of the building four GNSS receivers — referred to in this context as active GNSS control points — each with a 360° prism at the bottom. By sighting the prisms and using the 3D coordinates from the GNSS receivers, a surveyor then sets up a total station. This obviates the need for an extensive array of ground control points, which are often not visible from the top, and for holes in the slabs to accommodate vertical laser plummets. Additionally, observations from a nearby reference station are used to post-process the data from the GNSS receivers in post-processed kinematic (PPK) mode to achieve an accuracy of a few millimeters. The Karlatornet project uses four SinoGNSS multi-constellation T300 GNSS receivers for the active control points.
It is also necessary to correct for the movement of the survey platform as the building’s main axis is flexed by the loads applied to it during construction. This is achieved by placing a series of high-precision dual-axis inclinometers along the core walls and then applying a least squares adjustment that takes into consideration the floor height of the measuring devices.
The SinoGNSS T300 receivers operating in GNSS-RTK mode also will be used to monitor and document post-construction building deformations.
A roundup of recent products in the GNSS and inertial positioning industry from the May 2023 issue of GPS World magazine.
SURVEYING
Image: Septentrio
Corrections Program Provides documentation for GNSS receivers
The Agnostic Correction Partner Program facilitates the use of Septentrio GNSS receivers with high-accuracy services that provide varying levels of accuracy, coverage and delivery methods. This enables users to select the service that suits specific applications and business models. The program — which includes Polaris from Point One, Skylark from Swift Navigation, and PointPerfect from u-blox — provides documentation for the use of Septentrio receivers with these high-accuracy services. Agnostic corrections are useful in situations where multiple types of GNSS receivers are being used, such as in a large-scale surveying project. Septentrio, septentrio.com
Image: Inertial Labs
Multi-Application IMU A compact, self-contained strapdown, advanced tactical-grade IMU device
The IMU-FI-200C measures linear accelerations and angular rates with its three-axis, tactical-grade, closed loop, fiber-optic gyroscopes and three-axis, high-precision MEMS accelerometers in motionless and high dynamic applications. The IMU-FI-200C is fully calibrated, temperature compensated and aligned to an orthogonal coordinate system. It contains more than 0.5°/hr gyroscopes and less than 2 mg bias repeatability over operational range accelerometers with low noise and high reliability. Continuous built-in test, configurable communications protocols, electromagnetic interference protection, and flexible input power requirements make the IMU-FI-200C suitable for a wide range of integrated system applications. Inertial Labs, inertiallabs.com
Image: Inertial Labs
MEMS IMU Suitable for applications such as antenna and line of sight stabilization systems, GPS-aided INS and more
The inertial measurement unit-P (IMU-P) is an advanced MEMS sensors-based, compact, self-contained strapdown, industrial- and tactical-grade inertial measurement system and digital tilt sensor that measures linear accelerations, angular rates and pitch-and-roll with three-axis, high-grade MEMS accelerometers and three-axis, tactical-grade MEMS gyroscopes. Angular rates and accelerations are determined with high accuracy for both motionless and dynamic applications. The IMU-P is fully calibrated, temperature compensated, and mathematically aligned to an orthogonal coordinate system. IMU-P demonstrates less than 1 deg/hr gyroscopes and 0.005 mg accelerometers bias inrun stability with low noise and high reliability. The IMU-P models collect data from an external source of GNSS to output full spectrum inertial navigation system data consisting of positions, attitude, velocity and time.
Inertial Labs, inertiallabs.com
The CGI-610 GNSS/INS sensor is an advanced dual-antenna receiver designed for reliable and accurate navigation and positioning in challenging terrestrial, marine or airborne applications. Designed to meet the needs of 3D positioning and autonomous vehicle guidance applications, it provides high performance in urban canyons and other harsh environments where GNSS signals are lost or degraded. Incorporating GNSS technology and an industrial-grade inertial measurement unit, the sensor delivers accurate hybrid position, attitude and velocity data up to 100 Hz, driven by CHC Navigation algorithms. Its rugged and lightweight package ensures uninterrupted performance and meets high protection standards. CHC Navigation, chcnav.com
Image: uAvionix
Remote ID Module
Meets FAA standards
The pingRID meets the Part 89 remote ID standards of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which will become effective on Sept. 16, to keep operators safe and compliant throughout a flight. The pingRID comes pre-configured and ready for use out of the box. After assigning the pingRID unique identification number to the aircraft’s registration with the FAA, operators can attach the battery-powered device to their UAV and prepare for flight. A set of LED indicators provides status on the battery charge, device readiness for flight and inflight operations. The compact, lightweight design fits most aircraft without significantly impacting performance. The module also can be quickly recharged via USB-C. The FAA’s final rule on remote ID requires all UAV pilots to meet the operating requirements of Part 89. For most operators, this will require flying a UAV equipped with standard remote ID, a remote ID broadcast module such as the pingRID, or flying at a Federally Recognized Identification Area. uAvionix, uavionix.com
MOBILE
Image: Orolia
GNSS Simulator A positioning, navigation and timing test solution
GSG-7 delivers GNSS signal testing for location-aware applications and systems that require navigation or timing. The GSG-7 GNSS simulator features high-end performance with a 1,000 Hz simulation iteration rate, high dynamics, real-time synchronization, and simulation of all-in-view satellite signals. The GNSS simulator is suitable for development and integration projects that require high performance and an increased number of constellation licenses and satellites in view for a single antenna or trajectory. GSG-7 supports multi-constellation and multi-frequency GNSS simulations. It can be programmed to simulate operations with all current and future GNSS signals. Orolia, safran-navigation-timing.com
Image: Eos Positioning
GNSS Receiver Supports Galileo HAS
The 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 for the GIS 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. Eos Positioning Systems, eos-gnss.com
Image: Pasternack
Mil-Spec GPS/GNSS Antennas Meets military specifications for use in several small form factor and mobile applications
The PEANGPS1006, PEANGPS1007, PEANGPS1008 and PEANGPS1009 mil-spec GNSS antennas are engineerered
for environmental performance according to the MIL-STD-810G standard and include multi-standard GPS L1, Galileo E1 and GLONASS options. They are IP67 rated and available in passive and active versions and provide coverage from 1,597 MHz to 1,607 MHz. The GNSS antennas feature linear polarization for cross-polarized isolation, nominal gain options of -3 dBic and 10 dBic, and SMA mounts. The mil-spec GNSS antennas are available now.
Pasternack, Pasternack.com
TFX62.A. (Image: Taoglas)
Near-Invisible Antennas Supports cellular Wi-Fi and GNSS technologies
The TFX62.A, TFX257.A and TFX125.A offer an alternative to standard opaque antennas, with “peel and stick” mounting capabilities to any nonmetal surface. The TFX62.A, TFX257.A and TFX125.A come with an adhesive and have an enclosed carrier terminated with a FAKRA connector for easy installation. The TFX series antennas leverage a sub-millimeter thick hybrid transparent conductive film that offers designers an invisible antenna solution. They are suitable for mobility, public infrastructure, medical devices, transportation and emerging IoT applications. Use cases for the antennas include electric vehicle chargers and parking meters, smart buildings and transportation vehicles.
Taoglas, taoglas.com
Image: CHC Navigation
3D Grade Control System For motor graders
The TG63 comes with a tightly coupled dual-GNSS positioning system and inertial sensor, and provides reliable 3D positioning and heading to ensure accuracy of the grader blade within ±2 cm. The TG63 is designed to withstand the harsh environment of construction sites and supports multiple applications, including real-time kinematic networked transport of RTCM via internet protocol and ultra-high frequency base stations.
CHC Navigation, chcnav.com
OEM
Image: ComNav Technology
GNSS Modules Now compatible with Galileo HAS
K8 series GNSS modules can use the Galileo High Accuracy Service (HAS) precise-point positioning (PPP). The PVT algorithm upgrade to the K8 series module supports Galileo HAS with an accuracy of 20 cm horizontally and 40 cm vertically. Galileo HAS provides free access to information necessary to estimate accurate positioning using a PPP algorithm in real-time through the Galileo signal E6-B and an internet connection. The improved performance capabilities provide a higher level of accuracy for industries such as UAV, autonomous driving, intelligent transportation, agriculture and more. ComNav Technology, comnavtech.com
Images: SingularXYZ
Development Kit Designed for GNSS-related development integration
The DK100 development kit is a multi-functional kit with selectable single-antenna and dual-antenna modules, full constellation tracking and centimeter-level positioning. It is a ready-to-use kit designed to simplify integration efforts and increase compatibility with a variety of applications. The DK100 reserves standard adapter board interfaces to connect different GNSS modules and radio modules to meet specific needs. The development kits are coupled with a 4G module, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Ethernet modules, large memory and status indicators on a single PCBA. The DK100 comes with a web page for easy configuration. With Ethernet and Wi-Fi access, users can monitor device status and configure working mode and data transmission settings on the web page. The centimeter-level DK100 can be integrated in a range of horizontal and vertical applications, such as CORS construction, precision agriculture, construction machinery, smart navigation, monitoring, robotics, unmanned systems and more. Singular XYZ, singularxyz.com
Image: TDK Corporation
Digital MEMS Gyroscope A high stability and vibration-tolerant gyroscope for dynamic applications
The GYPRO4300 features a ±300°/s input measurement range, 200 Hz bandwidth, and 1 ms latency with a closed-loop architecture that enables high linearity and stability. The GYPRO4300 has bias instability of 0.5°/h as a typical value and a maximum value of 2°/h. The GYPRO4300 is suitable for applications such as railways, land vehicles, vertical take-off and landing aircraft and UAVs, marine and subsea systems, borehole drilling and surveying instruments. The GYPRO4300 is available now for sampling and customer evaluations. Evaluations of the sensors also can be made with an Arduino-based evaluation kit that provides built-in testing functionalities such as output reading and recording, recalibration and digital self-tests. TDK Corporation, tdk.com
Image: Tallysman Wireless
GNSS Antenna Small, light, and dual-band
The SSL889XF employs Tallysman’s Accutenna technology providing GPS, QZSS L1/L2, GLONASS G1/G2/G3, Galileo E1/E5b, and BeiDou B1/B2b coverage. The SSL889XF antenna is designed for precision dual-frequency positioning where a light weight and a low profile are important. The SSL889XF antenna element is 48 mm in diameter and 20 mm tall and weighs ~50 g. It has a tight average phase center variation of less than 10 mm for all frequencies and overall azimuths and elevation angles. The SSL889XF is available in three versions. Model SSL889XF-1 has an integrated 61 mm ground plane and two mounting holes. Model SSL889XF-2 has a mounting collar, and model SSL889XF-3 is the antenna only and is attached using adhesive tape. All models have a female MCX connector. The SSL889XF antenna also supports Tallysman’s eXtended Filtering (XF) technology. Tallysman Wireless, tallysman.com
Image: ComNav Technology
Datalink Module Suitable for GNSS-based systems
The U702 datalink module is a RX/TX data link module that supports the LoRa modulation technique. Its compact, surface-mounted design and robust electromagnetic compatibility enable easy integration into GNSS systems such as robotic lawn mowers. With the LoRa modulation technique, the U702 has low power consumption, reception power of 0.025 w, and a working distance up to 1.5 km. It also enhances the ability to protect GNSS systems against various interference — making it possible to have high reception sensitivity, a low error rate, and high reliable data transmission even in harsh environments.
ComNav Technology, comnavtech.com
Image: Cloud Ground Control/Advanced Navigation
Fleet management device For air, land and sea vehicles
CGConnect can securely connect UAVs and vehicles into one autonomous fleet across land, sea and air, regardless of manufacturer or model. This provides mission planners and operators with full situational awareness for search and rescue, emergency response and disaster relief. Artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms are running in the cloud, relaying real-time camera feed data to the end user to support missions such as object detection, tracking and thermal imaging. The flexible and customizable open platform is operating on industry standards, which multiplies potential product applications and enables diverse autonomous vehicles and payloads to operate as a coordinated fleet. High-grade security safeguards data and IP from vulnerabilities and security breaches, helping users meet compliance obligations. Additionally, CGConnect supports edge AI to perform intensive object identification and classification directly on the vehicle for dynamic missions. CGConnect is available for pre-order. An OEM option is available. Cloud Ground Control/Advanced Navigation, cloudgroundcontrol.com/advancednavigation.com
U-blox has signed an agreement with GMV to combine GNSS receiver hardware from u-blox with GMV’s safe correction service and sensor fusion and positioning engine. This solution is suitable for automotive applications because it provides a holistic safety approach that maximizes performance and minimizes timetomarket costs.
Starting in April 2023, u-blox will directly commercialize the solution. This includes integration services and certification support provided jointly by u-blox and GMV for applications such as ADAS Level 2+ and vehicle autonomy.
The collaboration was forged at the recent Mobile World Congress (MWC), Barcelona 2023. The two companies will work hand in hand to integrate their technologies and provide a solution for the needs of future automotive application
New-generation aircraft ELT meets new European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requirements
Photo: Orolia
Orolia has received certifications for yet another survival emergency locator transmitter (ELT), the Ultima-S.
The news follows Orolia’s announcement that it had received certification for the Ultima-DT model, as well as a personal locator now shipping to the U.S. Army.
The Ultima-S is a new generation ELT installed in either the cabins or liferafts of aircraft. It relays accurate aircraft location information to search-and-rescue teams.
Once activated, a 406-MHz distress signal is transmitted and includes the ELT’s location thanks to the Ultima-S internal GNSS receiver. This built-in GNSS capability increases both probability and speed of detection of the distress signal.
“With these key certifications for the Ultima-S, Orolia brings a long-awaited solution to the industry,” said Jérôme Ramé, Orolia’s Aviation & Military Product Line Director. “We have developed strong partnerships with several of the leading aircraft manufacturers that will enable operators worldwide to benefit from the Ultima-S for both their linefit and retrofit needs, allowing fleet standardization.”
The Ultima-S provides free, global coverage service through the dedicated Cospas-Sarsat infrastructure while meeting the highest aviation safety standards. Orolia offers non-rechargeable lithium batteries compliant with the latest FAA and EASA special conditions standards, also known under TSO-C142b/DO227A. The Ultima-S also meets the most recent ELT performance and environmental standards through TSO-C126c.
“What makes the Ultima-S unique is a new feature called the Return Link Service (RLS),” said Ramé. “Through this capability, the user is automatically notified when the distress signal is detected and located by the Cospas-Sarsat ground infrastructure. The Ultima-S links directly to the European Galileo GNSS satellite constellation, providing the most reliable and timely information for reaching aircraft crew members in distress.”
In addition to being available on a linefit basis on major aircraft programs, Orolia has launched an exchange program to make retrofit activities easier for airlines, especially those upgrading to safer battery technology.
Septentrio’s mosaic-T is built specifically for resilient and precise time and frequency synchronization under challenging conditions. (Photo: Septentrio)
Fugro has signed a tri-party cooperation agreement with GNSS receiver company Septentrio and synchronization equipment manufacturer Meinberg to launch the Fugro AtomiChron real-time synchronization and authentication service.
Numerous sectors rely on resilient and highly accurate time synchronization, including telecommunications, finance and energy. The timing technology eliminates time drift caused by clocks counting time at slightly different rates, and provides extreme stability that surpasses current precision frequency standards.
With up to sub-nanosecond accuracy, Fugro AtomiChron includes Navigation Message Authentication (NMA), ensuring reception of genuine GNSS signals and time synchronization improvements. Integrated anti-spoofing detection further prevents interference with GNSS timing signals providing accuracy, authentication, validity and security for end users.
The agreement ensures that the Fugro AtomiChron service will be available in new Septentrio mosaic-T GNSS receivers, as well as a selection of Meinberg GNSS clocks, without the need for additional physical interfaces or separate antennas.
“Septentrio is a forerunner in the area of robust and resilient GNSS solutions,” said Jan Van Hees, business development director at Septentrio. “With the addition of the unique Fugro AtomiChron service, we are pleased to further strengthen our offering and provide our customers even more accurate and reliable solutions for resilient GNSS timing.”
InfiniDome has released GPSdome 2, its newest anti-jamming solution. The cost-effective and lightweight device provides simultaneous dual-frequency protection from three directions of attack.
GPSdome 2 is a high-end solution tailored to defend small- to medium-sized tactical UAVs as well as manned and unmanned ground vehicles.
Disruptions in critical positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) data mean loitering munitions that never find their targets, UAVs that fall to the ground, and ground vehicles that cannot be managed.
With a small form factor (500 g, 87 mm x 91 mm x 61.55 mm) and minimal power consumption, GPSdome 2 is suitable for loitering munitions as well as drones and UAVs, increasing resiliency while prolonging mission time and providing a superior return on investment. Fully retrofit and completely standalone, the system is compatible with almost any off-the-shelf GNSS receiver on the market as well as standard active GNSS antennas, meaning that it can be integrated into existing GPS systems or into new product lines, manned or unmanned.
With sophisticated algorithms and a proprietary RFIC, GPSdome 2 analyzes RF interference in the environment and combines multiple antenna patterns to create and dynamically steer three nulls in the direction of any hostile signal.
GPSdome 2 provides simultaneous dual-frequency protection (GPS L1 + L2 or GPS L1 + GLONASS G1), creating up to three nulls, protecting from three jamming directions within each band in real time, making it suitable for PNT applications.
The GPSdome 2 is a dual-use, non-ITAR device and comes with optional mil-spec compliance. It has been chosen by an Israeli defense contractor for integration with its platforms.
New receiver provides a path to the security and performance benefits of dual-band technology
Photo: u-blox
U-blox has announced a new, compact dual-band timing module that offers nanosecond-level timing accuracy, thereby meeting the stringent timing requirements for 5G communications.
The new u-blox NEO-F10T is compliant with the u-blox NEO form factor (12.2 mm x 16 mm), allowing space-constrained designs to be realized without the need to compromise on size.
The NEO-F10T is the successor to the NEO-M8T module, providing an easy upgrade path to dual-band timing technology. This allows NEO-M8T users to access nanosecond-level timing accuracy and enhanced security.
U-blox’s dual-band technology mitigates ionospheric errors and greatly reduces timing error, without the need of an external GNSS correction service. Additionally, when within the operational area of a satellite-based augmentation system (SBAS), the NEO-F10T offers the possibility to improve the timing performance by using the ionospheric corrections provided by the SBAS system.
As the NEO-F10T supports all four global satellite constellations and L1/L5/E5a configuration, it significantly simplifies global deployments because the same device can be used universally.
NEO-F10T includes advanced security features such as secure boot, secure interfaces, configuration lock and T-RAIM to provide the highest-level timing integrity. This ensures that reliable, uninterrupted service is delivered as any attempt to interfere with the receiver is unlikely to be successful. Additionally, advanced anti-jamming and anti-spoofing algorithms are included to further enhance security.
The module has a single RF input for all the GNSS bands and dual SAW filters for exceptional signal selectivity and out-of-band attenuation. It is compatible with u-blox’s ANN-MB1 L1/L5 multi-band antenna, making it simple to evaluate the performance of the timing modules. The devices operate from a single 2.7 V to 3.6 V supply and draw just 19 mA (@ 3.0 V) during continuous operation.
“NEO-F10T is designed to meet the timing synchronization requirements in 5G small cells and private networks on a global scale. By significantly reducing the time error of cellular network synchronization, the NEO‑F10T module will help operators maximize the performance of their networks and so optimize the return on their investment in 5G communications,” said Samuli Pietila, Director Product Line Management, Timing and Infrastructure, at u-blox.
Geometer International, a Ukrainian developer of GNSS/RTK instruments and applications for satellite positioning, has introduced the Walker RTK, a dual-frequency L1, L2 RTK receiver in the compact form factor of a portable RTK device.
The Walker RTK is a lightweight, small-sized, affordable and full-featured device for collecting, storing and processing geo-referenced data on the survey site. According to the developer, a GNSS receiver in a convenient and affordable format will significantly expand the use of RTK technology. The new technology will be suited to most tasks requiring centimeter precision positioning and measurements in a 3D coordinate system.
Compact and lightweight, Walker RTK is the ideal solution for field workers working away from the office. The new device can be operated with just one hand, significantly improving the productivity of service personnel.
Possible applications for GNSS Walker RTK include surveying, utilities, solar power plant engineering, trenching and pipeline installation, drilling, forestry and municipal infrastructure control.
What’s under the bonnet of Walker RTK?
The Walker RTK is built around a 2-frequency L1/L2 184 channel board and a sensitive Helix antenna, satisfying up to 90% of basic user requirements. The tube-shaped housing geometry allows it to fit with any universal mount. The receiver weight is only 0.25g (0.470 with smartphone holder) due to the aluminum alloy housing with a protective coating. The Walker RTK has a built-in Li-Ion battery with enough power for 24 hours of continuous operation without additional recharging. The new energy-efficient architecture of the unit achieves this.
The GNSS receiver has the minimum amount of leading interfaces, resulting in high IP67 dust and waterproof rating. The device can be paired with a smartphone or tablet via Bluetooth, while connection via Bluetooth low energy is also planned for a future release.
Compatible with satellite systems
Walker RTK can track and determine geo-position using signals from all known existing satellite systems. This feature makes it possible to achieve the centimeter-level accuracy of an RTK solution within seconds.
GNSS signals processed by the Walker RTK GNSS receiver:
Thanks to NMEA messaging, the Walker RTK GNSS receiver is fully compatible with any professional or freeware geolocation software, providing high accuracy and reliable RTK-corrected positioning.
Celestia UK has won a €800,000 European Space Agency (ESA) contract to develop an innovative positioning, navigation and timing(PNT) solution based on LEO satellite constellations for 5G networks and applications.
The contract was granted under ESA’s Navigation, Innovation and Support Programme (NAVISP).
Malachy Devlin, CEO, Celestia UK
Celestia’s LEO-SYN+ project is intended to boost the reliability and performance of GNSS. It will use low-Earth-orbit (LEO) satellite signals of opportunity to provide a resilient position and time reference for 5G networks and improve the robustness of GNSS signals.
It includes development of a PNT receiver compatible with multi-GNSS constellations and LEO signals of opportunity, as well as testing of the solution in 5G networks. A prototype receiver will validate the product design and the technology development, paving the way for additional applications of the technology to other critical infrastructures after the initial ESA NAVSIP roll-out.
To deliver the ambitious project, Celestia UK is partnering with Heriot-Watt University, which brings extensive knowledge in satellite communications and digital signal processing, and The Scotland 5G Centre, the national center for accelerating deployment and adoption of 5G and realizing its economic and societal potential for Scotland.
“It is a great benefit for the business to have won an ESA NAVSIP contract,” said Malachy Devlin, CEO of Celestia UK. “We are looking forward to collaborating with ESA and our partners to unlock the potential to improve the resilience of 5G networks with our PNT solution.”
Ian Sharp, head of Business Development, The Scotland 5G Centre, added,“The Scotland 5G Centre is providing businesses access to 5G services through a national network of innovation hubs, under its 5GConnect Programme. It is well known that 5G will support higher data throughput and interactive services through reduced latency. However, 5G will also provide new possibilities for positioning, navigation and timing (PNT). Use of advanced antennas and positioning over satellite will be critical for outdoor applications where precise navigation is essential to meet safety requirements for the likes of drone navigation and autonomous vehicles. We are delighted to be working alongside Celestia UK, supporting the innovative LEO-SYN+ project, which will utilise our cutting edge 5G network.”
ComNav Technology Ltd. has released the N2 Palm RTK GNSS receiver. The release coincides with the company’s 10th anniversary. With its advanced technologies, the N2 is suitable for surveying, mapping and construction.
The N2 has a highly integrated main board and a three-in-one antenna, yet is extremely thin and portable, weighing about the same as a basketball (0.72 kg with battery) and measuring 48 mm, the thickness of AirPods.
Powered by ComNav’s SinoGNSS K8 high-precision module, the N2 can track 1,590 channels, including all existing and planned signals of GPS, BDS-2, BDS-3, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS and SBAS. Its advanced satellite-tracking technology ensures it works well even in harsh environments, such as under heavy foliage or close to buildings.
A third-generation inertial measurement unit (IMU) makes the N2 immune to magnetic disturbance, which greatly improves its reliability. Pole-tilt compensation of up to 60° allows surveyors to locate difficult points precisely and easily while maintaining positioning accuracy within 2.5 cm. By using the company’s Quantum algorithm, the N2 achieves calibration-free operation — after 10 seconds of initialization, users can make tilt measurements with centimeter-level accuracy for an extended period, greatly improving efficiency.
With its integrated UHF modem, the N2 can reach a working range of up to 15 km. It can be used as either a base station or a rover.
The N2 features a 10,000 mAh intelligent Li-ion battery, along with ComNav’s patented low-power-consumption technology. It fully charges in five hours and works continuously in the field for 20 hours. The built-in USB-C port makes it convenient to charge with standard smartphone chargers or external power banks.
As with ComNav’s other products, the N2 meets ComNav’s high quality and durability standards; it is rated IP67 (dustproof and waterproof) and can work in temperatures from –35° C to +65° C. It can be used in a wider range of outdoor working conditions.
With near-field communication (NFC), the N2 can connect to other NFC-enabled devices, such as the R60 data collector. V5.0 dual-mode Bluetooth inside allows users to connect at ultra-long distances with low energy requirements.
The N2 Palm RTK GNSS receiver now is available through ComNav Technology authorized local distributors or directly from ComNav Technology.
A roundup of recent products in the GNSS and inertial positioning industry from the August 2022 issue of GPS World magazine.
OEM
Receiver Module
Designed for autonomous applications
Photo: Trimble
The Trimble BD9250 dual-frequency receiver module supports Trimble RTX correction services and is designed to deliver high-accuracy positioning for high-volume, autonomous-ready applications in agriculture, construction, robotics and logistics. The compact receiver has an industry-standard form factor and pinout, allowing for easy system integration and configuration. Equipped with Trimble’s advanced ProPoint positioning engine, the BD9250 delivers robust and accurate positioning. It is compatible with Trimble RTX correction services or real-time kinematic (RTK) and supports GPS, Galileo, GLONASS and BeiDou as well as QZSS and NavIC. Support for the Indian NavIC S-Band signal is also available.
The AsteRx-U3 ruggedized GNSS receiver is the successor to the AsteRx-U for construction, mining and other machine control applications. It combines a triple-band precise positioning GNSS core with extended wireless communication features including Wi-Fi, UHF and 4G LTE, making it easy to fit it into any control system. The AsteRx-U3 offers low latency of under 10 msec with a high data rate, which allows machines to work rapidly and accurately. An IP68-rated housing, with fixing brackets and robust M12 connectors, enables quick installation.
The M20071 integrated GNSS receiver module, measuring 9 x 9 x 1.8 mm, incorporates the MediaTek AG3335MN flash chip. The receiver tracks four GNSS constellations concurrently (GPS + Galileo + GLONASS + BeiDou). The 1.8-volt system power supply provides outstanding low power consumption. Its multipath algorithms improve position accuracy in inner-city environments. The onboard low noise amplifier provides good performance in weak signal environments such as wearable devices.
The Strategic Anti-jam Beamforming Receiver – M-Code (SABR-M) enables precise geolocation and strike capabilities in highly contested battlespaces. It integrates receiver technology with advanced antenna electronics in a small, hardened package designed to meet challenging performance requirements. It delivers accurate position, velocity, altitude and timing data, as well as strong protection against GPS signal jamming and spoofing. At 4.5 x 6 x 1 inches, the SABR-M meets size, weight, power, cost (SWaP-C) and thermal requirements for space-constrained military applications. It uses advanced beamforming technology to improve GPS signal reception and counter threat signals.
The GPS Resilient Kit (GRK) is a cybersecurity device that comes with two antennas for monitoring and protecting time-critical infrastructures. It can be integrated with any GNSS receiver, either as a retrofit or in greenfield deployment. The GRK features a proprietary interference filtering algorithm for maximum protection, up to 40-dB attenuation of jamming signals with the premium option. It requires minimal power consumption while providing cloud-based monitoring with real-time reporting of jamming attacks. It protects GPS L1 (C/A code) with a latency of 100 ns ±15 ns (fixed).
GBaaS enables providers to combat PNT cyberattacks
Photo: ADVA
GNSS-backup-as-a-service (GBaaS) enables service providers to help operators safeguard services that rely on positioning, navigation and timing (PNT). In-network timing based on network time protocols (NTP) and precision time protocols (PTP) are also increasingly vulnerable to cyber threats. GBaas is based on ADVA’s aPNT+ platform, which leverages a suite of technologies, including multi-band GNSS receivers and management software based on artificial intelligence and machine-learning. Service providers can offer ADVA’s aPNT+ protection as a subscription-based service as part of their service-level agreements.
The i73+ pocket-sized receiver is a powerful and versatile receiver with an integrated UHF modem that delivers survey-grade accuracy in all jobsite configurations. It has 624 GNSS channels and the latest iStar technology and can be operated as either a base station or a rover. The i73+ is a highly productive NTRIP rover when used with a handheld controller or tablet and connected to a GNSS RTK network via CHCNAV LandStar field software. The receiver takes advantage of GPS, GLONASS, Galileo and BeiDou, in particular the latest BeiDou 3 signal, to provide robust data quality at all times.
The Geode GNS3 GNSS receiver allows users to collect real-time GNSS data with sub-meter, sub-foot and decimeter accuracy options. With a scalable accuracy platform, users can purchase what they need now, while having the option to increase accuracy in the future. It offers sub-meter accuracy with a single-frequency antenna, while its multi-frequency antenna supports all constellations on L1, L2 and L5. Atlas L-band corrections allow the Geode to be used in water utility locating, agriculture and irrigation mapping, as well as mapping projects in remote locations where other correction services are not available. The Geode GNS3 can be used with Windows, Android, iPhone and iPad devices.
Improved colorization to contextualize point clouds
Photo: GeoSLAM
The ZEB Vision is a camera accessory for the ZEB Horizon system that can be used to capture 360° panoramic photography in 4K definition for point cloud colorization. Data is captured as the user walks through the area of interest. The ZEB Vision uses GeoSLAM’s SLAM algorithm to automatically and accurately position panoramic photos on a point cloud for an interactive viewing experience. The ZEB Vision attaches easily to the ZEB Horizon. The 4K resolution increases feature definition of objects within the point cloud, allowing for a new perspective on data by navigating within a virtual representation of an environment. This means industries such as architecture, construction and facilities can add real-world context to point clouds for the creation of CAD/BIM models.
The Leica Chiroptera-5 is a high-performance airborne bathymetric lidar sensor for coastal and inland water surveys. It combines airborne bathymetric and topographic lidar sensors with a four-band camera to collect seamless data from the seabed to land. Compared to previous models, the Chiroptera-5 provides 40% higher point density, a 20% increase in water-depth penetration, and improved topographic sensitivity for generating more detailed hydrographic maps. Its high-resolution lidar data supports nautical charting, coastal infrastructure planning, environmental monitoring and landslide and erosion risk assessments.
The Clirio application combines mobile lidar 3D scanning with smart remote collaboration tools to offer teams an end-to-end 3D solution to capture, organize, share and problem-solve. This is all based on real-time field observations and data, whether team members are on site or a continent away. Clirio is a set of mobile, web and VR/AR apps for instantly capturing, sharing, reviewing and resolving worksite field observations. At a field site, Clirio users collect notes, photos and 3D scans (using the laser scanner built into a new iPad Pro or iPhone Pro). These field observations are automatically geo-referenced within the map-based workspace and synced to a secure cloud workspace. An intuitive interface allows colleagues, managers, partners, or stakeholders to sort, review, compare, and act on field observations.
The Visual Parking System (VPS) by Bird is designed to keep track of scooter parking in a scalable, efficient and vandalism-immune way that requires zero infrastructure within a community. Powered by Google’s ARCore Geospatial API, VPS enables scooter parking with pinpoint accuracy. When parking a scooter, riders will be prompted to take a quick scan of their surroundings. The system seamlessly compares a rider’s images against Google’s data and Street View images in real time to produce the best available parking solution. Stationary objects such as buildings and signs are used as reference points, while more dynamic objects such as people and vehicles are disregarded. The near-instantaneous process results in a precise, centimeter-level geolocation that enables Bird VPS to detect and prevent improper parking with extreme accuracy, helping ensure Bird vehicles are only left in approved areas.
Supports Industry 4.0 with real-time visibility of assets
Photo: Pozyx
The Pozyx Platform is an asset tracking and identification solution for seamless indoor and outdoor tracking, following packages or other assets from trucks to their destination. It is based on the omlox hub, an open standard for real-time location systems that combines GPS data with data from ultra-wideband, 5G, radio-frequency identification, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. The Pozyx Platform offers a seamless indoor/outdoor transition with zoom-in from a worldwide map to a detailed indoor map, showing highly accurate locations up to 10 cm. It is designed for smart manufacturing, providing a supply-chain solution that supports Industry 4.0. It tracks and identifies any asset, providing real-time data to facilitate warehouse and inventory control, keep track of critical tools, and slash lost asset costs.
Geneq Inc. has released the SXblue SMART to meet the requirements of professionals looking for an accurate, flexible smart antenna for field work.
The SXblue SMART features a GNSS engine capable of quickly tracking all-in-view GNSS signals. Its design includes interference mitigation technology and optimization for handling a wide frequency band.
Weighing 850 g including battery, the SXblue SMART is compact, supplying the accuracy, ruggedness and maneuverability needed by surveying professionals. Its radio link is based on the Farlink protocol that allows a range of up to 8 km, a performance achievable while reserving a wide bandwidth for transmission of real-time kinematic (RTK) data.
In addition to a tilt sensor for measurements in hard-to-reach places, the SXblue SMART features a high-performance attitude measurement module that can detect and measure movement of the device. An integrated inertial measurement unit provides even more accurate and stable measurements and increased productivity. The SXblue SMART also has a built-in thermometer for monitoring and controlling its internal temperature.
Compared to the company’s previous products, the SXblue SMART has improved communication features, including near-field communication that facilitates close communication with a controller or mobile phone equipped with this technology.
