GPS World

Tag: mass market

  • Qianxun SI, u-blox plan to bring mass-market high-precision positioning to China

    Qianxun Spatial Intelligence Inc., a high-precision positioning service provider, and u-blox are joining forces to deliver high-precision positioning solutions to the Chinese market.

    By coordinating their product offerings, they seek to meet growing demand for increased positioning accuracy for mass-market applications. Some of the areas driving up demand for high-precision positioning services in China are internet of things (IoT) tracking devices such as those used on shared bikes, as well as automotive, UAV and robotic vehicle applications.

    u‑blox is bringing to the partnership its high-precision GNSS receivers. Its u‑blox F9 multi-band positioning platform uses integrated real-time kinematic (RTK) technology to process the high-precision positioning correction data provided by Qianxun SI, delivering down to centimeter-level positioning accuracy for wide-ranging applications. It enables even faster and more robust performance by leveraging a greater variety of GNSS signals.

    Two major advancements have enabled sub-meter-level positioning accuracy for mass-market applications. The first is modern GNSS correction services that constantly monitor GNSS signals to determine positioning errors caused, for example, by atmospheric distortions, and wirelessly transmit correction data to compensate for these errors to millions of GNSS devices. The second is a new generation of small, power-efficient, and affordable GNSS receivers that are able to use the correction data to achieve such high levels of accuracy.

    Qianxun SI, a high-precision positioning service provider, has already laid the groundwork for the large-scale expansion of high-precision positioning in the IoT era, the company said. Based on BeiDou, which is compatible with GPS, GLONASS and Galileo, Qianxun SI’s high-precision positioning service is built on the nationwide ONE Network, composed of more than 2,000 Continuously Operating Reference Stations (CORS) and using proprietary algorithms. It offers vehicles and other applications a range of 24/7 high-precision positioning services in most regions of the country.

    By the end of 2018, Qianxun SI’s dynamic centimeter-level service will cover the entire mainland of China, the company said.

    “We are delighted to cooperate with u-blox to provide users with high-precision positioning solutions that are user friendly and affordable,” said Jinpei Chen, CEO of Qianxun SI. “I believe our high-precision positioning technology is a key enabler of IoT development, and the cooperation with u‑blox will accelerate the go-to-market process of the technology in an extensive range of industrial and automotive market applications.”.

    “This collaboration is a genuine win-win for all involved in that it allows us to develop high-precision solutions that will foster innovation across markets,” said Thomas Seiler, CEO of u-blox. “Partnering with China’s leading GNSS correction service provider allows u-blox customers to bring cutting edge applications to the China market in the shortest possible time.”

  • u-blox F9 platform designed for high-precision mass market

    u‑blox has rolled out the u-blox F9 technology platform, which was designed to deliver high-precision positioning solutions for mass market industrial and automotive applications.

    The platform combines multi-band GNSS technology with dead-reckoning, high-precision algorithms, and compatibility with a variety of GNSS correction data services, to achieve precision down to the centimeter level.

    u‑blox F9 paves the way for the next generation of high precision navigation, augmented reality, and unmanned vehicles, the company said.

    The u-blox F9 platform will underpin the next wave of u‑blox positioning modules targeting mass market industrial and automotive applications. It uses GNSS signals in multiple frequency bands (L1/L2/L5) to correct positioning errors caused by the ionosphere and deliver fast time to first fix (Fast TTFF).

    Its ability to receive signals from all GNSS constellations (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, Beidou) further improves performance by increasing the number of satellites visible at any given time. Stand-alone u‑blox F9 solutions robustly achieve meter-level accuracy.

    To achieve centimeter-level accuracy, u‑blox F9 offers optional on-chip real-time knematic (RTK) technology. In addition to offering an open interface to legacy GNSS correction service providers, it supports the main GNSS correction services, bringing RTK high-precision positioning to the mass market.

    “High precision is the next frontier in positioning for mass markets, with countless applications in need of a robust and scalable high precision positioning solution. u‑blox F9 provides the hardware and integrated software components to address these needs,” said Daniel Ammann, executive director of positioning product development at u-blox.

    Optimized for low power consumption, the u‑blox F9 platform sets a high standard for security with built-in jamming and spoofing detection systems that protect against intentional and unintentional interference. Dead-reckoning technology based on inertial sensors extends high-precision performance to otherwise challenging urban environments.

    Automotive applications of the technology include lane-level navigation for head-up displays and vehicular infotainment systems as well as for vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication, a prerequisite for highly automated and fully autonomous vehicles.

    In the industrial realm, u‑blox F9 will enable mass adoption of commercial unmanned vehicle applications including drones and ground vehicles such as heavy trucks or robotic lawnmowers.

    The u‑blox F9 platform’s technology will be showcased at Embedded World in Nuremberg, Germany from Feb. 27-March 1 at Booth #3-139. Product samples will be available later in the year.

  • Joint venture to bring high-precision positioning to mass market

    u-blox, Bosch, Geo++ and Mitsubishi Electric are establishing the joint venture Sapcorda Services to bring high-precision GNSS positioning services to mass markets, including autonomous driving.

    Bosch, Geo++, Mitsubishi Electric and u-blox have created Sapcorda Services GmbH, a joint venture that will bring high-precision GNSS positioning services to mass-market applications.

    The four companies recognized that existing solutions for GNSS positioning services do not meet the needs of emerging high-precision GNSS mass markets.

    As a result, they decided to join forces to facilitate the establishment of a worldwide available and affordable solution for system integrators, OEMs and receiver manufacturers. Each partner brings its unique expertise to the joint venture Sapcorda Services.

    Sapcorda will offer globally available GNSS positioning services via internet and satellite broadcast and will enable accurate GNSS positioning at centimeter level. The services are designed to serve high-volume automotive, industrial and consumer markets.

    The real-time correction data service will be delivered in a public, open format and is not bound to receiver hardware or systems. More information will be made available later this year.

    “We believe this initiative with Bosch, Geo++ and Mitsubishi Electric to create Sapcorda Services will bring a truly disruptive GNSS service offering to the market,” said Daniel Ammann, executive VP and co-founder at u-blox. “Key characteristics such as security, safety and mass-scalability, coupled with an attractive business model and an open approach — serving all interested GNSS receiver manufacturers alike — will be a game-changer across a large number of established and emerging applications.”

    “We are looking forward to collaborating with our partners in this joint venture,” said Jumana Al-Sibai, member of the executive management of the Chassis Systems Control division of Robert Bosch GmbH. “Together, we want to create a GNSS positioning service that fully supports the requirements for positioning sensors in the automotive sector. Only with built-in safety and the highest levels of precision will we be able to make automated driving reality.”

    “Geo++ anticipates defining the future of high precision positioning services with our partners at Bosch, Mitsubishi Electric and u-blox. The combination of the partners’ longstanding leadership in automotive and mass market solutions with Sapcorda’s commitment to push open formats will pave the way for a raft of next generation GNSS applications,” said Gerhard Wübbena founder & president of Geo++.

    “Mitsubishi Electric aims to create a border-less global market for high-precision positioning systems where receivers will be able to enjoy real-time correction data services potentially interoperable with the Japanese government’s Centimeter Level Augmentation Service (CLAS) via the Quasi-Zenith Satellite System,” said Masamitsu Okamura, executive officer in charge of Electronic Systems at Mitsubishi Electric Corporation. “We believe that this venture will accelerate adoption of automated driving and safe driving support.”

  • u-blox brings GNSS RTK precision to the mass market

    u-blox has launched a receiver module that brings real-time kinematic accuracy to the mass market. The NEO-M8P GNSS receiver module delivers high performance down to centimeter-level accuracy.

    RTK technologies have been used for some time in low-volume niche markets, such as surveying and construction. Because of high costs and complexity, this enhanced positioning technology has been inaccessible for most other uses.

    Emerging high volume markets, such as unmanned vehicles, require high-precision performance that is low cost and energy efficient. Other application areas include agriculture and robotic guidance systems, such as tractors or robotic lawnmowers. The u-blox NEO-M8P answers these demands for a small-sized, highly cost-effective, and very precise RTK-based module solution.

    The RTK algorithms are pre-integrated into the module. As a result, the size and weight are significantly reduced, and power consumption is five times lower than existing solutions, cutting costs and improving usability dramatically, u-blox said.

    Measuring 12.2 x 16 x 2.4 millimeters, NEO-M8P is a small, high-precision GNSS RTK module based on GPS and GLONASS satellite-based navigation systems.

    u-bloxSlideDeck-NEO-M8P-W

    The module is available in two variants. The NEO-M8P-0 has rover functionality, and the NEO-M8P-2 has rover and base-station functionality. The rover with the u-blox NEO-M8P-0 receives corrections from the u-blox base receiver NEO-M8P-2 via a communication link that uses the RTCM (Radio Technical Commission for Maritime Services) protocol, enabling centimeter-level positioning accuracy.

    By using the NEO-M8P module, customers can reduce their research and development efforts, because they do not have to spend significant resources and time to develop an in-house RTK solution on a separate microprocessor system.

    “NEO-M8P lowers the barriers for innovative companies looking to develop equipment that needs centimeter-level accuracy in many markets and applications, such as UAVs,” said Daniel Ammann, Executive Director Positioning and Co-Founder of u-blox. “Today, most solutions are based on board-level receiver products. NEO-M8P delivers performance that is simply a level above competitive offerings in terms of size and low-power consumption, thereby providing easy integration into customers’ existing product platforms, as well as a significant saving in their cost of goods.”

    u-blox NEO-M8P is available for sampling now and will be shipping in volumes in the third quarter of 2016.

  • GNSS Manufacturing and Purchase Decisions Outlined in Thursday’s Webinar

    GNSS Manufacturing and Purchase Decisions Outlined in Thursday’s Webinar

    The two GLONASS stumbles in May prompted industry leaders to again promote multi-GNSS user equipment and the development of of reliable back-up/redundant positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) systems to cope with potential drop-outs of space-based services due to jamming, unintentional interference, spoofing, or other disruptions. But neither multi-GNSS nor back-up/alternative PNT fully exists at this time, effectively for all users. When will reliable, robust, consistent, and continuous positioning become a reality?

    The two concepts of multi-GNSS, at both high-precision and mass-market levels, and alternative, non-space-based PNT, will come into widespread availability sometime over the next five to 15 years — that much can be assumed with a degree of confidence. But more precision as to when is completely lacking, and the uncertainty affects product design and life-cycles, and user decisions on equipment purchase.

    Should manufacturers and users rely on whatever technology we currently possess until the perfect system comes available, or should they continuously upgrade at each iterative step along the way?

    I will moderate an expert panel discussion this week, featuring informed viewpoints from GNSS high-precision and mass-market manufacturing, signal simulation, and alternative PNT providers. Visit env-gpsworld-integration.kinsta.cloud/webinars to register for this free, insightful presentation. The webinar takes place Thursday, June 5, at 10 a.m. Pacific time / 1 p.m. Eastern U.S. Time / 5 p.m. Greenwich Mean Time.

    Speakers

    Host/Moderator:

    Alan Cameron

    Alan Cameron, group publisher, GPS World and Geospatial Solutions

    Cameron was recently promoted to publisher of two North Coast Media brands. He was previously editor-in-chief and publisher of GPS World magazine, where he has worked since 2000. He also writes the monthly GNSS System Design & Test e-mail newsletter and the Wide Awake blog, both of which can be found on this site.

    s_aultSteve Ault, Product Manager, NavCom Technologies

    Steve Ault has 13 years of experience in the GNSS market, having previously worked for Magnavox and Leica in the 1990s before joining NavCom in late 2006. He has also worked on a wide variety of radio-based technologies dating back to the early 1980s, which include cellular phone infrastructure, VSAT systems, and military command and control communications systems. Steve holds a B.S. in Business Management and is a six-year veteran out of the U.S. Air Force. He is currently the product manager for NavCom Technologies and oversees all of NavCom’s marketing activities.

    jpottleJohn Pottle, Fellow, Institute of Engineering Technology and Royal Institute of Navigation

    John Pottle is marketing director at Spirent’s Positioning Technology division, based in the UK. Spirent leads the world in enabling its customers to build robust, resilient, positioning, navigation and critical infrastructure systems. Before joining Spirent, Mr. Pottle spent 12 years in satellite communications and broadcasting, first with BT International in London and later with Intelsat in the USA. Mr. Pottle holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Communication Engineering and an MBA. He is a Fellow of the Institution of Engineering Technology and a Fellow of the Royal Institute of Navigation.

    p_mattosPhilip Mattos is an R&D scientist for several GNSS companies.

    Philip Mattos was the chief architect of STMicroelectronics GPS/GNSS chipsets since a software receiver in the 1980s and dedicated silicon from the early ’90s, adding Galileo, GLONASS and BeiDou. He is now a consultant to chip manufacturers and agencies. He holds Masters degrees in electrical engineering from Cambridge and telecomms and computer science from the University of Essex, was awarded an external Ph.D. on his GPS work from Bristol University, where he is a Research Fellow, and is a visiting professor at University of Westminster. He has contributed to the design of the Galileo system for many years, and continues to advise on its future evolution.

    p_benshoofPaul Benshoof, Global Business Development Manager, Locata Corporation

    Paul Benshoof is currently the Global Business Development Manager of Locata Corporation, a company that has invented terrestrial positioning networks which function as local ground-based replicas of GPS, fully capable of providing accurate PNT in user-defined regions. He spent the last 22 years working in GPS with duties that include procuring military GPS receivers, developing assets to support navigation warfare advanced technology demonstrations, supervising international test programs for NATO and allied forces, coordinating guidance and navigation test & evaluation infrastructure improvement programs, and directing GPS Test Center of Expertise.

    Register for the webinar today.

  • Out in Front: How Much Farther?

    For some years now, we have been talking about GNSS interoperability. The concept has received so much careful attention at conferences, in R&D laboratories, in international working group forums, and behind closed high-level government and military doors, that one might understandably conclude that we have talked interoperability into existence.

    Not quite. Not nearly. Not by the farthest, if measuring into the next decade constitutes far, reach of our actual, real-world grasp.

    “If you can imagine it, you can achieve it.” William Arthur Ward, a professional inspirer of the 20th century, said that.

    For nearly as many years now, we have been talking about GPS and GNSS backup. Similarly, the concept has undergone careful examination and much repeated (’til blue in the face) urging and warning and alarum-
    sounding and planning and conjecturing and running through the halls of Congress. One might understandably conclude that we have conjured backup for critical infrastructure into actual, tangible, effective existence.

    Again, not quite.

    “Everybody talks about GPS backup, but nobody does anything about it.” Mark Twain said that.

    April’s GLONASS downfall prompted distinguished industry leaders to again take up cudgels for multi-GNSS and for redundant PNT. They deserve and require our support, on all fronts, whether in the public arena, the lab, or the marketplace. But neither concept yet exists, truly and pervasively, that is to say effectively for all users.

    When will reliable, robust, consistent and continuous positioning, navigation, and timing become a reality?  Should we rely on whatever technology we currently possess until the perfect system comes available, or should we continuously upgrade at each iterative step along the way?

    We take up this topic in our June 5 webinar, “How Much Farther to the Promised Land? Purchase Decisions in the Evolving Landscape of GPS, Multi-GNSS, and Alternative PNT.”

    Four speakers will present:

    • a high-precision GNSS manufacturer,
    • a mass-market GNSS manufacturer,
    • an alternative PNT provider,
    • a design and manufacturing firm,

    followed by questions from you, our audience. Come for a glimpse into the future, and estimations of its distance and time of travel from current location.

    Among the key insights: technology changes too fast to wait until the next generation of a product to add new capabilities, when doing so risks loss of competitive edge or, worse, risks introducing a new product already obsolete. A mid-lifecycle component change can deliver both greater performance and cost savings. For details on this prior to June 5, visit the White Paper section of our website.