Rx Networks is offering for both the North and South American markets the next-generation high-precision GNSS modules from Unicore Communications, based in China.
Based on the new NebulasIV systems-on-chip (SOC), the UM960, UM980 and UM982 modules offer all-constellation, multi-frequency, high-precision real-time kinematic (RTK) positioning and heading capabilities.
Rx Networks is exhibiting at ION-GNSS+ taking place this week in Denver, at Booth 108, and will exhibit at Intergeo in Essen, Germany, Oct. 18-20, at Booth F2.033.
Available in a small footprint with low-power consumption, the Unicore modules are suited for use in reference stations, surveying and mapping, precision agriculture, heading applications, machine control, drones and robotics, vehicle navigation, precision timing, and more.
Photo: Unicore
Rx Networks is a key supplier of high-accuracy services and assistance data to a growing list of GNSS hardware manufacturers. As high-precision GNSS becomes ubiquitous, those seeking precise positioning solutions can now have Unicore GNSS hardware enlightened with Rx Networks data services.
“We are pleased to be bringing this new leading GNSS Technology into the Americas,” said Cameron Baird, head of Business Development, GNSS Hardware. “With further product miniaturization coupled with added performance, features and functionality, Unicore GNSS technology is well suited for all precision GNSS applications.”
An interview with Fergus Noble, CTO at Swift Navigation about recent GNSS receiver innovations.
Noble
What was the most significant technical innovation in your GNSS receivers in the past five years?
At Swift Navigation, our mission has been to bring precise positioning technology to the mass market. We focus on the applications that touch our everyday lives — automotive, transportation, robotics and mobile devices. To realize that mission, we have had to innovate beyond traditional GNSS techniques. There are three areas where Swift has had to push the boundaries of GNSS technology: scalability, affordability and safety.
To meet the scalability needs of applications — such as automotive ones, which require continental-scale coverage for millions of devices — we have had to develop new techniques for providing GNSS corrections. We have developed new algorithms to precisely model the Earth’s atmosphere and other sources of GNSS error over wide areas in real-time and deliver them via scalable state-space representation (SSR) format.
To make the technology affordable, we have partnered with GNSS chipset providers to bring precise positioning performance to vehicles and consumer devices that was previously only achievable using expensive industrial receivers.
Swift brings to vehicles precise positioning that was previously only achievable with expensive industrial receivers. (Photo: metamorworks/iStock/Getty Images Plus/Getty Images)
To make the technology safe, we have developed the most sophisticated end-to-end positioning integrity system available today. This integrity provides our customers with the guarantee of safety needed for autonomous and industrial applications, as well as certifying to industry safety standards such as ISO-26262 (ASIL).
What has it enabled users to do that they could not do before?
Previous precise positioning solutions did not apply to applications such as autonomous driving as they were too costly to go into a vehicle, had the required accuracy only in limited coverage areas, and could not provide the guarantees of integrity such that they could be relied upon as a safety-critical sensor. The same limitations applied to last-mile transportation, consumer robotics — such as lawnmowers — and even mobile applications.
Swift’s technology enables our customers to unlock these use cases by providing reliable and seamless precise positioning to our users at continental scale.
What is a good example of this?
Swift’s technology is now powering one of the largest vehicle fleets on the road today equipped with advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS). It improves vehicle positioning for an enhanced user experience when navigating, as well as to upgrade the ADAS functionality.
We also have customers using our technology to track and improve safety across a continent-wide rail network, provide precise position to improve the efficiency of last-mile delivery fleets, and a host of other applications across both emerging and traditional GNSS markets.
An interview with Rachel Wong, product manager, surveying and engineering division at CHC Navigation about recent GNSS receiver innovations.
Wong
What was the most significant technical innovation in your GNSS receivers in the past five years?
CHC Navigation is a technology enabler for geospatial professionals in more than 120 countries. End users of geospatial data increasingly come from diverse backgrounds. This forces us to invest heavily in simplifying data-acquisition processes by focusing on the user friendliness and positioning reliability of our GNSS receivers.
The latest technological developments in GNSS real-time kinematic (RTK) rovers are based on the maturity and improvement of satellite navigation systems, as well as on the integration of IMU sensors in the receivers — the latter being certainly the most important innovation.
In addition, the latest generation of our GNSS rovers, such as the CHCNAV i83, is based on the sophisticated iStar algorithm, which significantly improves the efficiency of tracking GNSS satellite signals for unmatched performance in GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo and QZSS constellations, using all available frequencies including BeiDou 3. This goes hand-in-hand with the integration of the IMU as it helps to ensure increased GNSS positioning accuracy through optimized satellite geometry.
What has it enabled users to do that they could not do before?
A utility worker uses the tilt-pole-compensation feature to measure a manhole. (Photo: CHC Navigation)
The integration of GNSS+IMU modules allows surveyors to survey points without the need to level the range pole, accelerating the adoption of GNSS technologies for early adopters by simplifying work processes. For example, our i83 GNSS is powered by a 1,408-channel multiband GNSS receiver, the latest iStar technology and a high-end, calibration-free IMU sensor for faster, more reliable GNSS field surveys.
The i83 GNSS’ integrated IMU automatically compensates for pole tilt, increasing surveying, engineering and mapping efficiency by 30% over conventional RTK GNSS surveying methods. In less than 5 seconds, the 200-Hz inertial module is initialized to ensure survey-grade accuracy over a pole-tilt range of up to 30 degrees that meets the real-world operational needs of our users.
What is a good example of this?
Surveyors can extend their working boundaries near trees, walls and buildings without the need for a total station or offset measuring tools. This can be illustrated in sewer and drainage applications, such as measuring the bottom of manholes for water, utilities or sewers, which was barely feasible in terms of GNSS measurement before the advent of hybrid GNSS + IMU positioning.
Operators only need to concentrate on their tasks and no longer need to level their pole vertically. They are now able to perform many measurements without compromising accuracy and reliability. Productivity is greatly increased, RTK usability is greatly improved, and potential human error is reduced, whether you are an engineer, foreman or surveyor, and whether you are an experienced or new user.
A roundup of recent products in the GNSS and inertial positioning industry from the September 2022 issue of GPS World magazine.
OEM
Receiver Upgrade
OSNMA anti-spoofing tech now on PolaRx5 GNSS reference receivers
Photo: Septentrio
Open Service Navigation Message Authentication (OSNMA) is now available on the high-end PolaRx5 reference receiver series. OSNMA offers end-to-end authentication on Galileo’s civilian signals, protecting receivers from GNSS spoofing attacks. OSNMA adds another layer of security to the receivers’ existing AIM+ anti-jamming and anti-spoofing technology. The PolaRx5 product range also now supports RINEX format versions 3.05 and 4.0.
The MAGNA-F and MAGNA-I GPS anti-jam antennas provide simultaneous L1/L2 protection and can protect commercial and military GPS receivers on aircraft. The MAGNA products were developed with sponsorship by the U.S. Navy and further improved by the U.S. Army to support GPS protection requirements for air, sea and ground platforms, such as fixed-wing/rotary aircraft, ships, UAVs and tactical vehicles. The MAGNA-F uses a 3.5-inch-diameter controlled reception pattern antenna (CRPA) compatible with existing fixed radiation pattern antenna (FRPA) footprints. The MAGNA-I (NavGuard 730) is a high-performance yet small GPS anti-jam integrated solution with a 4.5-inch diameter FRPA-compatible footprint.
Centimeter-level GNSS for mass-market applications
Photo: ArduSimple
The SimpleRTK2B single-board computer (SBC) is built around up to three u-blox ZED-F9P high-precision GNSS receivers. It simplifies development of centimeter-level positioning solutions supporting real-time kinematics (RTK), making the technology accessible to broader audiences. The SimpleRTK2B-SBC was developed to make RTK technology as close to plug-and-play as possible. In addition to working as a stand-alone solution, customers can program their own applications with the company’s microPython API. The SimpleRTK2B-SBC delivers mechanical integration with centimeter position on three axes (heading, pitch and roll), outputting on NMEA, RTCM, RS232 and CANBus interfaces via Ethernet, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and 2G/3G/4G communication. It offers configurable input/output and an inertial measurement unit.
For assured positioning, navigation and timing (PNT)
Photo: ADVA
The OSA 3300-HP is a high-performance optical cesium clock with a 10-year lifetime compared to the five-year lifetimes of high-performance magnetic clocks. It provides the resilience required for PNT assurance in critical infrastructure and empowers service providers to deliver differentiated service-level-agreement timing offerings with integrated GNSS backup. The OSA 3300-HP has embedded Ethernet- and IP-based management as well as a user-friendly touchscreen graphical user interface.
With M-Code capabilities and upgrade paths for other GNSS systems
Photo: Collins Aerospace
NavHub-200M is a vehicle navigation system for the international market with military code (M-code) receiver capabilities. NavHub-200M provides assured positioning, navigation and timing (APNT) while improving overall resistance to threats to GPS, such as jamming and spoofing. Its message formats and signal modulation techniques ensure faster and more accurate performance for ground vehicles on the connected battlespace, while advanced security features prevent unauthorized access or exploitation. NavHub-200M also includes the open interface standards and sensor-fusion capabilities required for a GNSS upgrade path, such as that for Europe’s Galileo constellation, as well as the ability to interface with key vehicle sensors such as the inertial measurement unit (IMU) and odometer.
The Trimble TDC650 handheld is built for data collection, inspection and asset management activities. The rugged solution provides scalable high-accuracy GNSS positioning for professional field workflows, including apps such as Esri ArcGIS Field Maps and Trimble TerraFlex software. The TDC650 is scalable, allowing customers to choose their desired accuracy down to the centimeter level.
Powerful solution for manned and unmanned aircraft
Photo: YellowScan
The Voyager long-range lidar scanner has a wide field of view, with all points collected oriented toward the ground so there is no loss of points. In all, 1.5 million points per second will be usable. Voyager combines a Riegl VUX-120 laser scanner with a Trimble Applanix AP+ 50 AIR or Applanix AP+ 30 AIR GNSS-inertial board, providing a precision of 0.5 cm and an accuracy of 1 cm. Voyager’s detection and processing of up to 15 target echoes per laser pulse allows for excellent vegetation penetration. It has an extremely fast data-acquisition rate of up to 1,800 kHz, suitable for projects requiring the highest point density. The laser scanner’s specifications can be customized and can be combined with YellowScan’s software solutions.
Extends 3D Tiles Next workflow into Esri ArcGIS Pro
Photo: ArcGIS
The 3D Environments Add-In application for Esri ArcGIS Pro allows ArcGIS users to rapidly transform 3D Tiles Next data formats, such as One World Terrain, into ArcGIS Pro projects to create 3D scenes from 2D vector data and 3D models. The add-in leverages Presagis’ building templates and texture libraries that analysts use to create enhanced 3D visualizations of GIS environments, helping increase collaboration across the enterprise. The 3D Environments Add-In contains tools to create, transform and extract a wide variety of 3D formats to provide seamless interoperability between ArcGIS Pro and modeling and simulation applications. It is available on the Esri ArcGIS Marketplace.
Energy performance data helps tackle climate change
Photo: XMAP
Municipal geographic information system XMAP can now incorporate the energy-performance ratings of individual properties to help local authorities tackle climate change, improve housing standards, and ensure landlords comply with legislation. The Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) data layer uses a rating system similar to the one used on new appliances, ranging from A (very efficient) to G (inefficient). It allows tenants and house buyers to make informed decisions. In addition to a color-coded visualization of current ratings, the XMAP EPC layer contains enhanced analysis including generalized ratings and the potential for improvement. Bath and North East Somerset Council, UK (pictured), has embraced this resource and is looking at how the data can be used to raise housing standards.
The Elios 3 is a collision-tolerant drone equipped with a lidar sensor for indoor 3D mapping. The drone is powered by a new SLAM engine called FlyAware that lets it create 3D models as it flies. It also hosts a new version of Flyability’s software for inspectors, Inspector 4.0. The Elios 3 comes with an Ouster OS0-32 lidar sensor, allowing inspectors to collect data for the creation of survey-grade 3D models using Connect software from Flyability’s partner GeoSLAM. Protected by a cage, the Elios 3 has advanced collision-tolerance features that allow inspectors to fly it inside dangerous confined spaces such as boilers, pressure vessels and mines.
The R60 is a powerful handheld with an ergonomic design. It runs on Android 12 OS, providing a suitable workhorse for surveying professionals in the field. Survey Master field software works seamlessly on the R60, which features a Qualcomm 8-core processor for massive data processing. Its 64-GB memory allows ample data storage and enables the opening of CAD drawings in seconds. Other features include a QWERTY keyboard, a 5.5-inch sunlight-readable high-resolution screen, an IP67 rating (dustproof and waterproof), and a 9,000 mA Li-ion battery for more than 30 hours of continuous functioning.
The Mobile Centimeter (MobileCM) Space Weather Station is a ready-to-use GNSS device that will act as a real-time kinematic (RTK) base station and collect space weather data. The device is pre-configured to securely connect with the Global Earth Observation Decentralized Network (GEODNET) using a home Wi-Fi network. The full four-constellation GNSS base station has built-in NTRIP server functionality and is packaged with a survey-grade triple-band roof antenna and required cables.
The SAgro10 GNSS guidance system is an entry-level guidance system for precision agriculture, providing users with higher navigation precision and higher productivity, which can be upgraded to an automatic steering system. Embedded with a high-precision GNSS module, the SAgro10 system tracks all four global constellations. For users with network coverage or a UHF base station, the system provides centimeter-level accuracy navigation in real-time kinematic mode. In the absence of base stations, the SAgro10 system provides sub-meter navigation accuracy in single-point smoothing mode. Compatible with most agricultural tractors, its components can be installed within 15 minutes. The 10-inch sunlight-readable touchscreen has a clear and simple graphic interface.
iDig 3D Connect is a solar-powered excavator guidance system with a GNSS receiver that can be removed and used as a rover, rather than permanently installed on the machine. 3D excavator guidance has seldom been used for small projects such as house foundations because of the need for a surveyor to stake out points and map a site. The removable receiver enables contractors to complete these tasks. The software provided creates a GNSS-generated site map, enabling precision digging relative to the area and making the process quicker, simpler and more eco-friendly than with 2D.
The Cloud Locator service takes data from LoRa Edge-enabled devices and uses Semtech’s LoRa Cloud Geolocation and Modem services for asset tracking both indoors and outdoors. It features built-in serverless technology and enables testing of ultra-low-power asset tracking on either a private or public LoRaWAN network. It is designed to work with trackers using Semtech’s LoRa Edge LR-series chips. The LR-series chips combine Wi-Fi and GNSS to obtain the latitude and longitude of devices in any indoor or outdoor location. Once configured on the service, together with Semtech’s LoRa wireless radio frequency technology for transmission to the cloud, customers can view the tracker location on a map in less than 15 minutes.
The Edge 1040 bike computer features solar charging and multi-band GNSS technology. Its multi-band GNSS receiver (GPS, GLONASS and Galileo) provides accurate positioning in challenging ride environments, such as dense urban areas or under deep tree cover. Advanced navigational tools help cyclists stay on track, such as turn-by-turn navigation and alerts that notify riders of sharp curves ahead. Route guidance and off-course notifications can be paused for exploring and turned back on for return to the original route. When using the Trailforks app, Forksight mode automatically displays upcoming forks in the route and where a rider is within a trail network.
Skydel 22.5 is a significant software upgrade to the Skydel simulation product line. It features advanced hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing solutions providing very low to zero effective latency. Enhanced visualization tools can monitor internal latency through real-time curves showing when the data is generated and sent to the RF signal. Users can also review the transmission of HIL packets for optimizing the entire network’s latency, checking its stability (jitter), and that data is available and used at the right time in Skydel. HIL testing is an essential step in the verification process of the model-based design approach because it involves all the hardware and software that will be used operationally.
The Time-Loader is designed for defense and mission-critical applications, for deployment in environments where GNSS signals are denied or disrupted. It supports any ground, naval or airborne system that needs real time of day (TOD) and 1PPS external synchronization aligned to the UTC or GNSS. It generates a GPS L1 C/A code RF output as if the signal were coming from a live-sky GPS antenna. It provides full-constellation GPS output and is compatible with external GNSS receivers. Its GPS-disciplined oscillator (GPSDO) is the Microsemi MAC-SA53/55, which provides excellent UTC accuracy with outstanding hold-over rubidium clock performance. A self-contained, miniature GPS simulator provides real-time extremely accurate signals. The 18-channel full-constellation simulator stores location/time/date data in internal memory and stores complex vector data to simulate dynamic scenarios. The simulator also can be used to transcode NMEA or SCPI position/ velocity/time (PVT) data into GPS RF signals.
SABIC, a global leader in the chemical industry, has introduced two new LNP Thermocomp compounds that offer the potential to improve signal gain performance compared to ceramics in second-generation automotive GNSS antennas.
The new compounds, LNP Thermocomp ZKC0CXXD and LNP Thermocomp ZKC0DXXD, help enable the design and molding of antenna substrates with more complex pattern markings that add effective surface area, a critical factor in enhancing signal capture.
For customers that use ceramics, switching to the LNP Thermocomp compounds can help lower system costs by avoiding secondary operations, as well as improving antenna performance. Designers and engineers who find current materials inadequate for developing novel, high-resolution GNSS antennas can help address new requirements with the SABIC products, the company said.
“As GNSS antenna technology advances to its second generation with higher resolution, SABIC continues to enhance the scope and capabilities of our LNP specialty compounds portfolio to meet new performance requirements,” said Joshua Chiaw, director of business management, LNP, SABIC. “Our new LNP Thermocomp compounds can help antenna manufacturers achieve superior signal gain compared to ceramic substrates. They also provide flexibility to produce smaller parts with the same performance as ceramic, or equal-size parts with better performance. This remarkable combination of improved signal capture and design freedom, plus system cost advantages, can help propel innovation in GNSS technology — a keystone of occupant safety today and autonomous driving in the future.”
The LNP Thermocomp compounds, which offer a high dielectric constant (Dk) for miniaturization and a low dissipation factor (Df) to facilitate signal acquisition, can be tailored to meet the electrical requirements of individual applications. They feature electroplating capability, good thermal resistance for reliability, and the design freedom and production efficiency of thermoplastics. Both are well-suited for shark fin-style and new conformal antenna designs.
Trimble is committing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in line with the ambitious goals of the Paris Agreement and a net-zero future to keep global temperature increase to 1.5° C.
“Taking decisive climate action is essential to protect our planet and communities for future generations,” said Rob Painter, president and CEO, Trimble. “It also demonstrates Trimble’s commitment to our purpose — to transform the way the world works as well as transform the way ‘we’ work.”
“For decades, Trimble solutions have contributed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and combating climate change,” Painter said. “The nature of Trimble’s technologies, which connect the physical and digital worlds, provides efficiencies and promotes sustainability in our end markets such as construction, agriculture, forestry, utilities and transportation. Our leadership team is committed to further reducing our carbon footprint as well as continuing to develop solutions that enable our customers to reduce their climate impacts — it is an important lever in our Connect and Scale strategy. Trimble is dedicated to do its part to help protect and build a better world.”
Trimble’s science-based targets accelerate decarbonization across its value chain, and include the following commitments:
reduce absolute scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 50 percent by 2030 from a 2019 base year
achieve 100 percent annual sourcing of renewable electricity by 2025
reduce absolute scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions from fuel and energy-related activities, business travel and upstream transportation and distribution by 50 percent by 2030 from a 2019 base year
commit to partner with 70 percent of its suppliers by emissions covering purchased goods and services and capital goods to set science-based targets by 2026.
“Setting ambitious yet achievable climate targets is part of our commitment to reducing Trimble’s carbon footprint,” said Leah Lambertson, senior vice president and head of Sustainability, Trimble. “Embedding our climate action goals into Trimble’s operational choices will help ensure that our decision making and growth plans are consistent with our low-carbon vision. Today’s commitments are important steps in our journey to delivering growth in a responsible and sustainable way to achieve a net-zero future.”
Trimble’s 2021 Sustainability Report
Trimble also announced the release of its 2021 Sustainability Report. Built around the company’s mission of transforming the way the world works, the report describes how Trimble is helping to create a better future for the planet and the communities it serves.
The report summarizes its initiatives and performance across environmental, social and governance (ESG) topics, highlighting the company’s sustainability approach; end-user industry solutions; community philanthropy through its Trimble Foundation Fund; employee engagement and development as well as diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives; and governance.
GNSS researchers are presenting hundreds of papers at the 2022 Institute of Navigation (ION) GNSS+ conference, taking place Sept. 19–23 in Denver, Colorado, and virtually. The following five papers focus on GNSS receiver technology and interference mitigation. The papers will be available at www.ion.org/publications/browse.cfm.
The growing dependence of critical and safety-of-life systems on GNSS makes the ability to rapidly detect and localize the presence of GNSS interference events increasingly important. Ground-based GNSS jammer detection can be used to detect local interference sources. However, this approach is limited by line of sight, hence applying it to large areas is costly in both time and money.
A complementary technique is to use the airborne GNSS receiver data provided by Automatic Dependent Surveillance—Broadcast (ADS-B). As these receivers are at altitude, their lines of sight can cover a wide area. The drawback is that ADS-B was not designed for this purpose, and the messages contain limited information for the assessment of interference.
The authors have developed and will demonstrate an algorithm for real-time detection and localization of GNSS interference sources using ADS-B transmissions on the 1090 MHz (Mode S ES) radio frequency channel. They demonstrate this capability using recorded ADS-B transmissions from known interference events.
Zixi Liu, Sherman Lo, Todd Walter, Juan Blanch, Stanford University; “Real-time Detection and Localization of GNSS Interference Source.”
Even interference at low levels can be catastrophic to systems that depend on GNSS. It can prevent GNSS signals from reaching the user (interference or jamming) or give false signals, resulting in an incorrect position and time solution (spoofing). The capability to confidently detect and localize interference quickly could help mitigate this threat. Furthermore, if the system could also provide information characterizing the interference, it could help law enforcement not only interdict, but also prosecute the threat.
Building a consumer-level commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) GNSS monitor would also make it cost effective for widespread utilization. This paper describes the development and field testing of a system to provide this capability.
The monitor uses the u-blox F9, an inexpensive commercial receiver offering multi-constellation and dual-frequency position and time solutions, as well as powerful interference-detection metrics. Initial analysis of the receiver’s measurement capabilities determined that it provides many features useful for assessing the operational environment across a geographical region. Performance and output of the receiver is characterized under different jamming and spoofing scenarios.
Different receivers and antennas may react differently based on both hardware and software configurations and offer the user varying interference rejection techniques and detection metrics. As a result, it is important to gain a good understanding of the receiver’s behavior. Another way to test behavior is to examine its performance in nominal conditions in various scenarios and locations, as presented in this paper.
Benon Gattis, Dennis Akos, University of Colorado Boulder; Yu-Hsuan Chen, Sherman Lo, Todd Walter, Stanford University; “Test and Measurements from a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Monitoring System.”
GEOLOCATING INTERFERENCE WITH SMARTPHONES
Conference Presentation: Virtual; Session F6
With the availability of RAW GNSS measurements on Android smartphones, detecting GNSS interference using modern handsets has become a realistic crowdsourcing possibility, especially with the inclusion of automatic gain control (AGC) in Android 8 (Oreo).
While crowdsourcing jamming detection — and knowing whether your smartphone is subject to jamming or spoofing — is valuable, locating the interference source may be even more important. This work explores the feasibility of crowdsourcing interference source localization with modern Android smartphones.
The work has three goals:
To examine localization of a civilian-type GPS L1 jammer using a network of smartphones
To investigate how best to approach current obstacles regarding such localization
To estimate how accurate this type of positioning can be.
An important part of this work is to investigate differences in GNSS data reported by various Android smartphones. The smartphones in this study were specifically selected by the manufacturer of the GNSS chipset to enable the authors to examine how their GNSS receivers perform under the same circumstances. Three parameters were specifically investigated as measures of received jamming power: carrier-to-noise ratio (C/N0), AGC and the number of tracked satellites.
The selected smartphones were put through a series of tests to examine how these three parameters vary with changing conditions. These tests include subjecting the smartphones to an actual jammer in a controlled lab setup and an investigation of the impact of smartphone (GNSS antenna) position and orientation on C/N0 and AGC. Using the data collected in these tests, several interference geolocation strategies will be discussed.
The authors also consider whether interference localization from consumer-off-the-shelf (COTS) smartphones is currently accurate enough for this use. The shortcomings of smartphone GNSS hardware may be resolved using more clever positioning strategies such as using a larger number of handsets. Alternatively, it may require upgraded hardware and standardization.
Søren Skaarup Larsen, Daniel Haugård Olesen, Anna B. O. Jensen, Lars Stenseng, Technical University of Denmark, DTU Space; “Assessment of RFI Geolocation Using Modern Android Smartphones.”
Multipath mitigation with machine learning relies on offline training with an exhaustive number of labeled observations. Current super-resolution correlation methods, which include MUltiple SIgnal Classification (MUSIC), operate online by testing and choosing from a high number of candidate signal hypotheses.
A new method of MUSIC is presented that reduces numerical complexity and is applied to processing L5 correlation vectors to reduce multipath by identifying the earliest path. The rank of this estimator is examined in static and dynamic conditions in various signal environments. Higher rank allows more signal paths to be identified.
This method is also complementary with various L5 signal-tracking methods such as open- and closed-loop tracking.
Paul McBurney, Norman Krasner, Florean Curticapean, Miguel Ribot, Mahdi Maaref and Lionel Garin, OneNav; “Application of Super Resolution Correlation to Multipath Mitigation in an L5 Channel.”
One of the simplest ways to increase GNSS anti-jamming and anti-spoofing (AJ/AS) performance is increasing the number of controlled reception pattern antenna (CRPA) array elements. However, this increases the size, cost, complexity and required processing power of the overall system. To counter this constraint, the researchers applied a new development in antenna hardware design to GNSS threat mitigation techniques. This resulted in better CRPA performance without increasing the footprint. The work improves AJ/AS performance without adding additional elements, and serves as proof of concept of the application of an adaptively spaced virtual array created with multimodal elements to GNSS AJ/AS.
New breakthroughs in antenna-array research extend the case of non-uniform excitation of elements to the elements’ individual positions. By using multimodal antennas as elements, it has been shown that elements’ phase centers, or perceived locations, can be adjusted with purely electronic means. When applied to each element in an antenna array, this realizes a reconfigurable array.
This research extends the concept of a virtual array with adaptive inter-element spacing into GNSS AJ/AJ methods. A new way to integrate a virtual array into a GNSS application is explored and incorporated into current space-time adaptive processing (STAP) algorithms.
Gabriel Wiggins and Scott Martin, Auburn University; “Applications of a Virtual Antenna Array to GNSS Threat Mitigation: First Results.”
Helix Geospace will participate in the “Future flights challenge phase 3” project by Innovate UK involving drone swarms. The project aims to demonstrate how large unmanned systems can be used to solve environmental-protection concerns in GNSS-denied environments, functioning in swarms and utilizing a combination of digital twinning, computer vision and real-world flight testing.
The goal of the project is to prove that a single remote operator and local safety pilot can handle many unmanned devices and maintain continuous communication in GNSS-denied environments.
Commercially available antennas are susceptible to jamming and spoofing. DielectriX antennas from Helix Geospace are built into a sophisticated array system that can detect all jamming and spoofing events, pinpoint their precise source, and then eliminate their impact, maintaining the accuracy and resilience of GNSS positioning, navigation and timing in GNSS-denied environments.
Collaboration with NERC British Antarctic Survey and Lancashire fire and rescue will provide proof of exploitation and public engagement for the project. The Windracers aircraft will be equipped with British Antarctic Survey scientific research equipment and flown in the Antarctica region to gather novel research data, previously not achieved before at this scale.
The collaboration with Lancashire fire and rescue will help develop a solution for early fire detection and mitigation. The Windracers aircraft will be retrofitted with sensors and fire mitigation technology providing an airborne system that will patrol high-risk areas.
Advances in GNSS technology constantly expand the range of projects that benefit from them.
ComNav Technology
A telecom company adopted its CORS station to build China’s national CORS service for public companies. It is increasingly used for field robotics, including the development of self-driving cars.
Leica Geosystems
Bernhard Richter, vice president of Geomatics, Leica Geosystems AG, pointed to one of the biggest infrastructure projects in Europe, which aims to connect London to Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds with a high-speed railway system, avoiding the need to fly between those cities. This will have great environmental benefits because high-speed trains are much more efficient than planes.
However, high-speed rail requires tremendous precision. “First comes the prep work, moving dirt,” said Richter. “Then you must install the railroad ties with tenths of a millimeter precision relative to each other to avoid side accelerations. For a surveyor, it really has everything in one project. You need to constantly work with civil engineers. You then try to build as much as possible with machine-control-guided systems to make the leveling as automated as possible.” The project will include building bridges over whole valleys and monitoring them, particularly during the construction phase, to ensure that they are not moving.
“Even the factory they are building is huge, so just to build the factory you need a lot of surveying,” Richter said. The project is generating 25,000 jobs at 300 construction sites, all of which must be managed on very tight schedules. In this context, the quality of the survey gear is critical. “On a construction site, the surveyor should be an invisible person,” Richter said. “When they come with the big machines and want to get stuff done, they don’t want a surveyor on the site. So, he has to work off hours, then remain on alert and trust that what comes out of an instrument is correct.” Leica Geosystems is one of the main suppliers for this project. “They chose us because of our focus on reliability, trust and quality.”
Trimble
Software is increasingly driving sales, pointed out Boris Skopljak, vice president, Surveying & Mapping Strategy and Product Marketing at Trimble Inc. As an example, he cited Trimble’s SX12 scanning total station, which uses Trimble Access software to leverage scanning, imaging and traditional total station capabilities in the field. “We have provided more inspection tools to enable people to decide whether something is meeting the tolerance.” The Trimble Connect cloud-based collaboration platform, coupled with the continuous field and office connectivity, has driven productivity increases and moved customers toward choosing the company’s solutions, he said.
As an example of Trimble solutions, Skopljak cited City Rail Link, New Zealand’s first underground rail network and the largest transportation infrastructure project ever undertaken there. “The Trimble R10 was integral to acquiring static observations above the work site, while the Trimble S9, DiNi and Trimble Business Center network adjustment were game changers for the survey control network,” he said. To expedite mine tunneling the surveyors used the SX12’s combined total station and scanning functionality with Trimble Access field software infield inspection tools. “Fewer customers are choosing solutions on a spec. It’s not about how many satellites you can track, for how many days, or how many points you can scan. They are choosing solutions based on the ecosystem and productivity.”
Unicore has released its new generation of GNSS positioning product, the UM982. The UM982 is a high-precision dual-antenna real-time kinematic (RTK) positioning and heading module supporting all constellations and all frequencies.
The UM982 is suitable for use in UAV, precision agriculture and autonomous machine applications. The module is designed to meet the requirements of these markets, providing technological innovation. The module supports BDS B1I/B2I/B3I, GPS L1/L2/L5, GLONASS L1/L2, Galileo E1/E5a/E5b, QZSS L1/L2/L5 and SBAS in dual-antenna mode. It offers the following advantages.
Small size. The UM982 is highly integrated. With its size of 16.0 × 21.0 × 2.6 mm, it is a compact dual-antenna heading modules that reduces the design area of the customer’s board by 72% compared to previous modules.
Low power consumption. Low power consumption means less energy usage and a better application experience. Lowering the power consumption while keeping performance high is one of the key technical research directions of the GNSS positioning modules. The average power consumption of all versions of the UM982 module is less than 0.6 W, which is suitable for applications that require low power consumption, such as UAVs.
High integration. The UM982 was developed on the basis of NebulasIV, Unicore’s proprietary GNSS system on chip (SoC). NebulasIV integrates RF, baseband and high-precision algorithms on a single chip, with built-in functions providing powerful support for the UM982’s high performance.
High precision and high performance. The GNSS SoC is a key part of the navigation system, and the performance of the chip largely determines the performance of positioning modules. High-level performance indicators include raw observation accuracy, RTK positioning accuracy, PPP positioning accuracy, and time to first fix.
Robustness. Using the company’s dual-RTK technology, the UM982’s two antennas can independently participate in deriving an RTK solution and outputting the positioning results. This is convenient for customers conducting reliable verification in various application scenarios. By checking the RTK positioning results of both antennas, abnormal measurements in complex scenarios can be avoided.
High reliability. A built-in, advanced anti-jamming unit provides the UM982 with strong anti-jamming ability. The module detects jamming and can output the jamming strength. It also supports digital encryption to ensure the security of data transmission, and supports multi-frequency independent acquisition and tracking to ensure the reliability and accuracy of positioning results even in complex electromagnetic environments.
Telecommunication electronics company Move-X is offering a new LoRa/GNSS board. The Cicerone LoRa/GNSS board is a high-performance, low-power, Arduino MKR-compatible development board based on the u-blox MAX-M10S GNSS module and the MAMWLE LoRa module.
The Cicerone board delivers high-performance GNSS, long-range wireless connection, and high-performance MCU processing in a low-power solution for optimal battery life.
The board allows users to build tracking applications worldwide with meter-level accuracy and to communicate long-range, low-power data via LoRaWAN. The integrated Li-Po charging circuit enables the Cicerone board to manage battery charging through the USB port.
The Move-X Cicerone LoRa/GNSS board has a compact 63 x 25 mm form factor and is compatible with all Arduino MKR shield boards. These boards all share a common pinout to enable developers to easily add expansions with minimal software changes.
Unicore Communications has released its new generation of high-precision GNSS module. The UM980 uses real-time kinematic (RTK) technology to achieve centimeter-level positioning accuracy.
The UM980 is based on the small high-performance system-on-chip NebulasIV, which integrates radio frequency, baseband and high-precision algorithms on a single chip. It has 1,408 channels to concurrently receive satellite signals from multiple constellations and multiple frequencies.
The UM980 module can track BDS B1I/B2I/B3I/B1C/B2a/B2b, GPS L1/L2/L5, GLONASS L1/L2, Galileo E1/E5a/E5b/E6 and QZSS L1/L2/L5, as well as supporting SBAS.
Its advanced multi-mode multi-frequency computing engine provides powerful signal processing ability, characterized by fast initialization time, accurate positioning results, and a high data-update rate of up to 20 Hz.
The UM980 features low power consumption, typically 480 mW. The module is a surface mount device (SMD) measuring 17 x 22 x 2.6 millimeters. Compared to Unicore’s previous generation of high-precision GNSS modules, the UM980 is nearly half the size while the performance remains excellent.
The UM980’s compact form occupies less printed-circuit-board area and makes the product more portable. The UM980 is also equipped with an advanced anti-jamming unit, which ensures high reliability even in complex electromagnetic environments.
Thanks to its high precision, high performance and high reliability, UM980 is suitable for applications in surveying, mapping and precision agriculture. The UM980 is qualified according to the international quality standards (RoHS, REACH, CE, FCC, and IC) and is in mass production.
