Virtual Surveyor drone surveying and mapping software has added new functionality that enables users to process larger projects without buying more powerful computers or cloud services, according to the company. This addition is one of several included in Virtual Surveyor 6.2.
“Our objective with Version 6.2 is to make our users more productive while saving them money by eliminating the need to invest in new hardware or processing services,” said Tom Op ‘t Eyndt, CEO of Virtual Surveyor in Belgium. “We have addressed the fact that drones are capturing more data at higher resolution, resulting in enormous files sizes.”
According to the company, Virtual Surveyor 6.2 solves the problem of large files by offering enhanced clipping and mosaicking functionality. The new version allows users to merge multiple smaller processed pieces of orthophotos and digital surface models into a single project and create smooth edges between these pieces with the new clipping tool. The mosaic can then be exported to a new tiff file or serve as the basis for a full area virtual survey.
In addition, Virtual Surveyor 6.2 offers a 3D Fly Through capability that allows users to select spatial bookmarks and waypoints in their scene and create a movie that allows the viewer to fly through the terrain in three dimensions.
Virtual Surveyor 6.2 also features improved surface handling for volume calculations. This feature was developed primarily for users who measure volumetrics of material piles in drone survey data. This capability makes it easy to represent topographies as triangles, contour lines or outlines without creating three different objects, the company said.
Other enhanced features of Virtual Surveyor 6.2 include a renumbering tool that allows users to select a set of times, features or geometries in the data set and automatically number them sequentially from any chosen starting number; concave hull extraction that allows users to select a section line to create a surface for a curved roadway; and boundary selection that allows users to trace around an unwanted feature and delete that object and all the points within it.
“The advantage of Virtual Surveyor is that it combines the interpretation skill of a professional surveyor with computing power to create standard survey products,” said Op ‘t Eyndt. “Surveyors can now accomplish more in Version 6.2 without expensive upgrades to other aspects of their workflow.”
Yuneec International’s commercial hexacopter, the H520, will now optionally be available with an RTK (real-time kinematic) system from the Swiss company Fixposition.
Under difficult GPS conditions, such as in cities or canyons, the RTK system ensures maximum precision and centimeter-precise positioning. The fully integrated RTK satellite navigation enables extremely accurate recurring images and faster 3D mapping. It also makes automated inspection flights easier and more precise, the company said.
The new H520 RTK is suitable for commercial applications that require maximum precision. By using RTK technology, the H520 can now fly much closer to objects for inspection as the UAV positions itself precisely in the centimeter range (1 cm + ppm horizontal / 1.5 cm + ppm vertical) rather than in the meter range, which is standard for the H520.
This accuracy is paramount for applications where several images need to be taken at the same location on different days including:
documenting progress on construction sites,
inspecting mountain landscapes to prevent natural hazards such as rock falls or avalanches, and
forensic accident scene reconstruction.
In addition, the satellite navigation system makes it possible to significantly reduce image overlaps, which means fewer photos and shorter model calculation times, maximizing efficiency in workflows.
The RTK system is not only fully integrated into the hardware, but also into the UAV’s software. This means the user retains the full range of functions of the DataPilot software, including mission flights.
The H520 RTK works with two components: the RTK module on board the H520 and a base station on the ground. For precise navigation, the module supports constellations of up to three different satellite systems from GPS, GLONASS, Galileo and BeiDou.
If the use of a ground station is not possible, the system can also be operated with a national reference station network (network RTK). The network RTK is provided by third-party providers and requires an internet connection, such as a mobile hotspot. All data including satellite data is recorded, which makes the H520 RTK suitable for post-processed kinematics (PPK).
The H520 RTK will be available in the second quarter of 2019. Technical specifications are available here.
Dime-sized INS with RTK paves the way for high accuracy in mass-market consumer applications.
Photo: Inertial Sense
Inertial Sense has released a new micro-sized inertial navigation system (INS) with precise real-time-kinematic (RTK)-level accuracy. The company says the new solution paves the way for high accuracy in mass-market consumer applications.
The new micro INS with RTK solution offers an accuracy of 2-3 centimeters using GPS positioning in combination with inertial sensors (including on-board sensor fusion).
Inertial Sense designs and manufactures precision INS+RTK GPS sensors that deliver fast, accurate and reliable altitude, velocity and position for a wide range of autonomous vehicle applications, the company said.
The new micro INS with RTK provides a high degree of precision for orientation and GPS in a tiny package. Standard INS/GPS sensors offer accuracy in the range of 1.5 to 2 meters. Inertial Sense’s micro INS with RTK offers accuracy of 2-3 centimeters.
In the image above, a vehicle travels under an overpass. The 3-cm accurate RTK-inertial navigation track holds true to the vehicle’s position while the standard GPS signal is lost. (Image: Inertial Sense)
“The incredibly small size of our new micro INS with RTK sensor, in combination with its extremely affordable price point, will make this type of highly sophisticated technology accessible for general consumer applications for the very first time,” said Walt Johnson, founder and CTO, Inertial Sense. “We are offering RTK at a size, accuracy and price point that the market has never seen before.”
By optimizing the manufacturing processes for high volume applications, the micro INS with RTK sensor is as small and lightweight as a dime, and is available at a low price point.
Sensor fusion. Sensor data from MEMs gyros, accelerometers, magnetometers, barometric pressure and u-blox GPS/GNSS are fused to provide optimal position estimation. Data out includes angular rate, linear acceleration, magnetic field, barometric altitude and GPS time.
The miniature module provides orientation, velocity and position. Base station corrections data can be applied to achieve centimeter-level precision.
Autonomous vehicles. The sensor will enable the navigation of all types of autonomous vehicles with a very high degree of precision, Inertial Sense said.
Inertial Sense patented modules are currently being sold worldwide at volume for a broad variety of applications including:
Aerial surveys: UAV Payloads for 3D mapping, photogrammetry, orthomosaics
Gimbal stabilization and antenna pointing
3D motion capture and personnel tracking
Evaluation kits. Inertial Sense has bundled evaluation kits it says are simple to use and contain everything needed to begin logging RTK-accurate data. The evaluation boards can be utilized in both rover and base station configurations and include 900-mhz radios with onboard logging capabilities.
Centimeter-accurate, multi-constellation, multi-band, dual-antenna, RTK and affordable GNSS/INS solution
Aceinna is offering the INS1000 high-performance dual-band real-time kinematic inertial navigation system (RTK INS) with built-in inertial sensors for construction, agriculture and automotive applications.
Aceinna has also launched an OpenIMU package for autonomous vehicle guidance and navigation.
INS1o00
Photo: Aceinna
The INS1000 embeds Aceinna’s nine-degree-of-freedom inertial sensor technology to achieve automotive dead-reckoning performance in GNSS-challenged environments like urban canyons, heavily tree-lined roads, tunnels, underpasses and bridges.
The dual-frequency RTK and tight coupling between GNSS and inertial sensors provide centimeter-level accuracy, enhanced reliability, and superior performance during GNSS outages, the company said.
“Without access to satellite delivered guidance and localization information, autonomous vehicles can quickly get off track,” says Mike Horton, CTO of Aceinna. “The INS1000 delivers the essential detailed position and heading accuracy at a price point that is suitable for startups as well as fleet-wide vehicle deployment. As the leading supplier to the precision agriculture autosteer market, Aceinna is focused on driving the cost and complexity out of GNSS/INS solutions to enable widespread adoption in automotive ADAS applications.”
INS1000 is an integrated navigation system consisting of an inertial measurement unit (IMU) and other sensors. It provides the position, velocity and attitude information of the vehicle. A dual-frequency (L1/L2), dual-antenna GNSS receiver is used as the primary aiding sensor. Also supported is a distance measurement indicator (DMI) which can be attached to a wheel of the vehicle/robot to measure the rotation rate of the wheel. Integration of a DMI would give an improved solution in challenging environments: urban canyons, tunnels, warehouses and indoor facilities and campuses.
With horizontal position accuracy of 2cm (RTK), vertical position accuracy of 3cm (RTK), and velocity accuracies of 0.01m/s and 0.02m/s (horizontal and vertical, respectively), the INS1000 provides the precision navigation capabilities required for the automotive autonomous, automotive track testing, precision agriculture, and construction markets.
The INS1000 is compatible with all major global satellite systems (GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo, SBAS); it supports USB, Ethernet, CAN and RS-232 interfaces; and it supports dual GNSS antennas for accurate heading in static and dynamic scenarios, and difficult magnetic environments.
The easy-to-use embedded software allows extensive configuration and diagnostic capabilities. For optimal flexibility, the tools enable configuration of the output position, initialization of heading, IMU transformation matrix, GNSS antenna lever-arms, and NTRIP client. The control software can log and decode output data from the system or use the web application to plot results on a map.
Open IMU Package
Aceinna also offers an OpenIMU package. Its three key parts are:
a family of IMUs (three high-accuracy accelerometers, three high-accuracy gyros, and a powerful ARM Coretex);
an OpenSource tool chain and reference code for programming the IMU, with everything from basic download and debug to reference implementations of loosely coupled GPS/INS
a full developer site and tools with charting, graphing and algorithm simulation.
Sokkia introduced the latest addition to its GNSS integrated receiver line — the GRX3. According to the company, the GRX3 is designed to provide a smaller, lighter and fully integrated GNSS solution.
Photo: Sokkia
“The multi-constellation GRX3 receiver is built to offer a complete and versatile solution to provide best-in-class positioning performance for a wide variety of precision applications,” said Alok Srivastava, director of product management.
“Whether using the receiver for GNSS post-processed surveying, or RTK using wireless technologies including network RTK option with a cellular-equipped field computer, a SiteComm RTK rover, or paired with a Sokkia total station for fusion positioning, the GRX3 provides the most advanced and powerful GNSS technology available in a more compact and lightweight housing that can withstand the harshest of environmental conditions. Combine it with one of Sokkia’s data collectors and field software for maximum versatility and convenience, increasing fieldwork efficiency from start to finish.”
The receiver features Sokkia Tilt technology, which includes a 9-axis inertial measurement unit and ultra-compact eCompass designed to compensate for mis-leveled field measurements by as much as 15 degrees.
“The GRX3 is designed as a ‘future-proof’ solution with an advanced GNSS chipset with Universal Tracking Channels technology that automatically tracks signals from all available and planned constellations — including GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, Beidou, IRNSS, QZSS, SBAS,” Srivastava said.
The receiver has been tested to meet IP67 certification for protection against harsh environmental weather conditions.
A roundup of recent products in the GNSS and inertial positioning industry from the January 2019 issue of GPS World magazine.
OEM
RF front-end
Application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) FOR GNSS
Photo: NTLab
NT1066 is a four-channel RF front-end ASIC (three wideband IQ and one narrowband IQ) that covers all GNSS (GLONASS, GPS, Galileo, BeiDou, QZSS, NavIC) signals at all frequency bands, so users benefit from all the advantages of acquiring multiple system simultaneously. Channels A, B and C are designed with single-conversion low-IF architecture, individually programmable and intended to receive L1, E1, B1, E6, B3, L2, L3, B2, L5 and E5 in various combinations. IQ and image suppression modes are available. Channel D is dedicated to the S band of NavIC or L2, L3, L5 bands of GNSS and has zero-IF architecture. Combining channel D with channels A, B and C makes it possible to effectively eliminate ionospheric distortion using the large signal base of NavIC between the L5 and S bands. Alternatively, channel D can be software-reconfigured “on a fly” to receive real-time correction data transmitted over FM, VHF and UHF bands.
For smartwatches, fitness trackers and smartphones
Image: Bosch
The BHI160BP is a position tracking smart sensor for consumer wearables that uses integrated inertial sensors to improve GPS location tracking. When used with a GPS or GNSS module, it enables users to take advantage of pedestrian position tracking with up to 80% saving in system power consumption compared with a typical GNSS-only solution, without compromising on accuracy. The BHI160BP tracks a person’s position by intelligently applying an inertial-sensor-based algorithm for pedestrian dead reckoning. To maintain accuracy, it calculates the user’s relative location based on data collected from the inertial sensors and then recalibrates itself every few minutes to obtain the absolute position provided by the GNSS/GPS module. This means that the GNSS/GPS module can be kept in sleep mode for most of the time, which drastically reduces a device’s power consumption and extends its operating time.
The SL869T3-I GNSS module combines GPS with India’s NavIC (IRNSS) navigation system and the country’s satellite-based augmentation system SBAS known as GAGAN. The SL869T3-I module enables the creation of high-performance position reporting and navigation solutions. It complies with Automotive Industry Standard 140 (AIS-140) — an Indian government mandate that requires the use of NavIC for vehicle location tracking devices in all public transportation vehicles, effective in April.
Technical information for defense and aeronautics applications
The Rohde & Schwarz Navigation and Guidance Solutions Learning Center now includes the latest Rohde & Schwarz solutions for GNSS testing. Updated material includes application brochures, white papers, articles, technical documents, training videos and products. Rohde & Schwarz provides accurate, flexible, high-performance test solutions, from design, development, calibration and production to operational maintenance for ground-based systems and advanced hybrid constellation simulations for GNSS systems. The navigation learning center also describes company products, including GNSS signal simulators.
The X-Survey antenna is a 4-in-1 OEM antenna for both navigation and communication in surveying applications. It provides standard Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and 4G, plus multiple constellation signal reception for GNSS positioning. The high-gain and wide-beamwidth GNSS antenna features a multi-point feeding technology, ensuring a high phase-center stability and positioning accuracy. Moreover, the array-arranged 4G antenna enables more stable signals and longer communication distance at 360-degree direction, increasing the overall machine efficiency over conventional antennas. The X-Survey antenna provides high isolation among each antenna to prevent self-interference, improving real-time kinematic (RTK) system compatibility. RF coaxial connectors are designed for plug-and-use, keeping high efficiency and lowering the impact of electromagnetic interference.
Mirrors capabilities of desktop version of global mapper
Image: Blue Marble
Version 20 of the Global Mapper Software Development Kit (SDK) is now available, along with the accompanying Lidar Module SDK. The developer’s toolkit provides software engineers with the means to embed the latest geospatial technology into custom applications.Highlights include dramatically improved vector data performance in both the 2D and 3D environments, updated 3D mesh rendering with colors now displayed in the 2D view, and faster display and export of online tiled datasets. The Global Mapper GIS application can display, convert and analyze virtually any type of geospatial data. The Global Mapper SDK and Lidar Module SDK provide software developers with a toolkit for accessing much of this functionality from within an existing or custom-built application.
The ZALA 421-08M and ZALA 421-16E Artic UAVs are suited for operation at freezing temperatures, making it possible to carry out surveillance operations and regularly monitor the ice. Its GIRSAM alternative navigation system was developed for navigation of UAVs in the suppression or the absence of GPS or GLONASS signals. The ZALA Arctic’s capabilities facilitate oil and gas extraction planning in areas where accurate weather and ice situation forecasts are required.
E-Drone Zero is a long endurance quadcopter managed by an advanced artificial-intelligence-powered operating system. The use of hydrogen fuel cells as the drone power source provides improved flight-time, less downtime due to quick refuelling, and increased payload capabilities. Advanced security is provided via NATO-validated military-level encryption. Additional safety features include computer vision assisted obstacle avoidance and various failure management features. Besides surveillance and security, e-Drone Zero is suitable for demanding survey, mapping and inspection tasks.
The Stencil 2 improves mapping accuracy and workflow with a new user interface compared to the original Stencil, as well as GNSS localization, upgraded hardware, confidence metrics and enhanced software intelligence. Stencil 2 ships with an iPad to access operations and view real-time scanning on the fly. It records GNSS data for use in loop closure to georegister and geolocate datasets, correcting for drift and improving the fidelity of large area scans. Kaarta offers an optional GNSS kit with Emlid Reach RS+ RTK GNSS receiver and custom mounting bracket. Alternatively, Stencil 2 integrates with other NMEA 0183-compliant GNSS systems.
Now type-approved by the U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Office of Law Enforcement (OLE), the Addvalue iFleetONE-VMS provides commercial fishing vessels with a technologically advanced vessel monitoring system that satisfies regulatory requirements to routinely and securely report GPS positioning. The Addvalue iFleetONE-VMS, with its broadband capability, will enable fisheries management officials, biologists, researchers, analysts and NMFS Law Enforcement to have a cost-effective and suitable platform for applications that previously had been severely limited by available technologies.
The MK5 On-Board Unit (OBU) is a fifth-generation low-cost, rugged module that can be retrofitted to vehicles for aftermarket deployment or field trials, and can also serve as a design reference for automotive production. The MK5 exchanges data at high speeds over extended distances, providing quick reaction times to potential hazards and safety-critical scenarios. Features include a dual IEEE 802.11p radio; a powerful processor running Cohda software applications; a GNSS receiver with lane-level accuracy; integrated security; hardware acceleration; and NXP chips with Cohda firmware. It supports DSRC (IEEE 802.11p), Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g/n) wireless standards.
The SmartDrive SR3 and SR4 platforms provide a unified video and telematics data stream of time, location and driver and vehicle performance for third-party applications. Its single-box architecture and unified data stream eliminates redundancy across hardware, cellular connectivity, GPS modules, connections to the ECU and cabling. It also provides data alignment across the applications, unlocking new fleet performance insights and eliminating problematic data discrepancies.The platform provides analytics powered by SmartDrive SmartIQ; Geotab tracking, which delivers real-time and historical visibility to location, speed and geofencing information; Geotab regulatory compliance, including hours of service, driver vehicle inspection reports, International Fuel Tax Agreement (IFTA) recording and tax reports; and access and integration to Geotab Marketplace partners.
In his new book No One at the Wheel: Driverless Cars and the Road of the Future, Transportation expert Samuel I. Schwartz (who coined the term “gridlock”) describes how the driverless vehicle revolution will transform highways, cities, workplaces and laws across the globe. Every major car maker in the U.S., and abroad is working on bringing autonomous vehicles to consumers. The fleets are getting ready to roll and nothing will ever be the same; this book discusses what the future has in store. 272 pages, ISBN: 1610398653.
Allystar Technology Co. Ltd., headquartered in Shenzhen, China, is offering new patch antennas: the AGR6302 and AGR6303. Both GNSS antenna models are designed for precision dual-frequency positioning.
AGR6302 is capable of receiving L1/L2 bands, and AGR6303 is capable of receiving L1/L5 bands. They are designed for UAVs, precision agriculture, autonomous vehicles and other applications where precision matters.
The AGR6302/AGR6303 active antenna is designed by unique technology to cover GPS, BDS, Galileo, GLONASS, IRNSS and the QZSS system (see table).
Table: Allystar
The antenna features stable signal quality at low cost. It employs a stack four-feeds antenna architecture with hybrid to achieve the multi-band operation, lower axial ratio, wider half-power beamwidth and excellent right-hand circular polarization, the company said.
Antenna size. (Image: Allystar)
With its new architecture, the active part has two stages. It has two level low noise amplifiers (LNAs) —one for the lower bands, the other for the higher bands. Then, the combiner and the third-level LNA output the RF gain to receiver. With this architecture, the antenna provides an excellent noise figure/RF linear and LNA gain, and out-band rejection, resulting in good signal-to-noise ratio and anti-interference.
It is housed in a compact, industrial-grade waterproof and magnet mount enclosure. Using internal magnets, the antenna can be installed almost anywhere, allowing for greater flexibility.
Regulus Cyber is showcasing its anti-spoofing GNSS receiver at the Consumer Electronics Show, being held Jan. 8-11 in Las Vegas.
Previously introduced in our Launchpad feature, the Regulus Cyber solves GNSS spoofing attacks that threaten the automotive, aviation, maritime and mobile industries with a unique technology applicable both as a fortified GNSS receiver, capable of detecting spoofing attacks, and at the chip level, allowing mobile phones, cars and internet of things (IoT) devices to receive GNSS spoofing protection for the first time, the company said.
The company was able to miniaturize its technology into a form factor that provides customers more flexibility with integration.
The Regulus Pyramid GNSS Receiver is a fully functional GNSS receiver, fortified with the spoofing detection capability. The receiver contains patented technology that enables it to differentiate between real GNSS signals and fake ones generated by an attacker.
The Pyramid GNSS receiver is a direct replacement to any automotive GNSS receiver. The upcoming chip-level technology offers both spoofing detection and spoofing mitigation to any GNSS-based device, including mobile phones, the company added.
The Spoofing Problem. Any vehicle guided by a GNSS system can be spoofed using open-source software and a software defined radio (SDR) legally purchased from Amazon for under $300. A spoofer can generate and transmit fake GNSS signals that can be used by the vehicle’s navigation system to calculate a false destination, directing the vehicle to an entirely different location, a potentially life-threatening hazard.
In addition, spoofing is a growing concern to any application or device that uses satellite positioning, navigation or time. While real attacks are expanding, anti-spoofing solutions remain a luxury that only high-end, defense markets can afford.
While current solutions are big, heavy and expensive, Pyramid GNSS offers industry-standard size and price. Industries such as automotive, aviation, maritime, and mobile phones can defend themselves against this sophisticated emerging threat, at an affordable price and relevant size, power consumption and weight, the company said.
“We designed our product to be a fraction of the size that is currently available on the market so that all types of companies – whether it is a car manufacturer or telecom provider relying on GNSS – can integrate it seamlessly,” said Yonatan Zur, CEO of Regulus Cyber. “GNSS spoofing will need to be a major security focus during 2019 since it leaves so many industries vulnerable to attacks.”
To meet Regulus Cyber at CES, visit booth #2602 at the Westgate.
Antenova Ltd. has developed a new positioning antenna that it says can pinpoint a location to within centimeters in the GNSS bands. Antenova is a manufacturer of antennas and RF antenna modules for machine-to-machine and the internet of things.
Antenova will be showing samples of the Raptor antenna at the Consumer Electronics Show, being held Jan. 8-11 in Las Vegas, in booth #2220 in the Westgate hall.
The Raptor antenna utilizes the L2 1200-MHz satellite band that recently became available for civilian use.
The addition of the L2 frequency band combines multi-band satellite signal reception and GNSS correction data. This helps to mitigate position errors, greatly improving accuracy, especially in urban areas, the company said.
As well as improving tracking, the L2 band is beneficial for UAVs, drones, autonomous vehicles, agriculture, grid mapping and other emerging applications, Antenova added.
The antenna is the latest addition to Antenova’s lamiiANT range of rigid FR4 antennas which are designed for easy insertion onto a printed circuit board (PCB).
The antenna itself is very small. It is a GPS single-feed antenna in surface mount (SMD) form, measuring 16.0 x 8.0 x 1.6 millimeters, suitable for small PCBs within all kinds of small electronic devices.
“This is an outstanding antenna, because it achieves the same precision as a much larger, heavier ceramic patch antenna, but in a very compact SMD part,” said Colin Newman, CEO of Antenova. “A ceramic antenna would need to be 35 x 35 millimeters to achieve a similar level of accuracy and performance.” Raptor is supplied in tape and reel for ease in high-volume manufacturing applications.
Mobile Recon Systems is offering an unmanned aerial vehicle that can lift more than its own weight.
At 78 pounds, the Dauntless multi-rotor UAV has lifted an additional payload of 100 pounds as a tethered quadcopter, the company said. It is designed to lift more than 200 pounds as an octocopter, with a generator-powered flight time of several hours.
Photo: Mobile Recon Systems
“Drones have proven to be great for videography. But uses beyond that have been limited by low lift capacity, limited flight time and narrow functional capability,” said Mobile Recon Systems founder Mike Dowell. “With the Dauntless, that is no longer the case.”
Not only can the Dauntless carry up to 160 pounds of supplies in a climate-controlled transport box, it is a multi-functional platform. It can be outfitted with sensors, radiation detectors, radar, weather stations, multi-spectral, thermal and infrared cameras, and other devices. It can perform eight or more different functions at once. Plus, users can easily swap or combine devices to meet their needs.
Those capabilities enable this model to deliver high value services previously out of reach for UAVs, the company said.
“The Dauntless is ideal for border and perimeter security, as well as natural disaster response, medical emergency first response, routine inspections and aerial analysis, and mapping,” Dowell said. “With its lift capacity, it can carry high-end lidar and cameras, as well as supplies. Our flexible platform offers a myriad of possibilities.”
To illustrate, the Dauntless can carry an MSOP and four multi-axis gimbals, mounted on top and bottom, to accommodate optical, thermal and multispectral cameras, including a RED Epic. high-end digital camera. These can simultaneously capture multiple types of images from below, front, overhead, right and left of the flying platform.
The Dauntless has a full 3K (military-grade) carbon-fiber body and titanium and aircraft aluminum frame. The propellers are carbon fiber, and are safely surrounded by the body. It is waterproof and sandproof.
Tersus GNSS Inc. has launched Tersus Oscar, its new generation GNSS real-time kinematic (RTK) system.
Oscar is an all-in-one GNSS receiver that can be used as rover or base system. Paired with a Tersus TC20 controller or A11 mobile terminal, Oscar can more efficiently meet customer application requirements for the optimal surveying solution, according to Xiaohua Wen, founder and CEO of Tersus GNSS.
“Last year, we launched the David GNSS receiver,” Xiaohua said. “This year, we are very excited to introduce an advanced version of David; we named it Oscar.”
Oscar supports calibration-free tilt compensation function, meaning a leveling pole is no longer required. Configuration is made easy with a 1.3-inch interactive screen. With an internal high-performance multi-constellation and multi-frequency GNSS board, the Oscar GNSS receiver can provide high accuracy and stable signal detection, the company said.
The high-performance antenna can speed the time to first fix and improve anti-jamming performance. The built-in large capacity battery can support up to 10 hours of fieldwork.
A radio module in the package supports long-distance communication. With its rugged housing material, Oscar is protected from harsh environments.
A roundup of recent products in the GNSS and inertial positioning industry from the December 2018 issue of GPS World magazine.
OEM
Combination antenna
Long-range connectivity
Photo: Molex
The Molex highly compact 2.4/5-GHz combination GPS/Wi-Fi ceramic antenna is designed to be a cost-competitive solution covering the full GNSS band, 1.561 to 5.85 GHz. The triple-band ceramic antenna has Wi-Fi HaLow compatibility and is interference-resistant, supporting larger but lower (900-MHz) frequency ranges than 2.4/5-GHz connections. It also operates with lower power over longer ranges than 2.4/5-GHz Wi-Fi. Advanced Wi-Fi applications the internet of things, connected cars, smart homes and smart cities.
The MSB1054 multi-receiver module requires no external components, meeting needs of smartwatches, fitness trackers, logistics and navigation. Its Flash memory saves navigation data to optimize performance and provide a hot start. The ability to receive signals from several satellite systems significantly reduces the time to first fix. The module provides a built-in RF-front end (SAW filter, low-noise amplifier) as well as a temperature-compensated crystal oscillator (TCXO), so no external component is required other than an antenna. It measures 5.8 × 6.2 × 1 millimeters and uses 3.4 mA current in low-power mode, such as for tracking.
The GE310-GNSS is an internet of things (IoT) module with GSM/GPRS, multi-constellation satellite positioning and Bluetooth functionality in a 270-millimeter-squared form factor. It meets European demand for GSM/GPRS compact form factors and is part of Telit’s migration-support program that helps customers leverage 2G’s low cost and broad coverage while preparing for 4G and 5G. The GE310 enables OEMs and system integrators in asset management, utilities and telematics to meet the strong demand for low-cost, highly compact devices without tradeoffs in performance, reliability and functionality, particularly in regional markets such as Europe, where 2G is forecast to remain in strong growth in number of IoT connections for many years.
With multi-sensor fusion positioning and orientation
Photo: Unicore
The CLAP-B multi-GNSS/MEMS integrated inertial navigation board features a miniaturized high-performance inertial measurement unit (IMU) on a compact high-performance GNSS board. The high-accuracy GNSS positioning coupled with a high-precision gyro and accelerometer provides stable, continuous 3D position, velocity and attitude, as well as original acceleration and angular velocity measurements, even in GNSS-denied environments. CLAP (Concurrent Localization & Attitude Pilot) technology is a high-precision multi-sensor fusion positioning and orientation technology developed by Unicore. The board is compact, light weight and has low power consumption. It is designed for ease of integration and mass production, and is suitable for autonomous driving, smart surveying and UAVs.
The UNI-GR1 RTK GNSS receiver offers highly accurate heading and positioning output. It can be connected to any device through Wi-Fi, mobile data, radio, USB or serial cable. It simultaneously tracks GPS L1/L2/L5, GLONASS L1/L2, Galileo E1/E5a/E5b and Beidou B1/B2/B3 on 432 channels. The receiver has a built-in level, a LED ring driven by a nine-degrees-of-freedom inertial measurement unit. Users can configure numerous settings such as real-time kinematic, or begin surveying immediately with a smartphone or laptop.
Dynamic tilt functionality has been added to the Trimble SPS986 GNSS smart antenna. The dynamic tilt upgrade allows for faster data collection to enable construction surveyors to create larger digital terrain models faster and with improved accuracy. It can capture higher accuracy measurements on steeper slopes from a moving vehicle and more accurate volume measurements to save time and money on material planning. The dynamic tilt measurement mode also auto-measures antenna height. From inside the vehicle, contractors can set the height of the antenna and quickly interrogate surface models using the real-time 3D surface display in Trimble Siteworks field software.
The Skycatch Edge1 is an on-premise data processing and GNSS base station optimized for the Skycatch Explore1 and DJI Phantom 4 RTK drones. Field teams can fly a drone, process the data and receive centimeter-level data output in 30 minutes or less, directly to a tablet, without the need for internet or cellular connectivity. 2D maps and 3D point clouds can be shared from the tablet. The Edge1 includes built-in WiFi, LTE and reliable sub-5-centimeter accuracy, and delivers high-quality data output. It is also capable of running deep learning algorithms to extract more insights from collected data in near real time.
Drone surveying software Virtual Surveyor now eliminates the need for clients to use third-party applications to prepare data for processing. Version 6.1 handles on-the-fly projections that previously required a separate software package to set the data in the proper coordinate system. It bridges the gap between UAV photogrammetric processing applications and engineering computer-aided design (CAD) packages. The software generates an interactive onscreen environment with UAV orthophotos and digital surface models where the surveyor selects survey points and breaklines to define the topography, creating highly accurate topographic products for CAD input up to five times faster than otherwise possible. Surveyors can drag and drop all kinds of files into Virtual Surveyor: points, raster, vectors and point clouds. The point clouds are converted to a DSM for manipulation and processing, dramatically accelerating the time required to generate the CAD model.
Includes Efficiency Gap Measure to explore redistricting problems
Screenshot: Mapitude
Maptitude for Redistricting is a professional tool for political redistricting. Maptitude provides measures and reports that support the creation of fair and balanced districts, and regularly enhances the software. Maptitude was used to democratize redistricting in California and is used by redistricters from independent commissions, non-profits, and civil rights groups, to the courts and political parties.
Stockpile measurements are up to 80% more accurate
Photo: DJI
The DJI Mavic 2 Pro drone is now part of the Kespry stockpile measurement solution for mining and aggregates companies. Kespry’s stockpile measurement solution produces data up to 80% more accurate than manual measurement. All of the survey data is stored in a central cloud application, accessible for analysis by the entire team. Large aggregates and mining companies can standardize and capture stockpile data across all their sites in the Kespry platform, while using Kespry 2s or DJI Mavic 2 Pro drones.
Designed for next-generation automotive applications
Image: Quectel
The automotive-grade C-V2X module AG15 features the Qualcomm 9150 C-V2X chipset paired with Quectel LTE module AG35. It is designed to meet the telematics and vehicle-to-everything (V2X) connectivity requirements of autonomous driving and road safety. It features a built-in multi-constellation high-precision GNSS (GPS/GLONASS/BeiDou/Galileo/QZSS) receiver with additional support from satellite-based augmentation systems (SBAS) and Qualcomm 3D dead-reckoning technology, which improves positioning accuracy and speed while simplifying customer designs. It is designed to allow low-latency, highly reliable and highly dense data exchange between vehicles and their surroundings, enabling effective information sharing among road users to avoid collisions, thus improving automotive safety, automated driving and traffic efficiency.
The SPC58 Chorus H microcontroller (MCU) line can run multiple applications concurrently to allow more flexible and cost-effective vehicle electronics architectures. The line is designed for high-end body, networking and security applications such as gateways, body-control modules, battery management and ADAS safety systems. The line has three high-performance processor cores, more than 1.2-MB RAM and powerful on-chip peripherals. The MCU securely delivers updates over the air for vehicle powertrain, body, chassis and infotainment features. With high security and large on-chip code storage, ST’s Chorus automotive microcontroller is a gateway/domain-controller chip capable of handling major OTA updates securely. Two independent Ethernet ports provide high-speed connectivity between multiple Chorus chips throughout the vehicle and enable responsive in-vehicle diagnostics.
The VBOX 3i RTK is a real-time-kinematic-enabled version of the VBOX 3i dual antenna that can be used in conjunction with an RTK differential base station to obtain ±2-centimeter positional accuracy in real time at 100 Hz. The data logger combines the advantages of a twin antenna GPS setup with GLONASS satellite tracking. It can be used in vehicle tests where positional accuracy and repeatability are of key importance, such as lane departure testing, distance to a fixed object or precise mapping. The VBOX 3i RTK comes with the VBOX manager, a display enabling users to change dynamic modes and filter settings, set up slip angle data and define antenna locations.
The StarLink TrackerWi‑Fi advanced vehicle-tracking device combines u-blox GNSS, 4G and Wi-Fi technology, eliminating the need to equip vehicles with a separate mobile Wi‑Fi hotspot. StartLink is suitable for applications for connected cars, telematics, vehicle diagnostics, fleet management, vehicle security, usage-based insurance, and rental and leasing service companies. With the Wi‑Fi hotspot, users can tap into cellular 4G to transfer telematics data to the fleet manager and send real-time data to the driver’s smart device or infotainment system.
The Notilo Plus team with the iBubble. (Photo: Notilo Plus)
Notilo Plus has launched iBubble, a fully wireless, autonomous and intelligent underwater drone that can be used for search-and-rescue operations, naval or underwater infrastructure maintenance, and subsea patroling. iBubble can accompany divers for up to an hour and down to 197 feet depth, enabling superior underwater imaging. The remotely operated vehicle (ROV) was designed using a patented underwater localization technology, which is mainly based on acoustic signal transmission and image recognition (video tracking). By combining these technologies, iBubble is able to locate precisely its target underwater and shoot stable footage. The iBubble is equipped with an obstacle avoidance system, real-time image recognition, a stabilization system and direct surface control.
Anafi Work is an ultra compact tool for professionals, helping them make informed decisions using the drone’s aerial insights. Anafi Work includes the advanced Anafi drone equipped with an innovative imaging system, a 4K/21MP camera with a 180° vertical orientation, allowing users to capture images of inaccessible areas.The drone operates for 1 hour and 40 minutes with its 4 USB-C smart batteries. It can be transported anywhere in a compact shoulder bag. Professionals can create 3D models of buildings, quickly and easily, using a one-year subscription to Pix4Dmodel.
The Riegl VQ-480 II and VQ-580 II are designed for airborne applications at mid-altitudes for use on both manned and unmanned aircraft. The new Mark 2 designs of previous models improve both performance and user-friendliness. Both offer a measurement rate of up to 1,250,000 measurements/second and a 75-degree field of view of suitable for corridor mapping, city modeling and applications in agriculture and forestry. Weighing approximately 10kg, they are ready for integration into helicopters and unmanned UAVs with a higher payload capacity. The VQ-480 II and VQ-580 II are prepared for smooth GNSS/IMU integration, offer interfaces for up to five optional cameras, and are have built-in and removable storage.The VQ-480 II works at a laser wavelength of 1550 nm; the VQ-580 II at the1064 nm wavelength suited to measure on ice and snow.
DroneNode is a portable, compact and inconspicuous counter-drone jamming device that law enforcement can use at large outdoor events without raising public concern (it is not yet authorized for use in the U.S.) It can simultaneously jam 2.4 GHz, 5.8 GHz and GNSS L1 and L2 bands up to one kilometer, causing drones to return to their point of origin or land. It is also effective against swarm attacks. Emergency broadcasts, cellphone communication and other dedicated channels are unaffected.
Skydio R1 users now have the ability to follow cars. New modes include Car Follow, improved Lead Mode, and other improvements throughout the system, which is built on top of the Skydio Autonomy Engine. The engine operates 13 cameras, enabling it to map and understand the world in real time, allowing it to be fully autonomous and independently capture video footage. Its Nvidia Jetsonl AI runs neural networks that trained for the Car Follow feature on datasets of automobile images.
