CHC Navigation has announced major updates to its i93, i85 and i76 GNSS receivers, as well as the iBase professional base station. The updates are designed to further improve positioning stability, simplify field setup, and expand operational capability across demanding surveying environments.
Enhanced RTK performance with the CHCNAV StellaX GNSS chip The updated i93, i85 and i76 receivers integrate the CHCNAV StellaX GNSS chip with multi frequency signal tracking and advanced anti interference mitigation. This design is intended to support more reliable GNSS RTK positioning and more consistent data collection in complex terrain and in areas with partial GNSS satellite visibility.
PointSky GNSS corrections service for remote surveying To reduce reliance on cellular networks and local radio links, the updated i93 and i85 now include a one-year standard subscription to the CHCNAV PointSky service. PointSky delivers GNSS corrections via satellite, enabling users to reach a 2.5 cm precision fix in three to five minutes. This capability supports surveying operations in remote locations such as mountains, forests and deserts where network coverage can be limited or unavailable.
Longer range radio operation and simplified iBase startup The iBase base station now integrates CHCNAV DistLink technology and improved data compression to increase radio sensitivity and support up to 30 km coverage for linear projects such as highways and railways. Power consumption has also been optimized to support more than 13 hours of continuous operation without external batteries. To streamline setup, iBase includes a one button startup sequence designed to automatically pair with rover units, reducing the need for manual parameter configuration in the field.
Emesent has launched its GX1 all-in-one mobile scanning system at Geo Week 2026 in Denver.
The GX1 is an integrated, highly accurate all-in-one mobile scanning system combining simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM), lidar, real-time kinematic (RTK) georeferencing, cameras and software. The product marks a breakthrough for the autonomous mapping technology company.
The GX1 supports a seamless workflow, from capture to validated deliverable. It not only brings Emesent’s proven SLAM technology to everyday surveying applications, but also eliminates the longstanding trade-off faced by survey firms and players in the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry between mobile scanning speed and dependable survey-grade accuracy.
According to Emesent, the GX1 can reduce the time required to survey a site by up to 95%, reducing what once took weeks into a single day of scanning. Meanwhile, the independently validated global accuracy of 5-10 mm delivers the precision needed for use cases across topographic and road surveying, scan to building information models, construction progress tracking and more.
These capabilities are supported by integrated RTK georeferencing with real-time quality monitoring, four 20MP cameras for 360° panoramic imagery, and Emesent’s proven SLAM algorithm. This technology — which also powers the Emesent Hovermap product — was developed and validated in extreme real-world environments, including GPS-denied, underground locations to ensure repeatable accuracy and reliability both indoors and out. Accuracy validation reports are produced quickly and easily in the Aura processing software.
With four purpose-built deployment modes — backpack, survey pole, vehicle mount and supported handheld — and integrated batteries for cable-free management, the GX1 offers a high degree of versatility. In addition, surveyors can capture data using RTK in the field or using ground control points and checkpoints in post-processing. This flexible georeferencing minimizes the risk of having to return to a site for redo.
“With the introduction of the GX1, we’ve answered the call we’ve heard echoing throughout the surveying industry to end the tug-of-war between fast and accurate,” said Dr Stefan Hrabar, chief strategy officer and co-founder of Emesent. “By putting the power of SLAM into the hands of the everyday surveyor, the GX1 raises the bar for mobile scanning accuracy and keeps critical projects on track.”
The launch of the GX1 comes at a pivotal moment for survey firms and the AEC industry. They are grappling with a shortage of experienced surveyors, while also facing mounting pressure from clients demanding faster, cheaper and better results without compromising on quality. The GX1 has been designed to be simple enough for junior surveyors to train on and deploy in a matter of days. At the same time, it is powerful enough to meet — and, according to Emesent, exceed — the real-world needs of professionals in the field.
Autonomous mapping company Emesent has launched the Emesent GX1, an integrated simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) and real-time kinematic (RTK) scanner. The company is exhibiting the GX1 at Geo Week 2026 (booth #911).
The product achieves 5-10mm global accuracy to deliver high precision for topographic surveying and building and infrastructure construction. It can reduce the time required to survey a site by up to 95% with a single day of scanning replacing weeks of work, Emensent stated in a press release.
The GX1 is an integrated, all-in-one system where lidar, RTK, cameras and software work together seamlessly from capture to validated deliverable. Its SLAM technology was proven in the world’s most challenging environments to everyday surveying applications, but it also eliminates the longstanding trade-off faced by survey firms and the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry between mobile scanning speed and dependable survey-grade accuracy.
Suited for use cases across topographic and road survey, scan to building information models (BIM), construction progress tracking and more, the GX1 is simple enough for junior surveyors to train on and deploy in a matter of days yet powerful enough to meet the needs of experts in the field.
Accuracy. GX1 is the only SLAM-based mobile scanner system delivering 5-10mm global accuracy combined with rapid scanning capabilities. Incorporating client-first design, integrated RTK and Emesent’s proprietary SLAM algorithm, GX1 offers repeatable results survey firms can rely on.
Proven SLAM algorithm: Emesent’s SLAM technology, which powers its award-winning Emesent Hovermap product, was developed and validated in some of the most extreme real-world environments, includidng GPS-denied underground locations. It delivers repeatable accuracy both indoors and out.
Versatile deployment: GX1 has four purpose-built deployment modes: backpack, survey pole, vehicle mount, and supported handheld. Flexible georeferencing minimizes the risk of having to return to a site for redo – surveyors can capture with RTK in the field or with ground control points and checkpoints in post-processing.
The GX1 is being launched at a pivotal moment for survey firms and the AEC industry, which are grappling with a shortage of experienced surveyors, Emensent stated. At the same time, firms face mounting pressure from clients demanding faster, cheaper and better results without quality compromise, alongside the diminishing competitive advantage of adopting basic mobile scanning technology.
“With the introduction of the GX1, we’ve answered the call we’ve heard echoing throughout the surveying industry to end the tug-of-war between fast and accurate,” said Stefan Hrabar, chief strategy officer and co-founder of Emesent. “By putting the power of SLAM into the hands of the everyday surveyor, the GX1 raises the bar for mobile scanning accuracy and keeps critical projects on track.”
Technical Features
Independently validated 5-10mm global accuracy
Integrated RTK georeferencing with real-time quality monitoring
4 x 20MP cameras for 360° panoramic imagery
Emesent SLAM algorithm
Four deployment modes: backpack, survey pole, vehicle mount, handheld
Integrated batteries for cable-free management
Rapid accuracy validation reports in Aura processing software.
Tactical air-lifters such as the Airbus A400M, Lockheed C-130 and Boeing C-17 require precise runway roughness assessments to operate safely on unpaved surfaces. An autonomous rover system developed at the Royal Military Academy of Belgium uses RTK/PPK GNSS positioning and sensor fusion to deliver centimeter-level height measurements, drastically reducing survey time. The system provides a practical solution for rapid runway certification across military operations and humanitarian response missions.
Unpaved runway assessment
The Airbus A400M Atlas, the Lockheed C-130 Hercules and the Boeing C-17 Globemaster III routinely operate from unpaved runways in harsh environments far from established infrastructure. Before these aircraft can safely land, flight crews require accurate runway roughness data to assess whether the surface meets operational limits. This assessment relies on precise, quantitative measurements of the runway’s surface characteristics — a task that traditionally requires specialized survey teams and hours of manual work with GNSS equipment, resources that are often unavailable in high-tempo tactical or emergency response scenarios.
The challenge is particularly acute because different aircraft have specific roughness tolerances. The A400M uses an equivalent bump height (EBH) methodology, while Boeing employs its Boeing Bump Criteria. The EBH requires vertical measurement precision of ±1 cm over wavelengths ranging from 5 to 100 meters. Meeting these stringent requirements with rapid, field-deployable methods has remained an operational gap — until now.
At the Royal Military Academy (RMA) of Belgium, we developed a novel solution to this critical challenge. Our system features a rugged, autonomous unmanned ground vehicle that can rapidly perform a centimeter-accurate runway assessment with minimal user intervention. It represents a fusion of robotics, geodesy, and advanced GNSS techniques, designed specifically for ease of use by military teams in the field. The system is called Belgian Navigational Surface Inspector (BENSI).
FIGURE 1 shows the BENSI system during a mission at a tactical landing zone with the A400Min the background. FIGURE 2 shows the BENSI system being configured by the operator during a landing preparation.
Figure 1 The autonomous UGV (BENSI) during a mission at a tactical landing zone with the A400M Atlas in the background.Figure 2 The BENSI system being configured by the operator during the beach landing preparation at Rømø, Denmark.
This article details the system’s architecture, the integration of multiple technologies that enable the stringent precision required achieved by GNSS and sensor fusion, self-driving capabilities and its successful deployment in demanding field tests. We present a military graded solution for ensuring tactical airlift safety, enabled by modern, accessible GNSS technology and robotics.
Quantifying runway roughness
Deployable Air Traffic Management (DATM) and Pathfinders are responsible for ensuring the safety of aircraft operations on unpaved runways. They are tasked with assessing the quality of the runway and the Runway Safety Area (RSA) to ensure that the aircraft can land safely. The pilots analyze their assessment and take the final decision to land.
FIGURE 3 is an example of a landing zone having an unpaved runway that needs to be evaluated for landing. FIGURE 4 overviews the landing zone by mapping and indicating features of the runway that need to be considered by the pilots. An important aspect of the DATM’s assessment is the runway’s roughness, which is quantified by the EBH.
Figure 3 An example of a tactical landing zone.
For modern military transport aircraft operations, runway roughness assessment is a critical safety parameter. Both major manufacturers — Airbus with its EBH methodology and Boeing with its Boeing Bump Criteria — have developed sophisticated approaches to characterize runway longitudinal roughness profiles. These methods analyze height variations over wavelengths ranging from 5 to 100 meters, requiring vertical measurement precision of ±1 cm. This rigorous assessment is essential to reduce aircraft structural fatigue, minimize maintenance costs, prevent exceedance of design limit loads, and ultimately ensure safe operations. For the A400M specifically, Airbus requires EBH characterization to determine operational limitations of the aircraft’s maximum payload.
Figure 4 A typical mapping of a landing zone showing a condensed overview of DATM’s assessment.
Traditionally, achieving this precision would involve a painstaking survey conducted by specialists using a GNSS survey system mounted on a trolley requiring human guidance along the measurement tracks totaling more than 3 km of length. For military units like the DATM and Pathfinder teams, who often are the first on the ground, this is impractical. They need a system that is rapid, reliable, simple to operate without a surveying background, and robust enough for field conditions.
A GNSS-Centric design
Our solution is a two-part system designed for rapid deployment: a portable GNSS base station and autonomous rover. FIGURE 5 shows a schematic overview of the system architecture.
Figure 5 A schematic overview of the system architecture, showing the data (NMEA) and correction (RTCM) flow between the base station, rover and operator.
The base station: The system’s anchor
Housed in a compact, portable case, weighing just 2 kg including tripod and radios (as seen in FIGURE 2), it serves as the operational hub. Once set up on its lightweight tripod, it performs an automatic survey to establish its precise coordinates. Its primary role for positioning is to generate and transmit Radio Technical Commission for Maritime Services (RTCM) 3.x correction data to the rover via a robust long-range radio link (operating in the868/900MHz bands).
Beyond its GNSS duties, the base station acts as a self-contained command center. It hosts a Wi-Fi hotspot and a web server, allowing the operator to connect with any standard tablet, smartphone or laptop. This web interface is used for mission planning, command and control of the rover, and real-time monitoring of survey progress. At the end of the mission, the operator can download the EBH data and additional quality metrics of the runway for analysis such as a summary report of the complete measurement, a gradient analysis, and a runway map highlighting zones with bumps or troughs exceeding the specified criteria.
An autonomous, all-terrain surveyor
The UGV is a lightweight but rugged platform chosen for its durability and open-source software architecture, which allows for deep integration of our custom navigation and control algorithms. The rover has been designed to be able to traverse rough terrain and survive in harsh weather conditions. The UGV consists of two parts, the chassis (11 kg) and the processing payload(8 kg). The heart of the rover is the processing payload, which contains a sophisticated sensor suite designed for high-precision localization and navigation.
■ Primary GNSS receiver. A high-grade, multi-constellation Septentrio receiver with a Calian/Tallysman GNSS antenna provides the main source of positioning information.
■ GNSS heading. A second Calian/Tallysman GNSS antenna, set up in a moving-base configuration, provides degree-accurate true heading, which is critical for maintaining precise track-following.
■ Inertial measurement unit (IMU). An industrial-grade Xsens IMU provides high-frequency data on the rover’s orientation and acceleration, bridging any brief GNSS outages, providing the sensor fusion algorithm with high-rate data, and helping to smooth the final trajectory.
■ Radio communication. The radio modules provide robust long-range communication with the base station operating in the 868/900MHz bands.
■ Wheel odometry. Encoders on the rover’s wheels provide continuous velocity information, acting as a crucial input for the sensor fusion algorithm. All sensor data is fed into an onboard mini-PC running the Robot Operating System, a flexible framework for developing robotic applications.
Path to precision
Achieving centimeter-level accuracy on a moving platform in challenging environments requires more than just a good GNSS receiver. Our approach is built on a robust foundation of sensor fusion and a dual processing strategy using real-time kinematic and post-processing kinematic (RTK/PPK). An extended Kalman filter (EKF) is at the core of the rover’s navigation software. The EKF continuously fuses data from the GNSS receivers, IMU and wheel encoders to produce a single, high-integrity “pose” (position and orientation) estimate.
For runway surveying, we employ two modes of GNSS processing:
RTK. During the mission, the rover uses the RTCM corrections from the base station to compute a centimeter-accurate position in real-time. This is used for autonomous navigation, allowing the rover to follow its generated mission plan configured by the operator with high precision.
PPK. While RTK provides excellent real-time results, the most demanding applications benefit from post-processing. Both the rover and the base station log all raw GNSS observables during the mission. After the survey is complete, these raw data files are processed together which allows for more rigorous quality control and can often resolve ambiguities or fix cycle slips that were not solvable in real-time, providing the definitive, highest accuracy trajectory for the EBH analysis.
A final crucial step is extracting the height profile for each EBH track and subsequently transforming and reformatting this data for Airbus’ AssurTool. The step also is automated and carried out by the software. It takes care of the following:
■ The conversion of the geodetic coordinates (latitude, longitude, and height above the World Geodetic System 1984 [WGS84] ellipsoid) to Universal Transverse Mercator plane coordinates and orthometric heights (heights relative to a geoid).
■ The extraction of the height profile of each EBH track.
■ Quality control of the precision of the height profile flags tracks that do not meet the required accuracy or show inconsistencies.
■ The transformation and reformatting of this data for Airbus’ AssurTool.
Self-driving capabilities
The rover uses a navigation framework with a custom planner for generating smooth, curved paths that match the rover’s turning capabilities and steers the rover using a controller based on the Regulated Pure Pursuit tracking algorithm. A specialized lane-generation algorithm creates optimal survey patterns from runway corner points, with behavior-tree recovery strategies for robust operation.
FIGURE 6 shows a typical EBH survey pattern generated from the mission plan and executed by the rover and a depiction of how the rover plans the smooth curved path between the lanes.
Figure 6 Features of the navigation framework used for planning the EBH tracks. (a) A typical EBH survey pattern generated from the mission plan and executed by the rover. (b) A depiction of how the rover plans the smooth curved path between the lanes.
A streamlined workflow
The system was designed from the ground up to be operated by non-surveyors. A typical mission workflow is as follows:
Setup. The operator places the base station on a tripod near the runway and unfolds the rover. The entire hardware setup takes less than 10 minutes.
Mission planning. Using a ruggedized tablet (or any other device with a web browser), the operator connects to the base station’s WiFi and opens the web interface. They define the runway by entering the coordinates of the runway’s corners. The software automatically calculates the EBH lines based on the required spacing. FIGURE 7a shows the user interface displayed on a tablet, showing the EBH mission configuration page.
Figure 7a The user interface displayed on a tablet, showing the EBH mission configuration.
Execution. The operator initiates the mission, and the UGV autonomously navigates to the start of the first line and begins the survey. The operator can monitor and control the rover’s progress, position, and GNSS quality status in real-time on the web interface. FIGURE 7b shows the user interface displayed on a tablet, showing the rover control, the real-time status of the UGV and the measurements.
Figure 7b The tablet showing the rover control and the real-time status of the UGV and the EBH results.
Data retrieval. Upon completion, the rover returns to the base station. The system automatically processes the data, producing downloadable files formatted for direct import into Airbus’ AssurTool and additional useful quality metrics for the operator. These consist of a summary report of the complete measurement, a gradient analysis, and a runway map highlighting zones with bumps or troughs exceeding the specified criteria.
Analyzing the data
Once the rover completes its survey and returns to the base station, the system automatically initiates post-processing of the collected data. This critical step validates the quality of every measurement and generates operator-ready outputs for both Airbus’ AssurTool and field assessment.
The post-processing pipeline applies rigorous quality criteria to each survey line. Lines failing these criteria are automatically flagged with detailed diagnostics explaining the cause.
For operational decision-making, the system generates a comprehensive visualization report. The operators receive planimetric maps showing the height profile plots and a detailed gradient analysis identifying critical slope transitions. A key capability is the generation of a 3D interpolated height map of the entire runway surface. This color-coded surface map provides an intuitive view of the runway’s topography, clearly highlighting zones with excessive bumps, depressions, or gradient anomalies that facilitates the assessment of the runway.
These analysis reports are accessible through the web interface for immediate download to the operator’s tablet. FIGURES 8 shows examples of the visualization report.
Figure 8a 2D height and gradient contour maps of two surfaces generated by the BENSI system. (a) A height contour map of two landing zone (LZ) surfaces automatically generated by the BENSI system. Figure 8b A gradient contour map of two LZ surfaces automatically generated by the BENSI system.
Proven performance
The UGV system is a mature prototype that has been validated in numerous international military exercises. It has successfully surveyed tactical landing zones in varied environments, from the desert strips of Yuma, Arizona, and 29 Palms, California, to the sandy shores of Denmark and fields in France, Portugal and Italy. In all tests, the system has consistently delivered the sub-centimeter height precision required for A400M EBH certification.
2025 Rømø Head-to-Head Trial.During beach-landing preparations in August 2025, our autonomous rover and a manual system (human-guided trolley) using a professional GNSS survey system ran side-by-side on a 1 000m landing zone on the Rømø beach in Denmark. The BENSI solution matched the manual survey system height profile with a standard deviation of 8mm and demonstrated significantly better lane-tracking consistency (mean deviation: 8,5 cm vs 16 cm and deviation error: 3 cm vs 9 cm). FIGURE 9 shows the height-error distribution between the BENSI system and the manual survey system at Rømø, Denmark.
Figure 9 Height-error distribution between the BENSI system and the manual survey system at Rømø, Denmark.
Rapid humanitarian response
While BENSI was conceived for tactical airlift operations, its capabilities extend naturally to humanitarian assistance and disaster-relief missions. Belgium’s civil rapid-response unit Belgian First Aid & Support Team (B-FAST) routinely deploys doctors, paramedics, firefighters, and other professionals worldwide following earthquakes, floods, or epidemics. Leveraging the A400M’s ability to land on short, unpaved strips away from congested or contested airfields drastically cuts transit times — but only if the runway’s condition can be certified quickly.
The BENSI systems enables a DATM team to quickly relay an EBH report and awareness map of the immediate area to the inbound aircrew. This rapid assessment unlocks critical early access for life-saving medical supplies and personnel when every hour counts.
Conclusion and the Road Ahead
The fusion of autonomous robotics and high-precision GNSS offers a powerful solution to the critical challenge of certifying unpaved runways. Our system saves valuable time, reduces the burden on specialized personnel, and provides objective, high-quality data that directly enhances the safety of tactical airlift operations.
Development is ongoing. Our current efforts focus on several key areas:
■ Improving navigation in degraded environments. We are exploring tighter coupling between the GNSS and IMU to provide more robust navigation through areas of poor satellite visibility.
■ RSA assessment. We are experimenting with integrating a lidar sensor to generate a 3D point cloud of the runway and its surroundings. This will automate obstacle detection and the assessment of the RSA, though we are carefully working to mitigate potential electromagnetic interference from the lidar that can interfere with GNSS reception.
■ Handheld corner point device. To further improve absolute accuracy, we are developing a small, handheld device that uses RTK corrections from the base station, allowing operators to mark the runway corners with centimeter-level precision.
This project demonstrates a clear application of GNSS technology in a demanding military aviation context, with broader implications for any field requiring rapid and precise surface profiling, from civil engineering to disaster response.
Development Team
■ Pieterjan De Meulemeester ([email protected]) is a Ph.D. research engineer at the RMA of Belgium.
■ Alain Muls ([email protected]) is professor at the RMA of Belgium. He teaches the courses Military Satellite Based Positioning andMilitary Geodesy.
■ Jarno Van Audenhoven ([email protected]) is a Robotics Development and Research Engineer at the RMA of Belgium.
■ Pascal De Kimpe is a technician at the RMA of Belgium.
■ The BENSI system was developed by the R&D team at the RMA of Belgium in collaboration with Belgian Defense. The system has been successfully field-tested during international military exercises and is being evaluated for operational deployment.
All photos courtesy of BENSI Development Team of the Royal Military Academy of Belgium
Tersus GNSS has launched the MVP S1 RTK-SLAM handheld 3D laser scanner for mobile mapping and reality capture. The MVP S1 uses GNSS through an AI-driven RTK-SLAM workflow, as well as lidar data with imagery from dual 48-megapixel panoramic cameras.
The combination provides survey-grade results in both GNSS-denied and open environments. The system achieves centimeter-level accuracy outdoors and maintains performance indoors or underground through SLAM processing.
TimeSync 3.0 synchronizes the hardware, aligning sensor data at the microsecond level and supporting consistent datasets and reliable post-processing.
A mobile application provides users with real-time feedback, including previews of colorized point clouds while scanning, as well as basic scan reports on site. This feature helps operators verify data completeness and quality before leaving the field, reducing the need for repeat visits.
The MVP S1 supports 3D gaussian splatting (3DGS), enabling creation of textured, photorealistic 3D models. This capability is useful for building information modeling, construction progress monitoring, underground surveys, forestry analysis and industrial site documentation.
Carlson Software has released the RT5 rugged tablet data collector and the RTk5 GNSS solution, which integrates the form factor of the RT5 with real-time kinematic GNSS performance.
The Carlson RT5 is designed for surveying, stake-outs, construction layout and GIS mapping, and is bundled with Carlson SurvPC — the Windows-based data collection program. The RT5 can run SurvPC with Esri OEM for use in the field.
The Carlson RTk5 adds an advanced GNSS solution to the RT5, enabling accuracy in a compact, light and versatile package. It comes with a custom-built pole and cradle, a survey-grade antenna, and a small portable helix antenna for handheld GNSS use. It is suitable for land surveyors, engineers, GIS professionals, and users in need of advanced GNSS positioning with an RTK rover.
Frontier Precision has announced the availability of an upgraded flagship UAV platform, the Matrice 350 RTK.
This UAV platform features a new video transmission system and control experience, an efficient battery system, and more comprehensive safety features. It also offers robust payload and expansion capabilities.
The Matrice 350 RTK has a 55-minute max flight time and an IP55 rating. It features six-directional sensing and positioning, as well as a night-vision FPV camera, and 400 battery cycles.
On Dec. 20, ComNav Technology launched its Venus Laser RTK, a GNSS receiver with a millimeter-level laser that enables rod-less surveying. This product is a part of ComNav’s Universe Series of GNSS receivers.
Venus Laser RTK comes with an inertial measurement unit (IMU), which can be used in its traditional mode, with a range pole or in laser mode, which does not require a range pole, enabling GNSS surveying beyond typical limitations. In traditional mode, it has tilt compensation up to 60 degrees with an accuracy of 2.5 cm; in laser mode, it has the same tilt compensation but an accuracy of 5.5 cm.
This GNSS receiver is powered by a SinoGNSS K8 high-precision module, capable of up to 1,590 channels. It can survey using GPS, BDS-2, BDS-3, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, and SBAS constellations.
Other features include Bluetooth connectivity, more than 20 hours of battery life, and the fact that it is dust and waterproof. Venus Laser RTK can also withstand harsh environments and is designed to survive more than a two-meter drop.
On Jan. 6, ROCK Robotic, a geospatial company specializing in lidar-based data processing and high-definition mapping, announced the availability of ROCK Base, a triple frequency RTK base station. Additionally, ROCK Robotic has partnered with the Web3 GEODNET initiative to support critical applications in civil surveying, high-definition mapping, digital twin creation and more.
ROCK Base is a resilient, secure, full-constellation GNSS receiver, capable of tracking signals transmitted from GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou, QZSS, and the IRNSS navigation satellite constellations. It includes 1,400 channels, survey-grade antennae, cables and antennae-mounting equipment required to set up a permanent continuously operating reference station location.
To make high-definition mapping more accessible and affordable, ROCK Robotic joined the Web3 GEODNET initiative, the largest decentralized GNSS reference network globally. Under the new partnership, ROCK Robotic customers will have access to the GEODNET base-station network to geo-reference ROCK Robotic’s 3D data products to millimeter-level absolute position accuracy, without setting up ground control points. Additionally, ROCK Base is pre-certified on the GEODNET network.
TinyMobileRobots’ has introduced TinyLineMarker to the field painting market. TinyLineMarker is designed to accurately paint field lines in stadiums using GPS technology.
In addition to GPS signals, the robot receives corrections signals from an RTK network in order to accurately trace the markers onto the field. Even if the GPS signal is disrupted, the numerous RTK network reference stations make it possible for the robot to correct its position and continue painting.
As TinyLineMarker is compatible with handheld tablets, the robot will begin painting in accordance with the markers when it is started from a tablet. Once the robot completes a line marking job, the line pattern can be saved to the cloud and saved for future use. Line patterns can also be updated or changed from a tablet as needed.
Geometer International, a Ukrainian developer of GNSS/RTK instruments and applications for satellite positioning, has introduced the Walker RTK, a dual-frequency L1, L2 RTK receiver in the compact form factor of a portable RTK device.
The Walker RTK is a lightweight, small-sized, affordable and full-featured device for collecting, storing and processing geo-referenced data on the survey site. According to the developer, a GNSS receiver in a convenient and affordable format will significantly expand the use of RTK technology. The new technology will be suited to most tasks requiring centimeter precision positioning and measurements in a 3D coordinate system.
Compact and lightweight, Walker RTK is the ideal solution for field workers working away from the office. The new device can be operated with just one hand, significantly improving the productivity of service personnel.
Possible applications for GNSS Walker RTK include surveying, utilities, solar power plant engineering, trenching and pipeline installation, drilling, forestry and municipal infrastructure control.
What’s under the bonnet of Walker RTK?
The Walker RTK is built around a 2-frequency L1/L2 184 channel board and a sensitive Helix antenna, satisfying up to 90% of basic user requirements. The tube-shaped housing geometry allows it to fit with any universal mount. The receiver weight is only 0.25g (0.470 with smartphone holder) due to the aluminum alloy housing with a protective coating. The Walker RTK has a built-in Li-Ion battery with enough power for 24 hours of continuous operation without additional recharging. The new energy-efficient architecture of the unit achieves this.
The GNSS receiver has the minimum amount of leading interfaces, resulting in high IP67 dust and waterproof rating. The device can be paired with a smartphone or tablet via Bluetooth, while connection via Bluetooth low energy is also planned for a future release.
Compatible with satellite systems
Walker RTK can track and determine geo-position using signals from all known existing satellite systems. This feature makes it possible to achieve the centimeter-level accuracy of an RTK solution within seconds.
GNSS signals processed by the Walker RTK GNSS receiver:
Thanks to NMEA messaging, the Walker RTK GNSS receiver is fully compatible with any professional or freeware geolocation software, providing high accuracy and reliable RTK-corrected positioning.
Onocoy has launched a project to provide a dense network of community-powered GNSS reference stations. Based on Web 3.0 and an innovative incentive program, onocoy’s project strives to ensure outstanding positioning data quality suitable for mass market applications such as drones, micro-mobility, robotic lawnmowers or autonomous vehicles.
In the past, ultra-precise GNSS navigation with real-time kinematics (RTK) was only available to high-end markets because of prohibitive costs. With increasing demand for higher accuracies and advances in receiver technology, along with the availability of new GNSS signals, RTK receiver prices have dropped, yet high correction service costs and insufficient business models for mass markets have limited large-scale application of RTK.
Onocoy’s project aims to provide scalable correction services by leveraging Web 3.0 methods and distributed ledger technology. Such technology will facilitate a decentralized approach to the number of GNSS reference stations, 20 times the density as exist now. Ultra-dense distribution of GNSS reference stations will allow global access to instant centimeter-level positioning.
“Utilizing Web 3.0 methods with distributed ledgers and smart contracts, onocoy is poised to create the world’s densest distribution of GNSS reference stations that will enable RTK positioning anywhere,” said Daniel Ammann, initiator of the onocoy project. “By applying an open governance system, the interests of all stakeholders are taken into account in a transparent manner, ensuring that the project effectively addresses the needs of the stakeholders.”
The project will enable users to have the highest quality in GNSS data thanks to rigorous data validation and an innovative incentive scheme for data miners, where high-quality data is rewarded. Costs will be kept at a minimum with cutting-edge technology implementation and the wide user base. As a result, users will have the freedom to shape their solution to fit their market’s needs.
