Quectel Wireless Solutions, a supplier of IoT modules and antennas, and Point One Navigation, a provider in precision location technology, have announced the LG69T-AM, the latest addition to the LG69T GNSS Module Series. Point One’s positioning engine powers the LG69T-AM and enables centimeter-level global accuracy by integrating augmented GNSS in a module with open-source API.
The LG69T-AM GNSS module features STMicroelectronics’ Teseo V dual-band L1/L5 positioning receiver platform with 80 tracking and four fast acquisition channels compatible with GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou, QZSS and NAVIC.
The LG69T-AM leverages Point One’s RTK and SSR technology for centimeter-level accuracy and ultra-fast convergence time. It is designed for easy integration with minimal e-BOM modification and is well-suited for mass market adoption without the need for an expensive external co-processor. Due to its small package size, light weight, and excellent power consumption, it is ideal for applications such as robotics and precision agriculture.
Embedded in the LG69T-AM is Point One’s FusionEngine and its Polaris correction service client. FusionEngine is compatible with standards-based corrections services including those based on RTCM.
Polaris is Point One’s own GNSS correction service that unlocks better than 10cm absolute accuracy with a coast-to-coast footprint in the United States and coverage across Europe. It offers a variety of connectivity options including delivery over cellular and L-band. The network is purpose-built for precision agriculture customers and includes advanced anti-jam, interference mitigation, end to end security and automatic integrity monitoring unmatched by any other provider.
STMicroelectronics has introduced an automotive satellite-navigation chip designed to deliver high-quality position data needed by advanced driving systems.
Joining ST’s Teseo V family, the STA8135GA automotive-qualified GNSS receiver integrates a triple-band positioning measurement engine. It also provides standard multi-band position-velocity-time (PVT) and dead reckoning.
The STA8135GA’s triple-band enables the receiver to efficiently acquire and track the largest number of satellites in multiple constellations simultaneously for superior performance in difficult conditions such as in urban canyons and under tree cover.
Triple band has historically been used in professional applications such as surveying, mapping and precision agriculture that demand millimeter accuracy with minimal reliance on correction data, usually available on larger and more expensive modules than ST’s single-chip STA8135GA.
The compact STA8135GA will help driver-assistance systems make accurate decisions about the road ahead. The multi-constellation receiver delivers raw information for the host system to run any precise-positioning algorithm, such as PPP/RTK (precise point positioning/real-time kinematic). The receiver can track satellites in the GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo, QZSS and NAVIC/IRNSS constellations.
The STA8135GA also integrates separate low-dropout voltage regulators on chip to supply the analog circuitry, digital core and input/output transceivers, simplifying selection of the external power supply.
The STA8135GA also enhances the performance of in-dash navigation systems, telematics equipment, smart antennas, V2X communication systems, marine navigation systems, drones, and other vehicles.
“The high precision and single-chip integration delivered by the STA8135GA satellite receiver enables the creation of reliable and affordable navigation systems that enable vehicles to be safer and more context aware,” said Luca Celant, general manager, ADAS, ASIC and Audio Division, Automotive and Discrete Group, STMicroelectronics. “Our unique in-house design resources and processes for high-yield manufacturing are among the critical capabilities that have made this industry-first device possible.”
The STA8135GA is housed in a 7 x 11 x 1.2 BGA package. Samples are available now and full qualification AEC-Q100 and Start Of Production are scheduled for the first quarter of 2022.
GNSS positioning algorithms combined with automotive-grade GNSS chipsets, inertial measurements and GNSS corrections services from a ground network of reference stations can deliver instant lane-level accuracy.
By Tasha Wong Ken and Sara Masterson, Hexagon Positioning Intelligence
Autonomous technology is reshaping the future of the automotive industry and Hexagon’s Positioning Intelligence Division (Hexagon PI) is developing cutting-edge positioning solutions to support the growth of this rapidly changing industry.
Hexagon PI is working with GNSS chipset manufacturers like STMicroelectronics to deliver automotive-grade, multi-frequency GNSS chipsets that combine our positioning algorithms with automotive-grade GNSS hardware to deliver solutions for connected cars, advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) and autonomous driving applications.
In June, Hexagon PI introduced TerraStar X GNSS correction technology, which enables lane-level vehicle positioning in under a minute, using automotive-grade chipsets and the Hexagon PI positioning engine. Built on the company’s latest precise point positioning (PPP) algorithms, TerraStar X leverages existing Hexagon capabilities in ground network infrastructure, correction data generation, and data packaging for delivery.
FIGURE 1. TerraStar X correction data generation and delivery to the vehicle. (Image: Hexagon PI)
By combining Hexagon PI’s software positioning engine with GNSS measurements from automotive-grade chipsets and inertial measurement unit (IMU) data, TerraStar X GNSS correction services can deliver instant lane-level accuracy positioning.
TerraStar X combines existing TerraStar global clock and orbit data with regional ionospheric correction data from Hexagon’s vast network of SmartNet reference stations. This forms the technology foundation for future correction services on connected cars, ADAS and autonomous driving markets, including integrity and authentication for safety-critical applications.
FIGURE 2. The Hexagon PI positioning engine achieves seamless position accuracy by taking GNSS measurements from the Teseo V GNSS receiver, combining it with their positioning algorithms, GNSS+INS coupling, and TerraStar X correction technology. (Image: Hexagon PI)TABLE 1. Cumulative distribution of horizontal errors from testing on German roads. (Table: T. W. Ken and S. Masterson)
HxGN SmartNet consists of a large operational reference station network, consisting of more than 4,500 stations with continuous quality monitoring and support. Correction data generation takes place at Hexagon processing centers where service reliability, redundancy and 99.999% guaranteed service uptime ensure corrections are available for users 24/7/365.
While TerraStar X utilizes the stations already available, the algorithms are flexible and will accommodate the rollout of new service areas with increased station separation, enabling continental-scale coverage.
TerraStar X technology will deliver correction data to vehicles and end users through hybrid delivery channels, including both cellular network and satellite. Combining TerraStar X technology with multiple delivery channels ensures that vehicles, UAVs, industrial vehicles, trains, and more will operate safely, securely, reliably, and efficiently.
TerraStar X testbeds are being utilized for several advanced automotive development programs in North America and Europe, TerraStar X commercial services will be available in 2019. Interested customers can request access to any of the testbeds through Hexagon PI.
Positioning Engine. Hexagon PI’s positioning engine architecture enables a flexible integration with different GNSS receiver chipsets, augmentation sensors and processor environments, providing automotive manufacturers with additional flexibility when it comes to sourcing components and subsystems of ADAS and autonomous driving solutions.
The positioning engine is being developed to Automotive Safety Integrity Level (ASIL)-B standards and will include a proprietary GNSS integrity solution to ensure safe positioning within defined protection limits tailored to the customer’s application requirements.
Recent test results
Hexagon PI conducted demonstrations in Michigan and Germany using an automotive platform that combined automotive-grade GNSS hardware with TerraStar X technology and the software positioning engine to demonstrate instant lane-level accuracy with correction data delivered over the cellular network to test vehicles.
The results are from the most recent demonstration performed in urban conditions in Germany. The route consisted of a mix of controlled-access highway and light urban roads in the city. In this case, the positioning engine using TerraStar X and GNSS+INS coupling deliver 1-meter accuracy through 95% of the dataset.
FIGURE 3. Cumulative distribution of horizontal errors from tests on German roads. (Figure: T. W. Ken and S. Masterson)
Throughout the data collection, position accuracy improves by almost 70% when TerraStar X and the positioning engine is used. In some areas, it was found that the position solution can improve up to 95% with the Hexagon PI positioning solution over the standalone Teseo V, an automotive-grade GNSS receiver from STMicroelectronics.
FIGURE 4. Horizontal position errors from testing on German roads. (Figure: T. W. Ken and S. Masterson)
Looking ahead in automotive
Hexagon PI continues to demonstrate the benefits of precise positioning on automotive-grade chipsets using augmentation sensors, our positioning engine, and TerraStar X technology in a variety of environments worldwide. Our goal is to develop a solution for mass-production that provides accurate and functionally safe positioning to enable the advancement of autonomy in the automotive industry.
NovAtel has demonstrated high-accuracy positioning performance using automotive-grade GNSS chipsets Teseo APP and Teseo V from STMicroelectronics. Combining automotive-grade multi-frequency GNSS chipsets with positioning algorithms and correction services from NovAtel improves the achievable positioning accuracy available to automotive users and provides a solution suitable for autonomous operation.
According to the company, these chipsets provide multi-frequency GNSS data for precise point positioning (PPP) and real-time kinematic (RTK) to enable accurate positioning capabilities. Teseo APP features built-in integrity checking for use in safety-critical systems, whereas Teseo V is used for non-safety-critical precise positioning applications.
The collaboration between the two companies is designed to reach car manufacturers and Tier 1 suppliers for future production models.
Test results: Horizontal position errors. Teseo V alone is shown in red, Teseo V + NovAtel in green. Test results: Horizontal cumulative error distribution. Teseo V alone is shown in red, Teseo V + NovAtel in green. (Chart: NovAtel)
Test results: Horizontal cumulative error distribution. Teseo V alone is shown in red, Teseo V + NovAtel in green. (Chart: NovAtel)
Driven Today. “STMicro is one of many chipset manufacturers coming to market with dual-frequency chipsets targeting the automotive sector,” said Jonathan Auld, VP Engineering and Safety Critical Systems for NovAtel. “We are taking advantage of their expertise in automotive measurement engines for high-volume, cost-effective reliable positioning. NovAtel brings high-precision algorithm expertise and integration with global corrections supplied by Hexagon Correction Services to this initiative.”
NovAtel’s positioning engine combines the GNSS measurements from these chipsets with inertial measurement unit (IMU) data and Hexagon Correction Services to deliver centimeter-level PPP positioning solutions in real time.
“Working closely with STMicroelectronics allowed us to innovate and drastically reduce time to market of our assured positioning solution tailored specifically for safe positioning of autonomous vehicles,” added Auld.
Comparison of GNSS Performance possible in automotive today (red), L1 automotive with corrections (green) and L1/L2 automotive with corrections (blue).
Driverless Tomorrow. “Precise absolute positioning is just one piece of the overall autonomous vehicle puzzle and must be done with safety and integrity concepts in mind.” Auld pointed to the partnership announced in 2016 between NovAtel, the Illinois Institute of Technology, and Stanford University to conduct leading-edge research to determine how GNSS technology can deliver a positioning solution that meets both the safety and accuracy requirements of autonomous automotive vehicles.
Previous research by academia and industry into GNSS integrity produced the successful WAAS program for aviation. The new work underway will extend the scope to include the autonomous ground vehicle use case. The research includes updated and expanded concepts for high-integrity carrier-phase algorithms as well as expanded threat models and safety monitors.
At the Automotive Tech.AD in Berlin, Auld added: “Today the primary use case for positioning in navigation is single-frequency GNSS, with up to 2 constellations, using narrowband RF and antennas, obtaining accuracy at the 1–2 meter level. This is primarily done with pseudorange-based positioning techniques, with some carrier-phase assistance. There are no functional safety standards, and so safety data is provided on the output solution.”
Autonomous Requirements. By contrast, he continued, autonomous operation will require lane-level and better accuracy: 3D centimeter to decimeter absolute positioning. This means multi-frequency, multi-constellation receivers and antennas to improve overall accuracy and increase available measurements. It will also require increased availability through sensor fusion with IMUs and other sensors. All of this must be brought together through a functionally safe development process targeted at ISO26262 Automotive Safety Integrity Level (ASIL) B.
Moving from meter to centimeter level position requires additional processing to handle all the added signals coming in; residual monitoring and observation exclusion, and carrier phase, “the key to centimeter-level positioning,” as opposed to code phase. The vehicle’s localization system must include enhanced positioning algorithms for multipath mitigation, a fast converging corrections network, enhanced Kalman Filters, and sophisticated sensor fusion.
Flexible Integration. NovAtel’s positioning engine architecture enables a flexible integration with different GNSS receiver chipsets, augmentation sensors and processor environments, providing automotive manufacturers with additional flexibility when it comes to sourcing of components and subsystems of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and autonomous driving solutions.
The positioning engine is being developed to ASIL-B standards and will include a proprietary GNSS integrity solution to ensure safe positioning within defined protection limits tailored to the customer’s application requirements.
NovAtel has integrated its high-precision positioning engine and correction services with automotive-grade multi-frequency GNSS chipsets from STMicroelectronics: specifically, the Teseo APP (Automotive Precise Positioning) and Teseo V.
The integration demonstrates possibilities for vehicle localization solutions. NovAtel is part of Hexagon’s Positioning Intelligence Division.
STMicroelectronics’s Teseo APP and Teseo V provide multi-frequency GNSS data for PPP (precise point positioning) and RTK (real-time kinematic) for accurate positioning capabilities.
The Teseo V SBAS and Teseo V NovAtel PPP tests took place in a light urban environment. (Image: NovAtel)
NovAtel’s positioning engine combines the GNSS measurements from these chipsets with inertial measurement unit (IMU) data and Hexagon PPP correction services on the demonstration platform to deliver centimeter-level PPP positioning solutions in real time.
“Working closely with STMicroelectronics using their Teseo APP chipset allowed us to innovate and speed up the development of our assured positioning solution tailored specifically for safe positioning of autonomous vehicles,” said Jonathan Auld, VP Engineering and Safety Critical Systems from NovAtel.
NovAtel’s positioning engine architecture enables a flexible integration with different GNSS receiver chipsets, IMUs and processor environments, providing automotive manufacturers with additional flexibility when it comes to selecting components and subsystems of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and autonomous driving solutions.
Test results: Horizontal position errors. Teseo V alone is shown in red, Teseo V + NovAtel in green. Test results: Horizontal cumulative error distribution. Teseo V alone is shown in red, Teseo V + NovAtel in green. (Chart: NovAtel)
Test results: Horizontal cumulative error distribution. Teseo V alone is shown in red, Teseo V + NovAtel in green. (Chart: NovAtel)
The positioning engine is being developed to ASIL-B standards according to ISO26262 and will include a proprietary GNSS integrity solution to ensure safe positioning within defined protection limits that are tailored to the customer’s application requirements.
“NovAtel’s choice of the automotive-quality ASIL-capable Teseo APP to integrate with their GNSS positioning engine is enabling them to develop a world-class safety-critical positioning offering to the automotive industry,” said Antonio Radaelli, Director, Infotainment Business Unit, STMicroelectronics.
NovAtel technology continues to be an integral part of the connected and autonomous car ecosystems, including academic research, industry development and real-life applications. The company’s automotive positioning solution includes automotive GNSS antenna technology, GNSS/INS positioning engine, and global correction services.
