u-blox, Bosch, Geo++ and Mitsubishi Electric are establishing the joint venture Sapcorda Services to bring high-precision GNSS positioning services to mass markets, including autonomous driving.
Bosch, Geo++, Mitsubishi Electric and u-blox have created Sapcorda Services GmbH, a joint venture that will bring high-precision GNSS positioning services to mass-market applications.
The four companies recognized that existing solutions for GNSS positioning services do not meet the needs of emerging high-precision GNSS mass markets.
As a result, they decided to join forces to facilitate the establishment of a worldwide available and affordable solution for system integrators, OEMs and receiver manufacturers. Each partner brings its unique expertise to the joint venture Sapcorda Services.
Sapcorda will offer globally available GNSS positioning services via internet and satellite broadcast and will enable accurate GNSS positioning at centimeter level. The services are designed to serve high-volume automotive, industrial and consumer markets.
The real-time correction data service will be delivered in a public, open format and is not bound to receiver hardware or systems. More information will be made available later this year.
“We believe this initiative with Bosch, Geo++ and Mitsubishi Electric to create Sapcorda Services will bring a truly disruptive GNSS service offering to the market,” said Daniel Ammann, executive VP and co-founder at u-blox. “Key characteristics such as security, safety and mass-scalability, coupled with an attractive business model and an open approach — serving all interested GNSS receiver manufacturers alike — will be a game-changer across a large number of established and emerging applications.”
“We are looking forward to collaborating with our partners in this joint venture,” said Jumana Al-Sibai, member of the executive management of the Chassis Systems Control division of Robert Bosch GmbH. “Together, we want to create a GNSS positioning service that fully supports the requirements for positioning sensors in the automotive sector. Only with built-in safety and the highest levels of precision will we be able to make automated driving reality.”
“Geo++ anticipates defining the future of high precision positioning services with our partners at Bosch, Mitsubishi Electric and u-blox. The combination of the partners’ longstanding leadership in automotive and mass market solutions with Sapcorda’s commitment to push open formats will pave the way for a raft of next generation GNSS applications,” said Gerhard Wübbena founder & president of Geo++.
“Mitsubishi Electric aims to create a border-less global market for high-precision positioning systems where receivers will be able to enjoy real-time correction data services potentially interoperable with the Japanese government’s Centimeter Level Augmentation Service (CLAS) via the Quasi-Zenith Satellite System,” said Masamitsu Okamura, executive officer in charge of Electronic Systems at Mitsubishi Electric Corporation. “We believe that this venture will accelerate adoption of automated driving and safe driving support.”
u-blox and SIM Technology Group Limited of Shanghai, China, have announced that u-blox will not be acquiring the SIMCom cellular module product line as previously planned.
Despite best efforts on the part of SIM Technology Group and u-blox, the companies could not close the deal as originally intended and were unable to find alternatives that worked for both while sustaining the intended benefits. Both parties have therefore decided to terminate the Asset Purchase Agreement and Technology Assignment Contract with all ancillary agreements.
“While we are disappointed that the deal has not come to fruition, u‑blox and SIM Technology Group Limited continue to have a good relationship and expect to find other ways of working together in the future,” said u-blox CEO Thomas Seiler.
“Our strategy for cellular products remains focused on growth,” Seiler said. “For some time now we have been working on adapting our product range to achieve a stronger geographical diversification mainly for the Asian markets, where we make 50 percent of our global revenue. The strong move to LTE based connectivity will naturally open new strategic windows. Our strong focus and investment in our own chipset development especially for IoT applications is a key part of our strategy. Our guidance indicates a continued strong growth.”
As a result of this situation, u-blox has revised its guidance figures for 2017 back to levels as provided on Jan.11, 2017, and foresees for FY 2017 continued growth in all regions expecting revenues of between CHF 410 and 425 million, with EBIT in the range of CHF 60 to 65 million.
V2X companies u‑blox, Commsignia and NXP Semiconductors announced a strategic collaboration to address the rapidly growing demand for reliable vehicle‑to‑vehicle (V2V) and vehicle‑to‑infrastructure (V2I) technology.
The adoption of V2X technology in North America and European markets equips new vehicles with the ability to securely and anonymously share information with other similarly equipped vehicles, infrastructure and even pedestrians within a radius of up to 1 km.
IEEE 802.11p V2X technology is the only proven and production ready technology today that can reliably see around corners, the companies said. V2X information will augment the awareness of drivers to improve safety, reduce congestion and emissions, thereby delivering real savings and benefits to all road users today and in the future for self-driving autonomous vehicles.
This collaboration builds on the strengths of all three companies to deliver substantial time-to-market advantages and benefits to automotive customers, with future-proof solutions that optimize investments and mitigate risks.
Automotive manufacturers are looking for ways to bring V2X to market now, ramping up to 100 percent implementation in new cars within the next five years. This collaboration between three of the market leaders will accelerate the adoption of V2X technology thanks to the availability of fully integrated hardware and software solutions in a fully‑fledged and secure (US DOT SCMS compliant) V2X system.
https://youtu.be/fyGDrtVbUOY
“This collaboration focuses on delivering production-ready Vehicle‑to‑Vehicle (V2V) and Vehicle‑to‑Infrastructure (V2I) systems like our V2X communication module,” said Costas Meimetis, director of product strategy, u-blox. “We are already present in the market through our THEO module family, this collaboration will strengthen our position and allow u‑blox to innovate faster, bringing new solutions to market starting. Our expertise and this collaboration means we are uniquely positioned to meet the increasing demand from automotive manufacturers, who must meet new legislation in key markets.”
“NXP’s status as a Dedicated Short‑Range Communication (DSRC) V2X technology leader, is a key reason u‑blox chose NXP’s RoadLINK solution, a complete automotive-grade 2 +105C ambient, V2X system solution with best‑in‑class performance to power their V2X module,” said Rob Hoeben, senior director, V2X segment. V2X is the only ADAS technology that operates in real-time, lowest latency and sees around corners, facilitating self-driving autonomous vehicles.
V2X, IEEE 802.11p-based, is complementary to 5G versions of V2X and both technologies are expected to co-exist for the foreseeable future. NXP has participated in several V2X demos and trials, including truck platooning, achieving short separation distances between trucks.
NXP’s RoadLINK solution, which is now in production with a major North American OEM, will help ensure the u-blox module can deliver accurate and reliable communications to and from a vehicle.
“Commsignia leads the market with the best end‑to‑end V2X software suite for connecting cars and smart city infrastructure,” said Jozsef Kovacs, CEO of Commsignia. “Combined with the NXP RoadLINK chipset and u‑blox module, automotive manufacturers can benefit from the enhanced performance of a secure and fully integrated solution to implement V2X technology in new vehicle designs, so taking the next step towards improving the safety and efficiency of our roads.”
u-blox, Commsignia and NXP, will be demonstrating live how this collaboration is enabling life-saving V2V applications at the TU-Automotive Detroit Conference and Expo June 7‑8. The demo entitled “Fast track to safe & secure V2X” will show the following use cases:
Positioning chip company u-blox is making available its latest automotive dead reckoning (ADR) firmware for navigation, Telematics, eCall and V2X applications for both OEM and after-market applications.
Firmware ADR4.10 offers real-time, low latency positioning at up to 30 Hz using a combination of multi-GNSS, inertial sensor and vehicle speed data. The release also offers simplified installation, improved accuracy in dense urban environments and new messages for eCall.
ADR4.10 is available now to OEMs using u-blox M8030-Kx-DR professional and automotive-grade chips. By the end of May, it will also be available on NEO-M8L ADR modules, including the new automotive-grade NEO-M8L-02A.
u-blox ADR products are backed by specialist support at local and regional centers.
Panasonic Corporation, in collaboration with u-blox, has launched a tablet-using centimeter-level RTK GNSS technology.
Toughpad, the newly born version of Panasonic’s professional grade notebooks family, is specifically designed for precision agriculture, machine control and robotic guidance applications in harsh environments and conditions. Embedded in the tablet is a u-blox NEO-M8 GNSS receiver module delivering high integrity and precision in demanding applications world-wide.
The Toughpad FZ uses a u-blox NEO-M8 GNSS receiver module. Photo: Panasonic
First successfully tested for collecting snow in Hokkaido, the Toughpad tablet uses Panasonic’s own satellite positioning technology combining a satellite radio receiver module, wireless WAN, and a single band real-time kinematic (RTK) GNSS receiver connected to an external antenna. The system enables high-precision positioning down to centimeter level in open sky conditions.
“We needed a high quality, reliable and robust GNSS module for this tablet designed to be used in rugged environments,” said Tetsuya Sakamoto, general manager, mobile solutions business division, development center at Panasonic Corporation. “The NEO-M8 from u-blox was therefore the right choice.”
“It was very exciting to collaborate with a market leader such as Panasonic in developing a product that would guarantee precise positioning for a wide range of professional applications,” said Tesshu Naka, country manager at u-blox Japan. “This implementation will support the global expansion of the high precision market where u-blox is a key player.”
Suresh Ram has been appointed president of u-blox America, a wholly owned subsidiary of u-blox AG, a Swiss wireless and positioning technology company.
Ram’s appointment takes effect immediately. He is responsible for sales, marketing, field applications and operations aimed at supporting the growing regional customer base.
“The Internet of Things presents enormous opportunities for wireless technology,” Ram said. “As this emerging and rapidly developing application space matures, my focus will be on further strengthening our market position, investing in our technology, streamlining our operations and building new partnerships.”
Most recently, Ram served as head of the Americas’ RF and Sensors Business Unit within Infineon Technologies, and senior director of Global Marketing for Fluke Corporation.
Ram will be assisted by Nikolaos Papadopoulos, who has been appointed to the new position of senior vice president of strategy. Together, the management team will continue to develop key markets for u-blox’s range of positioning and wireless products.
“I look forward to Mr Ram’s contribution to develop and lead new strategies for introducing the class-leading range of u-blox products to meet the emerging demands and opportunities within the industrial, automotive and consumer IoT markets,” said u-blox’s CEO Thomas Seiler.
The new appointments strengthen the position of u-blox in the Americas, with a key objective of supporting the long-term needs of its customers and their markets. The appointments will help the company meet its medium-term goal of becoming a leading Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity company.
Ram has worked in the semiconductor and automation industries in roles that include general management, marketing and leading engineering teams to develop products for wireless infrastructure, consumer, medical, industrial automation, test equipment, military and aerospace markets. He holds a master of business administration from Santa Clara University and master of science in electrical engineering from Clemson University, South Carolina.
Chip-maker u-blox is parntering with Digicom, a company that offers a wide range of hardware and software with cellular connectivity, to develop narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) products and solutions. Both companies have carried out a series of innovative and successful field trials of the new NB-IoT technology.
The announcement reflects u-blox’s and Digicom’s eagerness to meet pent-up demand for Low Power Wide Area (LPWA) connectivity, as delivered by NB-IoT technology, standardized by 3GPP in June 2016.
Digicom’s narrowband IoT GPS tracker has u-blox inside. Photo: u-box
The benefits of NB-IoT over other cellular radio technologies include lower device complexity, ultra‑low power operation and support for > 50 k devices per single cellular cell. As NB-IoT operates on networks within the licensed spectrum, it also offers greater security and freedom from interference.
It is therefore suitable for IoT and M2M applications requiring extremely low power consumption and better coverage even in shielded areas.
The collaboration is driven by a complementary business relationship between the two companies. Digicom offers innovative solutions for the industrial markets using NB-IoT, with a particular focus on connectivity solutions for Smart Cities, Smart Buildings, Industry 4.0 in general and the Automotive industry. Digicom platforms are designed for the protection of vehicles, people and pets, offer ultra low power consumption and several years operation in battery mode.
Embedded in Digicom’s products and solutions is for instance the u-blox SARA‑N2 NB-IoT module, which was announced in June 2016 as a cellular radio module compliant with 3GPP Release 13. Release 13 defined the NB-IoT cellular air interface standard, specifically targeting devices that need to communicate small amounts of data over long periods of time in hard-to-reach places.
“We have collaborated with u-blox for a long time and the quality and innovation of their modules enable us to develop cutting-edge products and solutions,” said Stefano Galzignato, business line manager at Digicom.
“We are excited to be part of this partnership, which showcases u‑blox as a global leader in developing NB‑IoT solutions for IoT applications,” said Stefano Moioli, u‑blox director of product management, cellular.
The partnership is expected to grow steadily alongside a rising demand for Digicom solutions for IoT markets.
Global navigation satellite system (GNSS) technology found its way into products ranging from autonomous vehicles to wearables at this year’s Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain.
One company says it is tailoring a GNSS receiver chip to meet the demands of mobile devices that require high levels of speed and position accuracy. Thalwil, Switzerland-based u-blox said its new low-power UBX-M8230-CT GNSS receiver chip can not only be used for smartwatch development, but for tracking people, animals and assets.
“The highlight of the chip is that it has much better balance, while maintaining the accuracy of a traditional, full-power receiver,” said Florian Bousquet, u-blox market development manager. “It can work in the most difficult urban canyon environments. It works well in sports watches, smartwatches, activity trackers and other wearables — and just about anything portable that has a battery.”
Bousquet said the chip, in what the company calls a Super-E mode, uses GPS with either GLONASS or BeiDou. This mode allows batching location data on the chip, which reduces power consumption, he said.
Bousquet said the chip is available now, in an evaluation kit, for around $120. He said the chip will be manufactured in volume this summer.
It took u-blox a year-and-a-half to develop the GNSS chip, Bousquet said. “It took time for our development team to optimize the system and field test the infrastructure to make sure the product performed in different scenarios and environments.”
Another company, Racelogic, exhibited its LabSat 3 Wideband GNSS simulator, which is used by u-blox and others to help test and develop products. Some applications include drones, autonomous vehicles, survey equipment, personal monitoring devices, aerospace and end-of-the-line product testing, the company said.
The newer L2C, L5 and L1C signals give companies the opportunity to develop products that are compatible with new receivers as they come to market, said Mark Sampson, LabSat product/sales manager.
The company also showed off its SatGen v3 simulator software that allows users to create a data file to be replayed on the LabSat GNSS simulator. The software allows companies to define a complicated route, and then import it into the software.
Company tests eCall and ERA-GLONASS modules
Both the European Union (EU) and Russian Federation are requiring governments to have intelligent telematics-based safety systems. In case of a serious accident, these systems automatically call for local medical services.
Technology to meet the requirements of eCall and ERA-GLONASS include an antenna, GNSS receiver, crash sensors and other components.
To reproduce end-to-end and standard-compliant testing of the eCall and ERA-GLONASS modules, Rohde & Schwarz offers two products. One is the CMW-KA094 eCall application software. The other is the CMW-KA095 extension for ERA-GLONASS to simulate a public safety answering point (PSAP) to emulate a cellular network in a lab.
“It’s pretty important testing because of the safety of life. We have set up implementation of it in our labs,” said Christian Hof, Rohde & Schwarz senior product manager for mobile radio testers.
CMW500 simulator by Rohde & Schwarz. Photo: Rohde & Schwarz
During testing, governments and companies can use the CMW500 platform, which identifies Internet of Things (IoT) and mobile communications devices’ IP connection security issues, Hof said.
The company believes, since many IoT platforms are proprietary as standardization is still in progress, security gaps are frequently reported.
Spirent rolls out new simulator
Spirent Communications displayed its Elevate IoT Device Test Solution, a new cellular test designed to support IoT applications. These applications include end-to-end cloud server connectivity, security-vulnerability assessment and battery-life measurement.
The new unit is available through the company’s Spirent Elevate platform, which addresses areas affected when designing 3G, LTE and new narrowband wireless technologies for IoT devices.
Overall, Spirent is finding many use cases and applications in the IoT and mobile industry.
“We are finding that smaller companies developing software and services want to test GNSS, but don’t have the capabilities to do so. These could include small projects such as people and pet trackers,” said Simon Loe, Spirent’s head of marketing solutions and services. “We are trying to democratize the technology. Another trend we are seeing is growing importance on GNSS in network timing.”
Not everything is about drab simulation. Far from it. Spirent last year teamed with Aston Martin Racing to evaluate automotive technologies on the 2016 V8 Vantage GTE race cars.
This includes the accuracy and performance of GPS receivers and interference monitoring, said Julian Kemp, Spirent product manager, custom solutions.
Antenna market for IoT, autonomous vehicles robust
Taoglas is offering GNSS antennas that support IoT products, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and future autonomous vehicles, said Ronan Quinlan, company co-founder.
The company is offering lightweight antennas for mass-market unmanned UAVs, which had a growing presence at Mobile World Congress this year.
The future markets for Taoglas will be in connected and autonomous vehicles, Quinlan said. “We found out years ago that we missed out on the rise of 2G, but we did not miss the rise of 4G. The advent of 5G and GNSS will lead to the development of the autonomous vehicle,” he said.
Antenna costs associated with the rise of autonomous vehicles will have to be reduced, Quinlan said. “Some antennas that were $100 solutions have to go down to $20 solutions once they get into a car,” he said.
In other Mobile World Congress news:
Fraunhofer IIS displayed its Enhanced Voice Services (EVS), the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) communication protocol designed specifically for voice over LTE (VoLTE) services.
Telit said it is expanding its relationship with Tele2 on Pan-European long-term evolution (LTE) IoT connectivity services. Telit and Tele2 now offer custom data plans with predictable pricing, no hidden fees or roaming charges for high bandwidth IoT applications, the company said. Services include video monitoring, digital signage or real-time asset tracking.
Handheld Group, a manufacturer of rugged mobile computers and tablets, has launched the Algiz 8X ultra-rugged tablet computer. The Algiz 8X is built for field workers who require a powerful, portable computer for mobile tasks.
The Algiz 8X offers GPS and GLONASS positioning via u-blox, along with an 8-inch projective capacitive touchscreen that is ultra-bright and built for outdoor use. Enabling glove mode or rain mode allows for operation in changing weather. The chemically strengthened glass survives an impact test in which a 64-gram steel ball is dropped on the screen 10 times from a height of 1.2 meters. The Algiz 8X also comes with an optional active capacitive stylus.
“The new Algiz 8X is the most compact and ergonomic Windows tablet we have ever developed,” said Johan Hed, director of product management.”We’ve pushed the limits of modern field technology with this product, fulfilling customers’ needs for powerful computing, mobility, outstanding screen performance and battery life. We made no compromises.”
Built-in features
The Algiz 8X rugged Windows tablet by Handheld Group. Photo: Handheld Group
The Algiz 8X comes standard with Windows 10 Enterprise LTSB to meet the needs of enterprise customers who value long-term stability. Other features include:
u-blox GPS and GLONASS
WLAN a/b/g/n/ac
BT 4.2 LE
A rear-facing 8 MP camera with autofocus and LED flash
4G/LTE
Expansion options
The Algiz 8X offers LAN port, COM port or barcode scanner options. It also features a “backpack” system that allows users to add custom features and electronics.
Ruggedness
The Algiz 8X is rigorously tested for use in tough outdoor and industrial environments. It’s IP65-rated for dust and water ingression and meets stringent MIL-STD-810G military standards for:
Operating temperature: -20°C to 60°C (-4°F to 140°F) — Method 501.5, Procedure II
Storage temperature: -40°C to 70°C (-40°F to 158°F) — Method 501.5/502.5, Procedure I
Drops: 26 drops from 1.22 meters (4 feet) — Method 516.6, Procedure IV
Vibration: Method 514.6, Procedures I & II
Humidity: 0-95% (non-condensing) — Method 507.5
Altitude: 4,572 meters (15,000 feet) — Method 500.5, Procedure I
Orders can be placed immediately. Units will be in stock in March 2017.
The untethered 3D dead-reckoning GNSS module NEO-M8U by u-blox is at the core of Navilock’s new GNSS receiver series for service vehicles. The new portfolio will enable retrofitting of dead-reckoning and untethered dead-reckoning (UDR) technology in any vehicle.
Photo: Navilock
Combining multi-GNSS (GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo) with an onboard 3D gyro/accelerometer, the untethered dead-reckoning technology improves position accuracy even where GNSS signals are weak or unavailable, such as in urban canyons, tunnels or parking garages. Receivers with a serial MD6 interface can work in an extended voltage range from 5-48 Volt DC.
Applications for Navilock’s new GNSS receiver series include service vehicles from the police, fire departments, emergency physicians, disaster rescue teams and technical aid organizations that require accurate positioning at all times. Operational forces and their control centers must be constantly aware of their location to enable successful completion of any assignment. As a result, physical dangers and even life threats are clearly minimized.
“We have been collaborating for years with u-blox and highly respect the quality and reliability of its products,” says Karsten Reschke, Navilock product manager. “Particularly critical for our product range is the UDR technology that enables reliable and accurate location capability even without satellite navigation signals.”
“We are pleased to be associated with the Navilock brand and the quality and design reliability it represents,” says Andrew Miles, u-blox product manager. “The ease of use and robust packaging of these products perfectly enable the value of UDR in its target applications.”
Launched in 2016, the u-blox NEO-M8U enables reliable positioning even in case of GNSS signal interruptions, jamming, reflected or weak signals, and is independent of any connection to the car, other than power.
The eight new Navilock GNSS receivers will be available in Q1 2017.
The u-blox ZOE-M8Q is designed for wearables, UAVs and asset trackers. Photo: U-blox
U-blox has launched a new positioning module, the ZOE-M8G. The ZOE-M8G is an ultra-compact GNSS receiver module designed for markets where small size, minimal weight and high location precision are essential.
ZOE-M8G offers exceptionally high location accuracy by concurrently connecting to GPS, Galileo and either GLONASS or BeiDou. It also provides -167 dBm navigation sensitivity, important for wearable devices, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and asset tracker applications.
The new u-blox ZOE-M8G helps simplify product designs, because it is a fully integrated, complete GNSS solution with built-in SAW-filter and Low Noise Amplifier (LNA). It can be used with passive antennas without the need for additional components, and doesn’t compromise performance.
The ZOE-M8G GNSS module measures 4.5 x 4.5 x 1.0 millimeters. Due to its small size, a complete GNSS design using a ZOE-M8G module takes approximately 30 percent less printed circuit board (PCB) area compared to a conventional discrete chip design with a CSP chip GNSS receiver.
“When you’re designing products such as smart watches, fitness trackers, asset trackers, UBI dongles and even drones, every square millimeter and every gram counts. The u-blox ZOE-M8G makes it significantly easier for product designers to achieve precise location tracking while keeping within their strict form factor and weight restrictions,” said Uffe Pless, product marketing, Positioning Product Center at u-blox.
Samples of the u-blox ZOE-M8G will be available in February 2017, and volume production will start in October 2017.
The GNSS market landscape is expanding due to the rapid growth of GNSS-enabled wearables and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) coupled with new innovation opportunities around low-cost precision GNSS, according to ABI Research’s latest GNSS IC vendor report.
In its latest GNSS IC vendor competitive analysis, ABI Research determines Broadcom and Qualcomm remain the two top IC vendors for the fourth year in a row with a mere two points separating MediaTek in third from u-blox in fourth.
New threats emerge to shake up the landscape in the years ahead, though, with CEC Huada and Samsung now companies to watch, the report said.
“MediaTek and u-blox once again swapped places,” said Patrick Connolly, Principal Analyst at ABI Research. “U-blox had another stellar year financially and, along with Skytraq, led the way on low-cost precision GNSS with its NEO-M8P module. MediaTek, which showed significant success in wearables and smartphones, transitioned back to third place primarily due to growing market share.”
Broadcom and Qualcomm remain the two top GNSS IC vendors. Within the past year, Broadcom spurred more headlines with its wearables success and its initial work on L1/L5 dual-frequency receivers. Qualcomm continues to lead in total GNSS shipments, as well as innovative new technologies like LED/VLC and LTE Direct, according to the report. Its partnership with Baidu on its IZat platform is also notable and represents the beginning of the era of “always on, ubiquitous location technologies.”
But the incumbents are not the only players to watch in this evolving market. CEC Huada and Samsung sit poised to instill great change in the market landscape, as their innovation over the past 12 months serves to prove.
“CEC Huada developed single frequency RTK GPS, as well as BDS receivers and INS/MEMS receivers, which the company released to select customers in 2016,” Connolly said. “And it is now developing a dual frequency BDS receiver and a receiver for IRNSS. Samsung, meanwhile, launched its first embedded GNSS solution, the Exynos CPU chipset. Given its presence across so many GPS-enabled consumer electronic devices, the company looks set to be a major disruptor in the coming years.”
