Författare: admin

ASENSING, a Chinese positioning solutions company for autonomous vehicles, is ready to provide its navigation systems globally. The company already has more than 500,000 autonomous vehicles integrated with its navigation systems and is discussing global product expansion with major Western brands.

ASENSING is the first in series production of an automotive solution that combines IMU and GNSS, enabling it to develop an algorithm to maintain navigation accuracy at various temperatures. Its positioning solutions are designed for autonomous driving at L2 level and above and meet functional safety requirements.

ASENSING has received nominations from more than 20 OEMs to provide solutions for more than 70 vehicle models. Additionally, the company has partnerships with traditional brands such as SAIC, Geely, and Chery, as well as with new energy vehicle makers, including XPeng, Li Auto, and NIO.

The company has three global branches, in the United States, Germany, and Japan with plans to launch more smart plants in east and south China to accommodate for an influx of orders. ASENSING will exhibit its mass-produced positioning solutions at the Consumer Technology Association’s Consumer Electronics Show 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

On Dec. 20, u-blox banned the use of its GNSS modules in military UAVs in the war between Russia and Ukraine. The company had become aware that its GNSS modules were being used in certain Russian reconnaissance UAVs and stated that this use was against company policy.

U-blox obtained media reports that Russia had stocked up on components in anticipation of war, then integrated products from the company in UAVs it manufactured after attacking Ukraine.

After Russia began its invasion of Ukraine, the company halted all sales to Russia, Russian territories, and Russian-occupied areas, as it intends its GNSS modules and other products to be used only commercially. U-blox company policy bans the use of its products in weapons, including systems for target identification.

U-blox is investigating the infringement of its policy and plans to take legal action if it has been violated. The company also condemns the invasion of Ukraine by Russian forces.

On Dec. 22, Hexagon AB announced its acquisition of LocLab, a German company that specializes in 3D digital twin content creation. LocLab will operate as a part of Hexagon’s Geosystems division.

This acquisition, which began as a partnership, strengthens Hexagon’s ability to make its Smart Digital Reality, a 3D hub for data management and information, more accessible to new and existing users while giving LocLab’s users a platform to host, share and keep 3D digital twins up to date.

LocLab’s toolchain leverages several data input formats such as terrestrial videogrammetry, survey data and point clouds, but only requires photos or videos. Hexagon is integrating LocLab’s 3D digital content with its HxDR cloud-based storage, visualization, and collaboration platform. This integration drives HxDR’s expansion as a digital reality platform into the transportation, construction and urban planning industries.

The integration of HxDR and LocLab’s capabilities strengthens Hexagon’s reality capture and software portfolio while offering LocLab global scalability opportunities through Hexagon’s sales and partner network.

On Dec. 20, the Linux Foundation announced its AgStack Project, which will host an open-source code base, along with a fully automated, continuous computation engine that will maintain a global dataset of boundaries for agricultural fields. The AgStack Asset Registry dataset will aid food traceability, carbon tracking, crop production, and other field-level analytics.

This ‘registry’ is designed to continuously update using data from satellites and real field registrations that contain boundary information, which will train machine learning models to ascertain more boundaries, among other capabilities.

Agricultural datasets are rarely public information. By using computer science and artificial intelligence (AI), users can create global field boundaries as a digital open source for public use, which can help farmers, agricultural companies, and the public manage crop production, study management practices, assess levels of productivity, monitor the spread of pests and diseases and more.

The AgStack project seeks to enable all types of agricultural data and services by combining computing and AI expertise with a global network of partners in an open-source software system. All code is being contributed under an open-source license and will be governed by the AgStack community, within the Linux Foundation.

Point One’s FusionEngine software, which is rated for automotive safety integrity level (ASIL), is now compatible with STMicroelectronics’ Teseo ASIL Precise Positioning GNSS chipset (TeseoAPP). This assures functional safety as ASIL-B, a requirement for Level 3+ advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS).

FusionEngine can be integrated into several different host processors that are used for enabling high level ADAS and autonomous driving systems. The combination of TeseoAPP’s receiver and the STA5365S external RF front-end provides dual-band measurement data for all visible GNSS satellites to the main host processor into which FusionEngine is integrated.

FusionEngine software is a precise location solution for automotive applications. For accuracy and to ensure the safety and integrity required for high level autonomous vehicles it combines data from multiple sensors, including the TeseoAPP multi-band GNSS receiver. It also enables developers to complete the functional safety concept phase for host system software integration.

On Dec. 20, Hexagon announced a partnership to integrate its software positioning engine and correction services with ZF Group’s ProConnect connectivity platform. This will enable vehicle communication in advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and autonomous driving systems.

This integration is critical to providing the necessary functional safety, lane-level positioning accuracy and automotive safety integrity level (ASIL) rating that ZF’s automotive telematics platform requires. Hexagon’s TerraStar-X precise point positioning correction service will greatly improve the accuracy and reliability of ADAS and autonomous driving systems.

Hexagons’ dual frequency and multi-constellation GNSS receivers are tightly coupled with inertial capabilities that withstand vehicle dynamics in all driving conditions.

Both companies are focused on the next generation of mobility, including electric vehicles and autonomous systems, and this partnership helps advance safety and automation in the automotive and transportation industry. Hexagon and ZF plan to demonstrate their ADAS at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas in January 2023.

On Nov. 18, the European Space Agency (ESA) announced a Navigation Innovation and Support Programme (NAVISP) partnership with Italy’s Grimaldi Group, as the need for accurate maritime navigation increases. With the Grimaldi Group, NAVISP has taken on the Grimaldi Satellite-Assisted Berthing (GSAB) project, which aims to develop a satellite-based guidance system for docking maneuvers of large vessels.

NAVISP’s GSAB project will use satellite-based multi-sensor technology to improve the efficiency of maneuvers in ports to increase safety while also reducing CO₂ emissions. Maritime navigation is too complex for GPS and Galileo alone, so, by fusing those two systems with PNT sensors, the project can achieve its intended outcome.

The project is divided into two phases. In the first phase, NAVISP is working on design, development activities, installation of the sensors in a roll-on, roll-off vessel, and running a test readiness campaign. The second phase includes field tests with the equipped ship in the Grimaldi facilities in the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, Europe’s second largest seaport.

Shipping transport is responsible for more than 80% of goods traded globally, and the Grimaldi Group is one of the largest shipping companies globally with more than 130 ships. As the need for efficient and safe ship transport in and out of ports grows, NAVISP continues to support innovation to improve satellite navigation and positioning systems in the maritime sector, according to ESA.

One of several derivative branches from unmanned air vehicles and their technologies is electric aircraft and air-taxis. Referred to as eVTOL (electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing), a class of manned and unmanned aircraft is being developed and certified for short-hop passenger transit from down-town ‘Verti-Ports’ to classic airports, aimed at improving the economics and reducing the noise footprint of current helicopter services. Urban air transport is undergoing significant change as organizations such as United Airlines, Delta, American Airlines and others plow money into electric aircraft and the development of manned and unmanned air-taxis.

Archer Aviation is developing two such aircraft, with ‘Maker’ being the first cut flying test-bed, and ‘Midnight’ its so called ‘first production version.’ The vehicle design is similar in that they both have wings and are powered by six lift propellers and six tilting props that rotate vertically to lift for take-off and landing, then transition to horizontal for forward flight.

In the past, Archer has been somewhat secretive about its air-taxi program, but with the introduction of Midnight on Nov. 17, and with Maker achieving transition from hover to forward flight on Nov. 20, they released some useful information. Lift to forward transition is a big step for eVTOL, with the potential for a major set-back, almost like an irrecoverable stall for a fixed wing aircraft.

There are six battery ‘packs’ mounted in the wing near the engines – batteries, engines and FAA certification are key focal areas in their program, with fault tolerance and endurance being key considerations. An existing lithium battery has been selected following extensive testing, with a design objective of 10,000 average 20 mile trips, each trip with a 10 minute recharge cycle.  Two similar electric motor types are used, with 95% commonality, and flight can allegedly be maintained through one complete engine or propeller failure. Each engine has redundant elements allowing one side to fail while still maintaining full operation. All these redundancies support the Archer plan for FAA certification which has now progressed through ‘Certification Basis’ and ‘Conceptual Design’ to ‘Preliminary Design’. There are many steps still to complete, with certification not anticipated until at least the second half of 2024.

Meanwhile, Joby Aviation has been making significant progress with its flying prototype and pre-production aircraft, with the objective of developing a flying rideshare platform. With space for four passengers and a pilot, the Joby aircraft is smaller than the Archer vehicle, however smaller size means less weight and complexity and requires fewer lift props. The Joby vehicle has six large props that all transition from vertical for take-off and landing to horizontal for full forward flight.

Joby developed its own lithium-iron batteries and dual redundant electric motors and while developing flying prototype and pre-production aircraft, has also focused on teaming with key industrial partners who are assisted in key areas:

• NASA has undertaken a study with Joby on 5 potential route configurations at Dallas/Fort-Worth airport for eVTOL traffic.
• The US Department of Defence has provided flight range and facilities to enable airborne testing of the Joby prototypes. This contract has just been modified so that US Marine Corps personnel may flight test Joby’s eVTOL to evaluate DoD use-cases for the aircraft.
• The company ‘Uber Elevate’ was purchased by Joby and is now integrated as the future provider of trip access for customers.
• Toyota has not only invested in Joby, but is providing essential production facility knowledge and guidance as Joby begins its initial build out of volume manufacturing.
• Delta has invested an initial $60 million, which could increase to $200 million provided progress towards certification and service entry meets certain milestones

Other eVTOL notable companies entering this market include Jaunt Air Mobility in Dallas, Texas; Velocopter in Bruschal, Germany; Lilium in Munich, Germany; Kittyhawk in California; Wisk in California and New Zealand; Airbus in Toulouse, France; Ehang in Guangzhow, China; Vertical Aerospace in Bristol, England; Urban Aeronautics in Tel Aviv, Israel; and Eve Mobility in Melbourne Florida.

So, just a small taste of two of many eVTOL hopefuls – but two with the backing of mainline commercial airlines – who knows who will actually make it through the arduous and expensive aviation certification process before the cash runs out? However, there are many significant investors who are currently standing by their selected hopefuls and others continue to jump in – let’s hope that by 2025 we’ll begin to see home-airport air-taxi services underway.

Tony Murfin

GNSS Aerospace

The Copernicus Precise Orbit Determination (CPOD) Service, in charge of computing precise orbits for the Copernicus Sentinel-1, -2, -3 and -6 missions,  routinely publishes GNSS and quaternions data and precise orbital products of these missions on the POD Data Hub of the Copernicus Open Access Hub.

The following products are published:

1. Sentinel-1, 2, 3 A&B GNSS RINEX observation files (AUX_GNSSRD)
2. Sentinel-1, 2, 3 A&B Quaternions files (AUX_PROQUA)
3. Sentinel-1 A&B CPOD Predicted Orbits (AUX_PREORB)
4. Sentinel-1 A&B CPOD Restituted Orbits (AUX_RESORB)
5. Sentinel-1 A&B CPOD Precise Orbits (AUX_POEORB)
6. Sentinel-3 A&B CPOD Restituted Orbits (SR___ROE_AX)
7. Sentinel-3 A&B CPOD Medium Orbit (AUX_RESORB)
8. Sentinel-3 A&B CPOD Precise Orbits (AUX_POEORB)
9. Sentinel-3 A&B CPOD Precise Platform data (AUX_PRCPTF)

The following new products from Sentinel-3 and Sentinel-6 are now available as well. The Sentinel-6A GNSS RINEX observations include GPS and Galileo data — the first publicly available Galileo data obtained from an orbiting receiver.

1. Sentinel-3A&B CNES Medium Orbit Ephemeris (SR___MDO_AX)
2. Sentinel-3A&B CNES Precise Orbit Ephemeris (SR___POE_AX)
3. Sentinel-6A CNES Medium Orbit Ephemeris (AX____MOED_AX)
4. Sentinel-6A CNES Precise Orbit Ephemeris (AX____POE__AX)
5. Sentinel-6A CPOD Restituted Orbit Ephemeris (AX____ROE__AX)
6. Sentinel-6A GNSS RINEX observation files (AUX_GNSSRD)
7. Sentinel-6A Quaternions files (AUX_PROQUA)

The GNSS RINEX (AUX_GNSSRD) and Quaternions files (AUX_PROQUA), together with the final orbital products (AUX_POEORB, AUX_PRCPTF, SR___POE_AX, and AX____POE__AX) are available at the beginning of each mission.

The other orbital products (AUX_RESORB, SR___ROE_AX, SR___MDO_AX, AX____MOED_AX, and AX____ROE__AX) are available for at least one month, until the final products are available.

The typical accuracy of the orbital products can be found in the Regular Service Reviews carried out by the CPOD Service quarterly.

Details about these products can be found in the POD Product Handbook.

Auxiliary data needed for precise orbit determination, such as maneuvering information, can be found in the Sentinel online:

Please send questions to mailto:eosupport@copernicus.esa.int.

A roundup of recent products in the GNSS and inertial positioning industry from the December 2022 issue of GPS World magazine.

---

AUTONOMOUS

Flight Controller

Turns a UAV into a connected autonomous system

Skynode reference-design hardware is built with Remote ID in mind, enabling UAV users to comply with the FCC rule Remote Identification of Unmanned Aircraft (Part 89). A built-in connectivity stack with 4G, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi enables automatic real-time data transmission from the UAV to the cloud. Built on open standards, Skynode is flexible and extensible, allowing users to leverage a variety of compatible software and hardware components. The connections enable automatic sending of logs, images and real-time video streams from the field to remote experts.

Auterion, auterion.com

Heavy-Lift UAV

Can carry 440-pound payload 25 miles

The VoloDrone is a fully electric, heavy-lift utility UAV with a range of up to 25 mi carrying a carrying a 440-lbs payload. The rotor area has a diameter of 30 ft, and the vehicle is 7.5 ft high. It can be remotely piloted or can fly autonomously on preset routes. Loads can be carried between the legs of the landing gear on standard rack mounts or slung below, or a tank and sprayer could be fitted for agricultural applications. The 18-rotor multicopter platform uses swappable lithium-ion batteries and an in-house flight control system, and benefits from existing development and test of the Volocopter air-taxi.

Volocopter, volocopter.com

Mapping UAV

Maps areas greater than 20,000 hectares

With a wingspan of 4.20 m, the BOREAL NRM remotely piloted aircraft integrates efficient photogrammetry devices for mapping large areas, even in areas inaccessible to traditional mapping aircraft. Its flight-control system is designed for image-capture management and optimal coverage of areas greater than 20,000 ha. The BOREAL NRM offers an overall and precise view of cultivated areas (1 cm to 3 cm per pixel), simplifying crop monitoring and facilitating human intervention in places that require it (such as water stress, treatment of pests).

Boreal, www.boreal-uas.com

ISR System

Developed for the Spanish Ministry of Defense

The IRIS unmanned vehicle command-and-control system provides intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) interoperability — essential aspects of any military operation. The IRIS system integrates unmanned vehicles with other command-and-control systems for monitoring and gathering information for a variety of operational scenarios. IRIS uses each unmanned vehicle’s own communication systems and 5G technology to provide situational awareness for decision makers before and during operations. A simplified interface allows integration of sensors and platforms into a command-and-control network, providing interoperability with other command, control, communication and computer ISR (C4ISR) systems. IRIS performed well during NATO’s REPMUS 22 (Robotic Experimentation and Prototyping Augmented by Maritime Unmanned Systems) exercise in September.

GMV, gmv.com

Docking Station

Sends UAVs to complete missions

The AtlasNEST UAV system features a docking station to provide fully autonomous 24/7 readiness for infrastructure inspections, emergency situations and security missions requiring shared situational awareness and management. Using the AtlasSTATION interface, an operator sets a target destination, and the lightweight UAV deploys in less than three minutes. Sending a drone to collect visual data and reveal possible problems can help prevent putting personnel in unsafe circumstances. AtlasNEST has built-in artificial-intelligence technologies, including autonomous battery swapping. Using the AtlasSDK, AtlasNEST can be incorporated into current security systems.

Atlas, atlasuas.com

Line Painter

Robot built to paint lines on athletic fields

Turf Tank is an autonomous, GNSS-guided line-marking robot built specifically to paint lines on athletic fields. More than 550 Turf Tank robots are deployed across the United States, painting athletic fields at public schools, major colleges and universities, amateur and professional soccer clubs, local parks and recreation departments, and at two National Football League stadiums. The Turf Tank robots can paint a full soccer field in less than 30 minutes, compared to two or three hours for manual painting. Similarly, the robot can paint a football field in two or three hours compared to eight to 10 hours to paint a football field. The robots are eco-friendly — they’re powered by rechargeable batteries and use far less paint than most older paint machines.

Turf Tank, turftank.com

UAS Package

Takes users through project lifecycle

The Autel EVO II Pro Series combines Carlson’s software and hardware surveying and mapping solutions with a UAV from Autel Robotics. The Carlson suite is designed to take professionals throughout a project’s lifecycle: setting ground control points with the Carlson BRx7 GNSS receiver and RT4 data collector with SurvPC field software, the drone flight, PC photo and data processing, and creating finished plans in CAD.

Carlson Software, carlsonsw.com; Autel Robotics, autelrobotics.com

---

OEM

GPS Add-On Board

Provides PNT to design engineers

The GPS 5 Click is a compact add-on board that provides users with positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) services. The board features the M20050-1, a GPS module using the MediaTek MT3333 flash chip and an Antenova GNSS receiver for optimum performance. The receiver tracks three GNSS constellations concurrently (GPS + Galileo + GLONASS or GPS + Galileo + BeiDou) and has configurable low-power modes operating from a 3.3V power supply. In addition to the possibility of using an external antenna, backup power, and various visual indicators, the M20050-1 has an accurate 0.5 ppm TXCO ensuring short time-to-first-fix and multipath algorithms that improve position accuracy in urban environments.

MikroElektronika, mikroe.com

Timing Modules

Support for concurrent L1 and L5 reception

Modules GT-100, GT-9001 and GT-90 are time-synchronization GNSS receiver modules compatible with all GNSS systems. The three modules deliver nanosecond precision for 5G mobile systems, radio communications systems, smart power grids and grandmaster clocks. Each suits different applications based on supported frequency bands and output signals. GT-100 supports concurrent L1 and L5 reception and delivers three outputs including 1 pulse per second (1 PPS) synchronized with UTC as well as user-programmable frequencies. The outputs can be set to 10 MHz, 2.048 MHz and 19.2 MHz, reducing time to market and saving costs through reduced component needs. GT-9001 supports L1 and delivers high-stability 1PPS and programmable clocks on three channels. GT-90 supports L1 and provides a 1 PPS high stability output. All models have time stability of 4.5 ns (1 sigma) and are equipped with multipath mitigation to minimize degradation of performance in urban areas.

Furuno Electric Co., furuno.com

Firmware Update

Adds QZSS CLAS to ZED-F9R GNSS module

The latest firmware update for the u-blox ZED-F9R high-precision GNSS module adds support for Japan’s QZSS CLAS correction services (ZED-F9R-03B). The ZED-F9R also now supports u-blox SPARTN 2.0 correction data.

u-blox, u-blox.com

Smart Antenna

Has L-band, IP capability

The TW5390 smart antenna has IP network and L-band augmentation service capability. Along with a Tallymatics antenna, it has a high-precision u-blox F9R GNSS receiver and DS9 L-band receiver modules. The combination delivers a reliable and convenient smart antenna yielding <6-cm accuracy, with precise point positioning/real-time kinematic (PPP/RTK) augmentation services via the PointPerfect subscription service. The antenna provides superior multipath rejection with Tallysman Accutenna technology, a low noise amplifier, Tallysman’s eXtended Filtering (XF) technology, which mitigates saturation from nearby RF signals (targeting LTE and Ligado), a tight, measured phase-center offset and low axial ratio, enabling accurate and precise positioning, direct decoding of PointPerfect, SPARTN formatted augmentation packets (u-blox specific)

Tallymatics, tallymatics.com

GNSS Modem

Tracking enables potential applications and projects

The Lembas LTE/GNSS USB modem provides plug-and-play GNSS tracking as well as LTE and CAT4 network connectivity via a robust USB interface to a variety of small-board computers utilizing the ARM chipset. Through a single-command setup process, users can have GNSS access to a wide variety of projects. The modem has been tested with Raspberry Pi Model B, Odroid XU4 and N2, ASUS Tinker Board, and NVIDIA Jetson Nano.

TE Connectivity, te.com

---

MACHINE CONTROL

Site Supervisor System

Base/rover system provides 3D grade control

The universal construction site supervisor system is designed to help contractors manage all their job site activities. It includes the SiteMetrix Grade and the multi-frequency, multi-GNSS F631 RTK base and rover. SiteMetrix is user friendly, easy to understand and portable. Contractors can use the Futtura system to localize sites, check grade, configure base stations, set stakes and calculate volumes of material removed. Users will see the benefit of seamlessly performing data collection and layout, all in one easy-to-use application, the company says. The F631 GNSS receiver is powered by SureFix RTK technology, which offers a real-time dual-solution point verification. The F631 GNSS receiver is powered by Hemisphere GNSS’ Athena RTK technology. With Athena, F631 provides state-of-the-art RTK performance when receiving corrections from a static base station or network RTK correction system. With multiple connectivity options, the F631 allows for RTK corrections to be received over radio, cell modem, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or serial connection. F631 delivers centimeter-level accuracy with virtually instantaneous initialization times and robustness in challenging environments.

Futtura, futturaus.com

Cab Displays

Provide connectivity for the field

The Trimble GFX-1060 and GFX-1260 next-generation displays for precision agriculture applications enable farmers to complete in-field operations quickly and efficiently while also mapping and monitoring field information in real time with precision. Both displays feature an Android-based operating system and enhanced processing power for controlling and executing in-field work. The new flagship GFX-1260 is a 12-in (30.5 cm) display, while the GFX-1060 is a 10-in (25.6 cm) display, and both are compatible with the Trimble NAV-500 and NAV-900 GNSS guidance controllers. The displays are ISOBUS-compatible, which allows one display or terminal to control ISOBUS implements, regardless of manufacturer. The displays enable farmers to set up and configure their equipment through Trimble’s Precision-IQ field software, including manual guidance, assisted and automated steering, application controls, mapping and data logging, equipment profiles and camera feeds from attached inputs and other internet-based apps.

Trimble, trimble.com

Retrofit Kit

Enables affordable smart construction upgrades for fleets

The Smart Construction Retrofit kit turns a conventional Komatsu excavator “smart” with 3D guidance and payload monitoring. With a kit installed, an operator is no longer required to set up a laser or bench every time the machine moves. The kit’s GNSS receiver determines where a machine is on the job site and what the target grade is. The need for additional labor is reduced because the technology collects and delivers information directly to the operator. Designed to improve grading performance and provide more time- and cost-management tools, Smart Construction Retrofit kits can bring 3D to most Komatsu excavators in a fleet. The kit gives operators the latest design data, measures payload volumes and load counts, and allows managers to monitor production from the office by integrating Smart Construction applications. The payload meter helps prevent overloading trucks by promoting proper loading weights for on- and off-road vehicles, to reduce the potential for equipment damage and other risks.

Komatsu, komatsu.com

Precision Guidance

Entry-level system for farmers

The SAgro10 GNSS is an upgradeable entry-level guidance system for precision agriculture, which can be easily upgraded to the SAgro100 automatic steering system. Equipped with a high-precision GNSS module, the SAgro10 tracks all constellations. For users with network coverage or a UHF base station, the SAgro10 system provides centimeter-level accuracy navigation in real-time kinematic mode. In the absence of base stations, it can still provide sub-meter navigation accuracy in single-point smoothing mode. The system is compatible with most agricultural tractors and can be installed in 15 minutes. It supports a 10-in sunlight-readable touchscreen with a clear graphic interface. The SAgro10 software can intelligently manage the work area and simplify user operations, such as recording the completed work area and planning the work route.

SingularXYZ, singularxyz.com