Courtesy of u-blox
Thalwil, Switzerland – February 22, 2018 – u‑blox (SIX:UBXN), a global leader in wireless and positioning modules and chips, has announced the u‑blox F9 technology platform, delivering high precision positioning solutions for mass market industrial and automotive applications. The platform combines multi‑band Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) technology with dead reckoning, high precision algorithms, and compatibility with a variety of GNSS correction data services to achieve precision down to the centimeter level. u‑blox F9 paves the way for the next generation of high precision navigation, augmented reality, and unmanned vehicles.
“High precision is the next frontier in positioning for mass markets, with countless applications in need of a robust and scalable high precision positioning solution. u‑blox F9 provides the hardware and integrated software components to address these needs,” says Daniel Ammann, Executive Director Positioning Product Development, Product Center Positioning at u‑blox.
High precision positioning
Centimeter‑level accuracy by combining RTK technology and u blox GNSS expertise
High precision positioning can be achieved by combining Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), such as GPS, GLONASS, Galileo and BeiDou, with Real Time Kinematics (RTK) technology. RTK is a technique that uses the receiver’s measurements of the phase of the satellite signal’s carrier wave. These measurements combined with corrections from a local or virtual base station allow the receiver to solve carrier ambiguities and provide centimeter level accurate position information to the end user, typically a moving device referred to as the rover.
The demand for scalable high precision technology is growing rapidly, as evident in the automotive world with next generation HUD and V2X applications, and in robotics with applications such as UAVs and robotic lawnmowers.
However, due to the complexity, size, power, and cost restrictions, existing high precision solutions have been unable to meet the demands of these markets.
Building on the success of our NEO M8P high precision GNSS module series and drawing on our extensive experience in GNSS positioning technologies, including dead reckoning, multi‑band, Real Time Kinematics, and GNSS correction services, we’ve created the u‑blox F9 platform. The platform delivers the next level of scalable GNSS high precision technology, which will pave the path for new navigation applications such as augmented reality and unmanned vehicle navigation.
The u‑blox F9 platform will underpin the next wave of u‑blox positioning modules targeting mass market industrial and automotive applications. It uses GNSS signals in multiple frequency bands (L1/L2/L5) to correct positioning errors caused by the ionosphere and deliver fast time to first fix (Fast TTFF). Its ability to receive signals from all GNSS constellations (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, Beidou) further improves performance by increasing the number of satellites that are visible at any given time. Stand‑alone u‑blox F9 solutions robustly achieve meter‑level accuracy.
To achieve centimeter‑level accuracy, u‑blox F9 offers optional on‑chip Real Time Kinematic (RTK) technology. In addition to offering an open interface to legacy GNSS correction service providers, it supports the main GNSS correction services, taking RTK high precision positioning to mass markets for the first time.
Optimized for low power consumption, the u‑blox F9 platform sets a high standard for security with built‑in jamming and spoofing detection systems that protect against intentional and unintentional interference. Dead reckoning technology based on inertial sensors extends high precision performance to otherwise challenging urban environments.
Automotive applications of the technology include lane level navigation for head‑up displays and vehicular infotainment systems as well as for vehicle‑to‑everything (V2X) communication, a prerequisite for highly automated and fully autonomous vehicles.
In the industrial realm, u‑blox F9 will enable mass adoption of commercial unmanned vehicle applications including drones and ground vehicles such as heavy trucks or robotic lawnmowers.
The u‑blox F9 platform’s technology benefits will be showcased at Embedded World in Nuremberg, Germany from February 27 – March 1 at Booth #3‑139. Product samples will be available in the course of 2018.
About u‑blox
Swiss u‑blox (SIX:UBXN) is a global leader in wireless and positioning modules and chips for the automotive, industrial and consumer markets. u‑blox solutions enable people, vehicles and machines to locate their exact position and communicate wirelessly over cellular and short range networks. With a broad portfolio of chips, modules and software solutions, u‑blox is uniquely positioned to empower OEMs to develop innovative solutions for the Internet of Things, quickly and cost‑effectively. With headquarters in Thalwil, Switzerland, u‑blox is globally present with offices in Europe, Asia, and the USA. (www.u‑blox.com)
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u‑blox contact:
Natacha Seitz, PR Manager, u‑blox
Phone: + 41 44 722 7388
E‑mail: natacha.seitz@u-blox.com
To learn more, see:
- u‑blox announces u‑blox F9 robust and versatile high precision positioning technology for industrial and automotive applications
- The Navigation Conundrum – White Paper
- Achieving Centimeter‑Level Performance with Low Cost Antennas – White Paper
- View Webinar: High Precision Applications of UAVs webinar (1 hour 26 min)
- View Webinar: Centimeter‑level precise position with RTK technology
