Industry

SBG Systems’ Ellipse 2 Micro Series Inertial Sensors

The Ellipse 2 Micro Series from SBG Systems is a new product range reducing size and cost of high performance inertial sensors for volume projects. The Ellipse 2 Micro Series is available as an inertial measurement unit (IMU), or as an Attitude & Heading Reference System (AHRS) or inertial navigation system (INS) running an Extended Kalman Filter.

It is designed to provide high accuracy for volume projects with benefits that include:

▪ Industrial Grade – comes with a 2-year warranty

▪ Cost-effective – designed for volume projects

▪ High Quality IMU – calibrated in Dynamics and Temperature

▪ High Performance – 0.1° Roll and Pitch (AHRS & INS models)

▪ Lightweight – 10 grams

▪ 5 centimeter Real-time Heave (AHRS & INS models)

▪ Connection to external GNSS and Odometer (INS model)

Available in three models to best fit users’ project requirements:

▪ Ellipse 2 Micro IMU is an Inertial Measurement Unit. It embeds 3 gyroscopes, 3 accelerometers, 3 magnetometers and a temperature sensor.

▪ Ellipse 2 Micro AHRS additionally runs an Extended Kalman Filter to provide Roll, Pitch, Heading, and Heave.

▪ Ellipse 2 Micro INS additionally connects to a GNSS receiver and an odometer for navigation.

Applications for the Ellipse 2 Micro Series include marine, land and aerospace.

GNSS OEM receiver boards for WingtraOne PPK drone by Septentrio

Septentrio has announced selection by Swiss drone manufacturer Wingtra to supply GNSS OEM receiver boards and PPK processing software for the newly launched WingtraOne PPK drone. The combination of VTOL (vertical take-off and landing) technology and a highspec PPK (Post-Process Kinematics) brings wide-area coverage at ultrahigh precision. www.septentrio.com

Helix Technologies wins ESA contract

Helix Technologies Ltd has been awarded a significant contract by the European Space Agency (ESA) to develop its NEXTGEN GNSS antenna –multi-frequency GNSS antenna optimised for the advanced Galileo E1 Alt-BOC and wide-band E5 Alt-BOC waveforms for use in driverless cars.

The antenna, to be developed under the ESA’s Navigation Innovation and Support Programme (NAVISP), will provide enhanced performance due to its dielectric, multi-filar construction. It will also be optimised to take maximum advantage of the Galileo E5 Alt-BOC waveform, which enables significantly improved measurement accuracy, precision and multi-path suppression over conventional GNSS signals. www.esa.int

Electric Transmission Corridor to be Surveyed with SP60 GNSS Receiver

The Spectra Precision SP60 GNSS receiver has been selected to perform survey work for construction of a new 450-kilometer electric power transmission corridor. Connecting Mauritania’s two largest cities, the capital Nouakchott and to the south Nouadhibou, the 225/90Kv transmission line parallels the Atlantic Ocean as it traverses the Sahara Desert. The Mauritanian Electricity Company, SOMELEC, through its contracting company, awarded the sub-contract for surveying the transmission line and infrastructure to ETAFAT, a geospatial data acquisition and processing firm.

Difficult work conditions, including high heat (over 45°C) and the lack of existing control points, were key factors in ETAFAT’s selection of the SP60 receiver. Because of the absence of existing benchmarks along the entire corridor, it played a key role to ensure homogeneity in the coordinate reference frame between the two cities. The RTX technology leverages real-time data from a global tracking station network with innovative positioning and compression algorithms to compute and relay satellite orbit, satellite clock, and other system adjustments, transmitted to the SP60 via satellite or IP, to deliver real time high-accuracy corrections, even in remote locations. www.etafat.ma

Validate the performance of eCall modules

Approximately one year after ERAGLONASS became mandatory for Russia and the Eurasian Customs Union, the use of its European counterpart eCall will become obligatory as of April 1, 2018. Before eCall or ERA-GLONASS modules can be integrated into cars, they need to be certified. They have to undergo a series of conformance and performance tests, which must be in line with applicable standards.

The GNSS receiver integrated into the eCall module typically evaluates signals from GPS, Galileo and satellitebased augmentation systems (SBAS) to determine the vehicle position. In an emergency, the module automatically places a call to the nearest emergency call center and transmits vehicle position data and other information via a cellular link.

The R&S SMBV100A in combination with the new R&S SMBV-K361 option and the R&S CMWrun sequencer software is the ideal tool for performing fully automated GNSS performance tests on eCall modules in line with the EU2017/79, Annex VI and UNECE 2016/07 specifications.

The new R&S SMBV-K361 eCall test suite is now available from Rohde & Schwarz. With this new GNSS performance test solution for eCall modules, Rohde & Schwarz offers a complete portfolio of standardcompliant conformance and performance test solutions for both eCall and ERA-GLONASS based on the R&S CMW500 and R&S SMBV100A. www.rohde-schwarz.com

HEXAGON – NEWS

Hexagon Mining introduces personal alert

Hexagon Mining has introduced HxGN Mine Personal Alert, an accidentavoidance device worn by field personnel that ensures 360-degree visibility around heavy equipment. It’s the latest integration with the company’s Collision Avoidance System, (CAS) which is used in more than 25,000 mine vehicles worldwide. It offers an additional layer of safety to operators and pedestrians who every day must deal with the dangers of blind spots, noise, heavy traffic and poor visibility. hexagonmining.com

Hexagon launches next generation Leica Rugby lasers

Hexagon has launched the Leica Rugby CLH and Leica Rugby CLA lasers. It offers the unique capability to adapt to user application needs through software upgrades – an industry first. With a focus on application flexibility, simplicity and durability, it increase productivity and allow for maximum performance as construction projects evolve.These new lasers provide users access to upgrades that extend functionality and adapt to application needs. This ensures users have the right laser for any leveling, aligning and squaring tasks on site.

Leica Geosystems launches linear-mode LiDAR system

Lecia TerrainMapper is its next-generation linear-mode Lidar system. As part of the Real Terrain airborne Lidar mapping solution, the new sensor builds on Leica Geosystems’ sensor technology and is supported by the HxMap unified multisensor post-processing workflow.

TerrainMapper enables users to increase point accuracy and deliver even point density across the swath and accommodates more efficient flight planning in complex terrains such as those encountered in urban spaces and mountainous areas. The newest sensor increases both acquisition speed and processing productivity, providing efficiency and precision for any project.

NavVis sets new standard in SLAM precision

NavVis has announced new mapping software that significantly improves the accuracy of simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) technology in indoor environments, such as long corridors. The software update will be available for users of the NavVis M3 Trolley and will significantly improve the accuracy of the resulting maps and point clouds.

CHC APACHE 5

APACHE 5 is integrated with intelligent water navigation robot technology, topographic survey technology, providing a smart, unmanned, integrated, motorized and networked measurement solution. Key Features include, triple-hulled vessel, Light shipbody, less than 10 kg, internal high sensitivity inertial navigation system, adjustable speed, up to 5 m/s, counter rotating dual propellers technology, high flexibility to carry different sensors, equipped with high definition web video camera.

APACHE 5 is widely used for geomorphological survey and mapping, channel survey, underwater geological exploration, etc. The system can reduce personal security risks and improve the flexibility and efficiency of underwater monitoring as well as hydrographic surveying. www.chcnav.com

Software-Based GPS receiver from GSN now available

Cadence Design Systems and Galileo Satellite Navigation, Ltd. (GSN), a developer of multi-system GNSS products, announced that the softwarebased GNSS GPS receiver from Galileo Satellite Navigation is now available for the Cadence Tensilica Fusion F1 DSP.

The software-based GNSS receiver allows customers to easily add full GPS functionality with design flexibility and long-term upgradeability at a minimal cost, low power, and no physical size to today’s cost-sensitive internet of things (IoT) applications.

Tersus BX306Z GNSS RTK Board

Tersus’ BX306Z GNSS RTK board features powerful flexibility and compatibility to meet or exceed the needs of OEMs and system integrators. As a new member of the BX-series GNSS OEM boards, BX306Z is a cost-efficient GNSS RTK board for positioning and raw measurement output. This board is a compact, multi-GNSS (GPS L1/ L2, GLONAS G1/G2, BeiDou B1/ B2) RTK module with centimeter-level accurate positioning capability. www. Tersus-GNSS.com/products/bx306z

Averna Introduces 500 MHz Wideband RF Record

Averna has announced a wideband RF Record and Playback platform. The RP-6500 records and plays back up to 500MHz of RF spectrum-from 9 kHz to 6 GHz-making it ideal for multiconstellation GNSS applications. The system can also capture other signals such as Wifi, GNSS, V2x, spectrum sharing, and cellular applications. www.averna.com

Bentley’s reality modeling solution

Bentley Systems has announced the general access of its reality modeling cloud services, ContextCapture Cloud Processing Service, and ProjectWise ContextShare. UAV companies and surveying and engineering firms that leverage reality modeling inhouse can utilize ContextCapture Cloud Processing Service to upload photos and generate 3D engineering-ready reality meshes, orthophotos, digital surface models, and point clouds dramatically faster than ever before. It automates the production of 3D models of virtually any size without the need for high-end hardware or specialized IT support.www.bentley.com

Croatia signs cooperation agreement

The Republic of Croatia signed a Cooperation Agreement with ESA on 19 February 2018. It will allow Croatia and ESA to create the framework for a more intensive and concrete cooperation related to ESA programmes and activities. www.esa.int

TRIMBLE – NEWS

Next Generation GNSS Reference Receiver

Trimble has introduced its next generation Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) reference receiver for real-time network (RTN) applications—the Trimble® Alloy™ GNSS reference receiver. Setting a new industry standard with 672 channels, the Continuously Operating Reference Station (CORS) receiver provides users and operators with access to multiple constellations and signals, supplying robust and reliable reference data.

Trimble RTX technology

General Motors’ is using Trimble RTX (Real-Time eXtended) technology as the GNSS/GPS correction source to deliver absolute positioning to vehicles equipped with GM’s Super Cruise hands-free highway driving system, now available on the 2018 Cadillac CT6.

Trimble is now enabling semi-autonomous operations for passenger vehicles with Trimble RTX technology, delivering high-accuracy GNSS corrections via a global network to support absolute vehicle positioning in combination with other sensors and inertial dead-reckoning. The technology provides real-time, multiconstellation GNSS positioning capable of achieving better than 1.5 inches accuracy, claims the company, whereas standard GPS signals can drift up to 25 feet, which could cause incorrect lane identification.

MX9 Mobile Mapping System

The Trimble MX9 combines a vehiclemounted mobile lidar system, multicamera imaging and field software for efficient, precise and high-volume data capture for a broad range of mobile mapping applications such as road surveys, topographic mapping, 3D-modeling and asset management.

It captures dense point cloud data along with 360 degree immersive georeferenced imagery using an industryleading spherical camera, GNSS/ INS technology and dual-head laser scanning sensors. www.trimble.com