TDK Corp. has announced the extension of the Tronics AXO300 accelerometers platform with two new products.

After the successful production launch in 2020 of the ±14 g AXO315 accelerometer for high-performance navigation and positioning of dynamic systems, Tronics extends the AXO300 accelerometer series with AXO301, a low-noise and high-resolution ±1 g accelerometer for high precision acceleration/deceleration measurements in railway applications and inclination control in industrial applications, and AXO305, a ±5 g accelerometer tailored for navigation, positioning, and motion control of land and marine manned and unmanned systems.

Built with an innovative closed-loop architecture that delivers high linearity and stability even under strong vibrations, the accelerometers from the AXO300 platform feature an excellent one-year composite bias repeatability of 1 mg and composite scale factor repeatability of 600 ppm.

AXO301 High-Resolution Accelerometer and Inclinometer for Railway and Industrial Systems
AXO301 is a low-noise, high-resolution, closed-loop digital MEMS accelerometer with ±1 g input range that offers a performance-equivalent, low-SWaP (size, weight and power) and cost-effective alternative to force balance inclinometers and servo-accelerometers. It demonstrates an ultra-low noise density of 8 μg/√Hz with an excellent 50 μg resolution to offer high-accuracy inclination angle measurements. AXO301 is tailored to odometry assistance for train positioning and localization systems, high-end industrial tilt and inclination measurements systems as well as motion control of construction machinery. The AXO301 is compliant with EN61373 railway standard for vibrations and shocks.

AXO305 High-Performance Accelerometer for Land, Marine and Robotics applications
With an input measurement range of ±5 g and vibration rectification error of 20 μg/g², AXO305 is tailored to navigation, positioning and motion control functions of land, rail and marine transportation systems and vehicles.

It demonstrates a Bias Instability of 4 μg with a ±0.5 mg bias over its temperature range, thus enabling precise GNSS-aided navigation of manned and unmanned ground vehicles and trains when integrated into inertial navigation systems. AXO305 is a perfect candidate for motion reference units used for ship motion control and dynamic positioning, inertial measurement units for land navigation, subsea navigation of autonomous underwater vehicles and remotely operated vehicles, platform and crane stabilization as well as precision robotics.

The closed-loop architecture of Tronics AXO300 platform offers high resolution and strong vibration rejection. Accelerometers and inclinometers from the Tronics AXO300 series are housed in a miniature, hermetic, ceramic J-lead package that ensures long operational and storage life and guarantees a high compliancy with the stringent thermal cycling requirements of critical applications. They embed fully hard-coded electronics with a 24-bit digital SPI interface for a swift integration into stand-alone sensor modules, INS, IMU as well as attitude and heading reference systems. The built-in self-test ensures initial verification of the sensor’s integrity and continuous in-operation functionality test.

Low SWaP

Thanks to their common sensor’s architecture, miniature package and low-power consumption, Tronics AXO315, AXO305 and AXO301 accelerometers offer a digital, cost-effective and low-SwaP alternative to bulky, expensive, and power-consuming analog solutions like tactical-grade quartz accelerometers. AXO300 accelerometers are ideally complemented by high performance Tronics GYPRO digital rate gyros that share the same SMD J-lead ceramic package (12 x 12 x 5 mm) and same digital interface to enable low-cost integration, assembly, and reliability on PCB, even in fast-changing temperature conditions.

AXO315 volume production started in 2020. AXO301 and AXO305 are now available for sampling and customer evaluations, directly at Tronics or through specialized distribution channels like Texim. Swift evaluation of the sensors can also be made with an Arduino-based evaluation kit that provides built-in testing functionalities such as output reading and recording, recalibration, and digital self-tests.

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The European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) has published its Earth Observation (EO) & GNSS Market Report, an outgrowth of its annual GNSS Market Report now that the agency has also taken on Earth observation among its administrative responsibilities. The Report is compiled and written for all those making these technologies part of their business plan and developing downstream applications.

In 2021, GNSS and EO downstream market generated over 200 billion euros revenues and are set to reach almost half a trillion over the next decade. EO and GNSS data have become increasingly important in the big data realm and paradigm responding to natural and man-made disasters, curbing the spread of disease and strengthening a global supply chain, among many other goals.

The Report provides analytical information on the dynamic GNSS and EO markets, along with in-depth analyses of the latest global trends and developments through illustrated examples and use cases. Using advanced econometric models, it also offers market evolution forecasts of GNSS shipments or EO revenues spanning to 2031.

With a focus on Galileo/EGNOS and Copernicus, the report highlights the essential role of space data across 17 market segments including,

• Agriculture; Aviation and Drones;
• Biodiversity, Ecosystems and Natural Capital;
• Climate Services; Consumer Solutions, Tourism, and Health;
• Emergency Management and Humanitarian Aid;
• Energy and Raw Materials; Environmental Monitoring;
• Fisheries and Aquaculture; Forestry;
• Infrastructure;
• Insurance and Finance;
• Maritime and Inland Waterways;
• Rail;
• • Road and Automotive;
• Urban Development and Cultural Heritage;
• and Space.

Some report highlights:

• Global annual GNSS receiver shipments will reach 2.5 bn units by 2031, dominated by the applications falling under the Consumer Solutions, Tourism and Health segment contributing roughly to 92% of global annual shipments;

• In EO, aside from the largest markets like Agriculture, Urban Development and Cultural Heritage or Energy and Raw Materials, the Insurance and Finance segment is expected to experience the fastest growth over the next decade (21 % of CAGR) for both EO data and value-added service revenues;

• From a supply perspective, the European Industry holds over 41% of the global EO downstream market and 25 % of the global GNSS downstream market.

“The flagship EU Space Programme, driven by Galileo and EGNOS on one side and Copernicus on the other, has become a major enabler in the downstream space application market. As a user-oriented agency, we provide this inside information on markets evolution to our users, being innovators, entrepreneurs, investors, academic researchers, chipset manufacturers, or simply anyone who looks into space to bring value to their activities. The added value and key differentiators of European GNSS and EO are showcased, both separately and in synergy with each other. I know that the report will be of great use and inspiration for those who are contributing to the EU economic growth,” concluded EUSPA Executive Director Rodrigo da Costa.

The report is available for download here.

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The online interactive map is accessible here.

Augmentation service providers deliver a range of high-accuracy GNSS positioning services worldwide, tailored both for professional and consumer markets. Service providers monitor signals from GNSS (GPS, GLONASS, Beidou and Galileo) satellites and generate corrections to significantly improve the accuracy of GNSS standalone positioning. Correction messages are transmitted via the internet, SATCOM or GPRS to GNSS receivers. There are different types of services appropriate to all needs and budgets, offering different levels of accuracy from centimeters to decimeters. These solutions can be used in a number of markets including: mapping, surveying, construction, agriculture, automotive or aviation, to name a few.

Standard GNSS positioning, often affected by several errors, can be corrected using augmentation services to provide a more accurate and precise position. With augmentation services, users can operate their receivers virtually anywhere on the globe and, by means of receiving data from a control center, achieve accuracies ranging from meter to centimeter-level, depending on the hardware, platform and application.

Today, there are different augmentation techniques based on the use of a network of ground-based reference or monitoring stations with known locations that enable to calculate corrections (e.g. differential corrections for RTK or clocks and orbits corrections for PPP). These corrections can then be disseminated, for instance, over the internet or satellites.

The augmentation service provider map is a thematic map updated on a quarterly basis that provides an easy way to visualize the service providers that are able to operate in each country. Clicking on each country shows the names of the Galileo-ready providers along with the name and type of service and coverage.

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“We are currently developing and testing with success SBAS next-generation architectures and capabilities. The strong dynamic we experience on our SBAS export markets in Asia, Africa & Indian Ocean demonstrate our solution global attractiveness for our customers,” said Benoit Broudy, Navigation Vice President at Thales Alenia Space in France.

Thales Alenia Space is a joint venture between the French company Thales (67%) and the Italian company Leonardo (33%).

The post EGNOS Contract for Next-Generation, Dual-Frequency European SBAS Signed appeared first on Inside GNSS - Global Navigation Satellite Systems Engineering, Policy, and Design.

The European Railway Traffic Management System (ERTMS) is a major industrial project implemented by the EU to create an interoperable railway system in Europe that is safer and more efficient.

The proposed solution is based on multi-sensor fusion using measurements from a GNSS receiver, an inertial measurement unit (IMU) and a tachometer with the support of a digital map of the rail tracks. The localization system consists of a data fusion algorithm associated with an integrity algorithm, ensuring the SIL4 level of safety of the main outputs of the Train Localisation On Board Unit (TLOBU). The integrity algorithm uses the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS,) a satellite-based augmentation system.

Originally specified by aviation users, EGNOS provides safe augmentation information for GNSS, composed of navigation data corrections (orbits and time) and of integrity information. EGNOS V2, currently operational, augments only the American GPS.

EGNOS V3, currently under development by Airbus Defence and Space, will provide improved performances for aviation users, and in addition will augment both American GPS and  European Galileo with its upcoming DFMC (Dual Frequency Multi-Constellation) release.

Whys and Wherefores

The TLOBU will provide trains and railway operators with critical information such as positioning and velocity, complemented by acceleration, heading and attitude for non-safe applications.

Rail is one of the most environmentally friendly modes of transport. In the European Union (EU), rail is responsible for less than 0.5% of transport-related greenhouse gas emissions. This makes it one of the most sustainable forms of passenger and freight transport.

Knowing the exact position of a train is at the heart of rail operations across the EU. It aids rail operators in efficient train traffic management and also informs passengers, both onboard and waiting at the station, to know whether their train is delayed.

To ensure EU-wide interoperability, real-time, precise train positioning and high levels of safety, the ERTMS currently relies on a series of costly ground instruments. In the coming years, this will change, and ERTMS may switch to EU space solutions. CLUG, sponsored by the European Union Agency for the Space Program (EUSPA) has made concrete steps towards providing a cost-efficient train tracking solution based on EU satellite technology together with other sensors and data.

The project’s goal is to assess the creation of a failsafe TLOBU that will be interoperable across the entire European railway network.  Based on experience gained during the demonstration phase, the consortium will collect and review data that will help rail operators and industry to gain insights and push towards a new version of the ERTMS standards.

Data from the TLOBU are transmitted to specific train safety functions such as the European Vital Computer (EVC), part of the Automatic Train Protection function (ATP). In parallel, the fusion algorithm is also providing other outputs to other train functions that do not require a SIL4 level of safety, such as Train Management System (TMS) or the passenger information system.

Architecture and Algorithms

The system architecture and algorithms are defined by Airbus Defence & Space, and NAVENTIK. Both companies are providing two different solutions for the fusion algorithms, whereas the integrity concept is defined by Airbus Defence & Space. This concept is based on the EGNOS services; however, the currently available services have only been defined for aviation means and requires specific refinements to be optimized for rail environments. This EGNOS service is the cornerstone of the integrity concept of CLUG to reach the necessary SIL4 level of safety. Airbus D&S detailed this EGNOS service for rail in specific deliverables, which will be published in the coming months.

Siemens and its partners are performing data collection on three different trains in Switzerland, France and Germany. All this data will then be used to test the localisation algorithms designed in the framework of the project in order to gather as much as possible experience and knowledge about the behaviour of these sensors and their associated fusion algorithms in railway environment.

From the start of the data collection in November 2020 until the end of May 2021, data has already been collected over nearly 2,000 hours and 45,000 km, a distance of more than once around the world.

The shared raw data will then be processed in two separate test environments, developed by Siemens and Naventik, using sensor fusion algorithms developed by Airbus and Naventik. This step emulates possible positioning solutions based on the two types of fusion algorithms, generating position and velocity information as if these systems would have been installed onboard the train during the raw data collection. Performing this sensor fusion offline however makes it possible to “re-run” the same journey again and again, using improved versions of fusion algorithms.

TLOBUs to Replace Balises

Using EU space technology in the railway sector not only increases safety but can significantly reduce maintenance and other operational costs. This new approach for train localization is set to improve the current system based on balise readers. A balise is an electronic beacon or transponder placed between the rails of a railway as part of an automatic train protection (ATP) system.

The goal of the TLOBU is to ultimately replace the current localization system, and thus to promote and accelerate the deployment of ERTMS in Europe by introducing more accurate train localization. Such an innovative system should also help drastically reduce the ground equipment, currently ensuring the safe train localization, such as axel counters and track circuits. Although one of the goals is to decrease as much as possible the use of balises along the tracks, the system will still make use of some balises to help maintain a precise and safe position in GNSS-denied environments such as tunnels and train stations.

The post EGNOS a Safe, Efficient Locator for Europe’s Trains appeared first on Inside GNSS - Global Navigation Satellite Systems Engineering, Policy, and Design.

A free webinar on August 31 explains how an inertial measurement unit (IMU) assembles and delivers precise timing information, typically at a much higher rate than the co-integrated GNSS receiver.

[Photo above: OWLS from Latronix AB will be discussed, dissected and analyzed during the webinar. For contact-free measurement of track, rails and overhead lines, OWLS delivers high-resolution data at speeds up to 300 km/h. This enables the installation of the equipment on vehicles in regular traffic. The OWLS device integrates speed sensors, tachometer, GPS, lasers, optical sensors and inertial measurement components. Timing is everything!]

Attendees will learn how correct synchronization of this data across the system is critical to performance in the application, particularly in high-dynamic conditions, challenging environments and autonomy.

Register here for the free August 31 webinar, “The Right Time for the Right Place.”

An acknowledged expert in the field, with more than 30 years of cutting-edge experience in multi-sensor R&D, opens the discussion with an examination of the internal workings of the IMU and how the user can access timing information within it for ultimate advantage. A specialist in IMU design and fabrication then explores the advantages furnished by the latest micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) technology and how the customer can best utilize options furnished within the IMU.

Finally, an engineer focused on industrial inspections examines the IMUs role in successful application, discussing the critical aspect of synchronization of the different sensors within an IMU – GNSS integration. Challenges and solutions related to timing and design integration of multiple sensor inputs for pre- and post-analysis will be covered.

What you’ll gain from this webinar:

• An understanding of IMU architecture
• Knowledge of the timing construction process inside the IMU and how it is synchronized across the system
• Inside access to this critical timing data
• Special considerations with respect to timing in the IMU
• Instruction on use of various options within the IMU
• An appreciation of timing error impact on application performance

Our expert panelists:

John Raquet, Director at Integrated Solutions for Systems (IS4S)-Dayton, where develops efficient, pluggable approaches to all-source navigation. He founded and was formerly the Director of the Autonomy and Navigation Technology (ANT) Center at the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT). He has a multidisciplinary background-teaching in electrical engineering with a PhD in geomatics engineering from the University of Calgary, a masters in aero/astro engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and a BS in astronautical engineering from the US Air Force Academy. He is a past President of the Institute of Navigation (ION), has been a US Fulbright Scholar, and is an ION Fellow. He has been developing navigation system technology for more than 30 years.

Reidar Holm is a Product Development Manager at Sensonor, a producer and developer of high-precision, light-weight gyros and IMUs. He works MEMS R&D and design, ASIC design, low-stress package design, system design, assembly and calibration, and high-volume production for automotive, MEMS pressure sensors, accelerometers, gyros and IMUs. He has a degree in electrical engineering and electronics from the University of Manchester Institute for Science and Technology

Björn Skatt, Chief Technology Officer and R&D Coordinator at Latronix AB, a Swedish railway inspection firm, where he specializes in system design, image processing, geometrical calculations, 3D visualizations and hardware-connected programming for optical and inertial measuring systems for railway applications.

Register here for the free August 31 webinar, “The Right Time for the Right Place.”

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Developed by China Railway Science and Industry Group Co., Ltd and China Railway Construction Engineering Group, the robot, named “Chisha,” will first tackle construction of a metro line in Guangzhou.

Equipped with 72 sensors and 50 cameras, the robot is 80 meters long, with a weight of 460 tons and an effective span of 69 meters. It can install beams weighing up to 120 tons. Eight independently movable legs mounted on 32 wheels enable the robot to walk horizontally and longitudinally. The legs can stretch independently and climb over slopes and obstacles, making it possible to conduct cross-layer operation without interfering with construction tasks like crane operation and cast in situ.

The robot uses BeiDou, China’s GNSS, for positioning and has a measurement accuracy of 10 millimeters, although with what augmentation or RTK service the report did not specify. The company has applied for two national invention patents.

The workload that previously required dozens of workers can now be handled by an operator and a guide when Chisha swings into action. A video overview of the robot is available here.

[Above: China building assembly robot Chisha, photo courtesy Xinhuanet.]

The post What Has 72 Sensors, 8 Legs, 32 Wheels, Weighs 460 Tons and Uses BeiDou? appeared first on Inside GNSS - Global Navigation Satellite Systems Engineering, Policy, and Design.

• ICHASE project is led by Thales Alenia Space with the support of FDC, Université Gustave Eiffel, GEA Space, know.space;
• ITHACA project is led by GMV with the support of TNO, VVA and GMV-NSL.

The two projects are part of Horizon 2020, a financial instrument implementing the Innovation Union, aimed at securing Europe’s global competitiveness.

The various partners will analyze the feasibility of an integrity service complementing European GNSS (EGNSS) High Accuracy in the 2030+ timeframe to feed the evolving needs in demanding new applications without disrupting the current business models of established service providers. The studies will assess the respective merits of various directions for the Galileo and EGNOS services to evolve and to build the steps needed before the operational introduction of such new services.

Thales Alenia Space will focus on the development of a new approach to sensors fusion including and complementing evolutions of EGNSS High Accuracy  to provide high reliability and high accuracy positioning in road autonomous vehicles and autonomous transport in maritime and rail sectors, according to the company. This could entail an extension of previous work by  Thales Alenia Space, assessing the extension of aviation integrity and safety of life services for road tolls and insurance (the EPICURE project), as well as the IMPRESS project targeting an integrity service for rail signalling and train separation.

Thales Alenia Space is prime contractor for the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS).

The post New European Initiatives to Explore Galileo Integrity for Autonomous Applications appeared first on Inside GNSS - Global Navigation Satellite Systems Engineering, Policy, and Design.

“This European Year of the Railways should be an opportunity to make rail transport the major player in clean European mobility, even though its overall share of the various modes of transport has become relatively low,” states the report, Challenges for European Rail: Getting Solutions on Track.

Galileo and the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS) play key roles in an ambitious Digital Rail agenda that the report supports. Freight and passenger transport already rely on the two European satnav systems. To date, more than 150,000 rail freight cars in Europe have been outfitted with GNSS-based localization sensors. Precise location is used for asset and fleet management efficient supply chain operations, and supplying customers with estimated time of goods arrival.

EGNOS and Galileo are key to at least five of the eleven next steps in the digitalization of rail. Two two are explicitly mentioned as part of real-time position for safety and logistics. By inference they would also form part of other steps: Europe-wide introduction of an interoperable rail traffic management system; ERTMS as backbone of the Digital Rail strategy; Automatic train operations up to the highest level; Better cybersecurity; and digital logistics systems for freight.

2021 is the European Year of Rail, dedicated to heightening rail’s profile and increasing its use within the EU transport ecosystem. The Digital Rail agenda was articulated by the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T), a government agency charged with policy implementing a Europe-wide network of railway lines, roads, inland waterways, maritime shipping routes, ports, airports and railroad terminals.

Ruete is currently European coordinator for TEN-T, though he is careful to state on the cover of his report that “This Memo contains my personal opinion and binds nobody else. It draws on my experience but is in no way connected to my mandate as European Coordinator for TEN T (ERTMS). He previously served in a range of European Commission posts over three decades, including 8 years as Director of the Directorate General of Energy & Transport (DG TREN – DG MOVE).

The European Union Agency for the Space Programme (formerly the European GNSS Agency),  the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Shift2Rail joint undertaking of the EU are all active in developing R&D projects to implement use of GNSS within the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS), primarily for safety purposes but also for cost reduction, decreasing carbon footprint and improving customer service. A key area of concentration is use of GNSS sensors on both trains and track infrastructure to reduce the dependency on physical trackside elements that need to be manufactured, installed and maintained for proper train localization.

GNSS is already used for fail-safe train localization in other areas, such as the U.S. Positive Train Control (PTC) system. On December 29, 2020, the Federal Railroad Administration announced that PTC technology is in operation on all 57,536 required freight and passenger railroad route miles, complying with a Congressional mandate.

The post Increased Rail Role Urged for Galileo and EGNOS; GNSS Important for Europe’s Green New Deal and Mobility Makeover appeared first on Inside GNSS - Global Navigation Satellite Systems Engineering, Policy, and Design.

A Huawei LampSite base station consists of a baseband unit (BBU), pRRU, and RRU HUB (RRU HUB).

[Image: Line 4 of Suzhou Metro, courtesy Huawei]

Indoor location-based services are in high demand for vertical applications, such as indoor navigation, asset tracking, geofencing, logistics management, and personnel management, which reflects the huge market space of indoor positioning. Currently, indoor positioning technologies are of great variety and most of them need to be deployed and maintained individually, producing high end-to-end costs. As a part of the continuous evolution of 5G, positioning has been added to 3GPP Release 16 finalized in mid 2020 to realize indoor positioning by leveraging the ultra-high signal resolution empowered by 5G’s high bandwidth, multi-point measurements, and multi-access edge computing (MEC) deployment.

A Qualcomm blog post about Release 16 states that it “supports multi-/single-cell and device-based positioning, defining a new positioning reference signal (PRS) used by various 5G positioning techniques such as roundtrip time (RTT), angle of arrival/departure (AoA/AoD), and time difference of arrival (TDOA). RTT- based positioning removes the requirement of tight network timing synchronization across nodes (as needed in legacy techniques such as TDOA) and offers additional flexibility in network deployment and maintenance. These techniques are designed to meet initial 5G requirements of 3 and 10 meters for indoor and outdoor use cases, respectively. In Release 17, precise indoor positioning functionality will bring sub-meter accuracy for industrial IoT use cases.”

The Suzhou verification was based on Huawei’s 5G digital indoor solution LampSite and MEC solution. The LampSite units measure the radio signals of 5G devices and work with MEC to analyze the signal characteristics. Based on the results of the analysis, algorithms are used to precisely locate 5G devices.

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