Swiss firm U-Blox has announced an affordable approach to bringing centimetre-level accuracy to GNSS receivers.
 
Its Neo-D9S GNSS correction data receiver module receives GNSS correction data from correction service providers broadcast on the L-band at 1525 to 1559MHz. A host processor can then decrypt these correction data and provide them to a high precision GNSS receiver, combining corrections directly with readings from the satellite constellations to enable much more accurate position readings than those offered by GNSS signals alone.
 
Use of the module should also increase the availability of high precision GNSS positioning data in areas with limited connectivity and reduce the amount of cellular data consumed by positioning receivers.
 
Key users are expected to include car makers and their tier-one suppliers, industrial system integrators that offer position-correction services, and any other applications that rely upon very accurate positioning at low cost.
 
The module is a correction-only receiver, based on the firm’s ninth generation (D9) platform. This means it will integrate easily with the U-Blox F9 RTK GNSS receiver, or can be used as part of a modular product roadmap. The module also integrates a TCXO and saw filter to improve RF sensitivity and resilience to interference from adjacent channels.
 
The module includes the algorithms necessary to decode satellite data broadcasts. It is configured to work initially with whatever correction service has been set as default, but can be configured for any L-band data broadcast. It stores its configuration settings in non-volatile memory.
 
U-Blox provides positioning and wireless communication technologies for the automotive, industrial and consumer markets. Its products let people, vehicles and machines determine their precise position and communicate wirelessly over cellular and short range networks.
 
With headquarters in Thalwil, Switzerland, the company is globally present with offices in Europe, Asia and the USA.