Sensor analytics firm Movella has launched a miniature surface-mount motion centimetre accurate position data outputs with a high-bandwidth inertial navigation system (INS) for precise dead reckoning. The Xsens MTi-8 utilises the dead reckoning inputs to fill gaps or correct errors in data from RTK GNSS receivers.

The MTi-8’s INS is based on an inertial measurement unit that has already been implemented in the company’s MTi-3 and MTi-7 products. The MTi-8 features an RTK GNSS satellite positioning receiver interface. The interface is compatible with universal NMEA signals, and with u-blox, Septentrio and Trimble data formats.

The MTi-8’s on-board INS capability means that RTK satellite positioning data can be enhanced to maintain real-time position information by dead reckoning in tunnels, under bridges and in other locations in which the satellite and/or RTK signal may be lost temporarily. It can also correct intermittently faulty satellite position information when a positioning and/or RTK signal is temporarily lost or distorted, and increase the update rate of position and velocity data in fast-moving applications. The typical RTK GNSS receiver’s update rate is 10Hz. The MTi-8 increases this to up to 100Hz by filling in the gaps between GNSS receiver outputs with INS calculations.

Arnout Koelewijn, Product Manager at Movella, said: ‘Unlike a stand-alone RTK GNSS receiver, the MTi-8 provides fast, accurate positioning data at all times in all conditions, as well as giving the orientation measurements which are essential in many applications. The MTi-8 is the new way to supercharge the performance of an RTK GNSS receiver.’

The MTi-8 hardware system consists of a 3D gyroscope, 3D accelerometer and magnetometer, and interfaces to an external GNSS receiver and barometer, all housed in a small 12.1mm x 12.1mm x 2.55mm package. The Xsens sensor fusion software generates synchronised measurements of roll, pitch, yaw/heading, velocity and position. The sensor fusion software operates with ultra-low latency to maintain high accuracy at output data rates up to 100Hz. The MTi-8 is targeted for applications requiring slow or fast navigation, stabilisation, mapping and scanning applications.

Movella is a San Jose, California based hardware, software, and data analytics company created by the consolidation of mCube, Xsens, and Kinduct.