New OEM module with 3x-frequency GNSS support aids positioning performance in mobile apps.

September 19, 2013 — Trimble Navigation Ltd. on Wednesday released a preview of its CenterPoint RTX cloud-based, post-processing service, enabling GNSS (global navigation satellite system) observations using available Galileo and BeiDou middle-earth-orbit (MEO) satellites, which provide timing, positioning and navigation signals worldwide.

Sunnyvale, Calif.-based, publicly traded (Nasdaq: TRMB) Trimble sells positioning technologies such as GPS, lasers and optics, as well as accompanying software, to the surveying, construction, agriculture, fleet and asset management, public safety and mapping industries.

The free CenterPoint RTX post-processing service is powered by Trimble RTX (Real Time eXtended) technology, a GNSS correction technology that combines real-time data with positioning and compression algorithms to compute centimeter-level positioning accuracy based on satellite orbit and clock information.

Users can upload static GNSS observation data and receive positioning corrections calculated in the International Terrestrial Reference System (ITRF) 2008 reference frame. The post-processed solution can be transformed to a variety of regional reference frames by selecting a coordinate system and tectonic plate.

The existing CenterPoint RTX post-processing website already uses data from the GPS, GLONASS, and QZSS satellite systems. Trimble's Positioning Services division said it added Galileo and BeiDou data to the existing CenterPoint RTX post-processing service to observe the impact on positioning accuracy.

"With the addition of Galileo and BeiDou MEO support, we offer researchers, scientists and academics the opportunity to evaluate and experiment with results from these evolving satellite constellations," said Patricia Boothe, general manager of Trimble's Positioning Services division.

The BD930

Trimble also debuted Wednesday its BD930 module as part of its GNSS OEM portfolio. The BD930 features triple-frequency support for GPS and GLONASS plus dual-frequency support for BeiDou and Galileo constellations.

Capable of receiving a wide range of commercially available GNSS signals, the 220 channel BD930 takes advantage of all available signals to provide accurate and consistent RTK centimeter positioning.

The compact, triple-frequency BD930 (measuring 41mm x 51mm) provides GNSS, DGNSS and RTK positioning in challenging environments such as under tree canopy and urban canyons. Trimble said it is best-suited for applications such as high-precision navigation and control, robotics and lightweight unmanned vehicles.

The BD930 module is slated to roll out in the fourth quarter through Trimble’s Precision GNSS + Inertial global sales channel.