Fixposition Presents the Vision-RTK Positioning Sensor at Intergeo 2020
Zurich, Switzerland — October 12, 2020 — At this year’s Intergeo Digital event (October 13–15, 2020), Fixposition is announcing the Vision-RTK positioning sensor, its compact centimeter-accurate solution with the highest reliability and availability in environments that are challenging for traditional Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS).
The Vision-RTK sensor is the latest breakthrough in positioning technology. Its unique sensor fusion algorithm is based on the deep integration of satellite, camera and inertial sensors, and enables unprecedented reliability and availability in diverse and challenging applications.
“With Vision-RTK, Fixposition offers the only compact solution for positioning and navigation in challenging outdoor environments, enabling applications in previously unreachable areas and opening a whole new world of possibilities for autonomous ground robots and drones,” said Dr. Zhenzhong Su, CEO and co-founder of Fixposition.
Traditional GNSS sensors suffer from limited reliability in GNSS-challenging and denied areas. On the other hand, standalone computer vision is sensitive to light conditions (e.g., snow, strong sunlight, rain, etc.) and struggles in situations where there is a lack of features such as cornfields and grass. Last but not least, errors accumulate over time with standalone inertial technology, causing large drifts.
As a result, devices using either one of these sensors are limited in their range of operation and are likely to fail in certain conditions. Fixposition’s solution increases the potential of these sensors with its unique sensor fusion technology by increasing the trustworthiness of the positioning accuracy and the range of operation in different environments.
“The highly integrated nature of our Vision-RTK sensor and our deep expertise in computer vision and Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) GNSS enabled us to implement completely new approaches in sensor fusion resulting in previously unseen performance,” said Lukas Meier, CTO and co-founder of Fixposition.
The real-time sensor fusion provides centimeter-accurate absolute positioning at any time, in any outdoor environment. This module is the smallest and most lightweight sensor integrating two RTK-GNSS receivers and visual inertial navigation, suitable for applications where size and accuracy are of paramount importance. The dual-receiver configuration, together with Fixposition’s advanced algorithms, provides a true-heading output and increased resistance to electromagnetic radiation.
The sensor provides USB and Wi-Fi connectivity and an easy-to-use web interface. It enables straightforward integration in state-of-the-art autopilot control systems for drones and robots. It’s also plug-and-play compatible with platforms such as PX4, ROS and Apollo.
For ground robotics and drones applications, Vision-RTK increases the device uptime and efficiency while enabling new market segments in areas previously inaccessible. For end-device manufacturers, this technology eliminates the need for an in-house development of advanced localization solutions, shortening their sales cycle and reducing costs and investments.
Visit the Fixposition booth and meet the team at Intergeo Digital 2020 to learn more about the Vision-RTK sensor, Fixposition’s latest innovation in absolute positioning technology.
For more information, please visit www.fixposition.com.
About Fixposition
Fixposition is on a mission to simplify autonomous navigation by increasing reliability and availability of precise positioning. We develop deep sensor fusion of RTK-GNSS, IMU, and computer vision to ensure high-reliability of centimeter-accurate positioning in all types of environments. This disruptive technology enables safer and more automated operation of drones and ground robotic vehicles. The company was founded by two top-talent Pioneer Fellowship teams from ETH Zurich who have joined their extensive know-how in GNSS and computer vision.
