(Picture is available at http://www.u-blox.com/news/tim_4r.jpg )
THALWIL, Switzerland, Nov. 28 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- u-blox AG, the
leading Swiss provider of GPS chips, modules and services, today released the
TIM-4R GPS module with dead reckoning technology that ensures 100% road
coverage in even the most challenging GPS signal environments.
Powered by u-blox' 16-channel ANTARIS(R) 4 positioning engine, this GPS
module provides uninterrupted positioning in environments where GPS operation
was previously not possible and offers better navigation performance using
less power than its predecessor, the TIM-LR.
u-blox' dead reckoning technology uses additional sensors that detect
travelled distance with an odometer and turn rate using a gyroscope,
supplementing GPS data and thus providing an accurate position in tunnels,
indoor parking facilities, roofed logistics centers, urban canyons and any
other environment where obstructed GPS signals hinder positioning.
Continuous coverage allows for GPS-enabled applications such as emergency
vehicle services, asset and vehicle tracking products and road pricing
systems, which require uninterrupted navigation.
"The TIM-4R is a gateway technology that simplifies the creation of a
wide range of GPS-enabled applications that require a highly accurate
positioning solution with non-stop road coverage, even in the harshest signal
environments," said Thomas Nigg, Head of Product Marketing and Application
Engineering.
Other systems use either GPS or dead reckoning, both of which have
shortcomings. In contrast to switching between GPS and dead reckoning, which
can lead to errors, the module's speciality lies in its weighted mix of both
approaches that counters their respective disadvantages. Its built-in
extended Kalman filter algorithm uses a combination of GPS and sensor data
where the weighting depends on the quality of the GPS signals. Depending on
the quality of the GPS signal and on how well the dead-reckoning sensors are
calibrated, a weighted mix of both GPS and dead reckoning generates optimal
results.
Narrow streets between high-rise buildings also cause multi-path effects,
resulting in degraded navigation accuracy and reliability. The TIM-4R's
algorithmic approach eliminates these multi-path effects, position
inaccuracies, and distortions from jamming sources.
Samples will be available in February 2007.
A photograph can be downloaded from http://www.u-
blox.com/news/tim_4r.jpg .
About u-blox
u-blox is an international company headquartered in Switzerland, with
sales organizations in the Americas, Europe and Asia. Founded in 1997, u-blox
develops leading positioning technology, products and services based on
Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), including GPS and Galileo, for
the automotive and mobile communications markets. For more information,
please visit http://www.u-blox.com .