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u-blox Releases TIM-4R Dead Reckoning GPS Module

u-blox AG
2006-11-28 10:39 4654

(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 .

Source: u-blox AG
Keywords: Airlines/Aviation
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