
Trimble, Qualcomm aim to bring precise positioning to connected vehicles
In the alliance, Trimble will work with Qualcomm Technologies to integrate Trimble’s RTX high-accuracy GNSS positioning technology with select Qualcomm Snapdragon Automotive 4G and 5G platforms to deliver a highly accurate positioning solution essential for maintaining absolute in-lane positioning. The new solution, say the companies, will accelerate the adoption of road-level navigation and emergency services applications, as well as satisfy requirements for developing Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems (ADAS) and autonomous driving solutions.
“Highly accurate positioning is quickly becoming an important element of connected vehicle solutions to support Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) and other autonomy applications,” says Lars Boeryd, senior director, product marketing, Qualcomm Technologies. “For this very reason, we are working with Trimble to host the RTX precise positioning software library on our Snapdragon Automotive 4G and 5G platforms to offer a robust end-to-end highly accurate position solution for the automotive industry.”
Trimble RTX technology provides real-time, multi-constellation GNSS corrections and positioning capable of achieving a two-centimeter horizontal accuracy worldwide, compared to uncorrected GNSS positioning that can be accurate to several meters. The combined solution, say the companies, will provide reliable, consistent, high-accuracy positioning, in a broadcast format, to serve even the most precise requirements of the automotive and transportation industries.
Qualcomm Technologies’ Snapdragon 4G and 5G Automotive platforms feature integrated multi-frequency and multi-constellation high-precision GNSS technology as well as support for all major global and regional GNSS satellite constellations operating concurrently on the L1, L2, and L5 frequency bands, including a Precise Positioning Framework. This framework ensures consistency in access and use of precise positioning information and incorporates the use of GNSS corrections technology.
Tight integration of GNSS functionality in conjunction with the modem reception of the corrections allows for minimum latencies and optimal performance of the precise-positioning solution from the telematics system and provides automakers with a global location platform to meet the requirements of next-generation vehicles.
John Sprivulis, director of autonomous navigation solutions for Trimble’s Advanced Positioning Division says about the alliance, “Trimble’s relationship with Qualcomm Technologies establishes a unique alliance between industry leaders, in which both companies are committed to advancing the development of safer, more capable ADAS. Together we will offer a solution to the automotive industry that can help accelerate the adoption of precise GNSS positioning in the connected car and transform the way the world drives.”
An RTX-enabled Snapdragon evaluation kit (EVK) is expected to be available by early 2020, for use by automotive OEMs, Tier 1 suppliers, or other stakeholders considering absolute positioning as part of their autonomy solution. Trimble has also made Trimble RTX Auto, an ASIL- and ASPICE-compliant RTX software library, available to any OEM or supplier who requires a functional safety certified solution.
Related articles:
JV launched to bring highly precise satellite navigation to mass markets
High precision positioning: The path to mass market
Space technology allows precise navigation without GNSS
Bringing high precision positioning to the mass market
