Hexagon | NovAtel has announced that it will enhance its SPAN GNSS+INS navigation solution by adding ground-penetrating radar sensors.
To do so, NovAtel has signed an MOU with Massachusetts-based GPR, Inc. to integrate GPR’s WaveSense ground-penetrating radar technology.
Under the agreement, NovAtel will investigate the full potential of integrating its SPAN system with GPR’s subsurface mapping technology.
The goal is to deliver a robust positioning solution that ensures centimetre-level accuracy even in GPS-denied or environmentally challenging conditions in autonomy, mining and other mission-critical applications.
“NovAtel is committed to delivering high-precision, reliable positioning solutions that meet our customers’ needs — for both accuracy and deployment feasibility,” stated Sandy Kennedy, vice-president of innovation with Hexagon’s Autonomy & Positioning division.
“GPR’s innovative solution is a complementary addition to SPAN to meet the rigorous positioning performance requirements for applications from mining to autonomy.”
Historically, SPAN GNSS+INS technology has provided reliable, continuously available position, velocity and attitude (PVA) during short GNSS interruptions, such as those caused by overhead foliage and buildings, by coupling GNSS with inertial measurement unit (IMU) data.
By adding WaveSense as another independent input, NovAtel hopes to provide an accurate PVA solution without access to GNSS signals for extended periods caused by obstructions, scintillation events or jamming attacks.
Under the MOU, both parties will collaborate on complete integrations in selected use cases to demonstrate SPAN plus WaveSense in challenging, high-reliability applications before moving on to a full product definition and supply agreement.
“We are pleased that Hexagon, a world leader in positioning solutions, recognises the value of GPR’s WaveSense technology in advancing autonomous mobility,” said Moran David, CEO of GPR, Inc.
“This agreement is a strong validation of the market’s need for our combined solutions and a testament to GPR’s unique capability to provide unparalleled reliability in localisation, even in the most challenging environments.”
