GNSS receivers - why precise positioning will not be coming to your phone any time soon
Mar 21, 2024
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Learn how Emlid revolutionized high precision GNSS receivers, making them more affordable and user-friendly. Discover the innovations in GNSS technology that reduced costs and size, paving the way for centimeter accuracy positioning. Explore the challenges of bringing high precision positioning to smartphones and the potential of combining GNSS with visual positioning technologies for better mapping efficiency.
Emlid revolutionized high precision GNSS receivers, enabling centimeter accuracy positioning.
RTK and PPP techniques enhance GNSS accuracy through signal delay mitigation and global positioning models.
Visual positioning may offer sub-centimeter accuracy, but challenges in smartphone hardware limit widespread implementation.
Deep dives
The Evolution of High Precision GNSS Technology
The podcast episode delves into the journey of Igor Beringonov, CEO of Emlick, from creating high precision GNSS receivers in his kitchen to revolutionizing the field. It highlights the challenges faced in early drone mapping operations that necessitated innovative GNSS solutions. Igor explains how their crowdfunding campaign made high precision technology affordable and how they overcame market challenges by developing compact devices. The episode also explores the significance of specialized chips in achieving high accuracy positioning.
Understand RTK and PPP in High Precision Positioning
The podcast introduces the concepts of Real-Time Kinematics (RTK) and Precise Point Positioning (PPP), explaining how they enhance GNSS accuracy. Igor elaborates on the principles of RTK, utilizing two receivers to mitigate signal delays and achieve high precision. He details the integral use of integer ambiguity resolution for precise measurements and contrasts PPP as a post-processing alternative focusing on global positioning models.
Challenges in Achieving Sub-Centimeter Accuracy with Visual Positioning
A discussion ensues on the feasibility of utilizing visual positioning to achieve sub-centimeter accuracy compared to traditional GNSS methods. The limitations posed by antenna size and orientation stability in smartphones hinder the attainment of high precision. While visual positioning excels in urban areas, it faces challenges in rural regions and natural landscapes where distinct features are scarce.
Interplay Between Optical Measurements and GNSS Technologies
The podcast unravels the potential role of advanced GNSS technologies in replacing optical measurements for diverse applications. While GNSS outperforms classic survey tools in speed and efficiency, optical instruments remain vital for demanding precision tasks in construction and mining industries. The episode elucidates the complementary functions of GNSS and visual positioning in navigating urban environments and remote areas, highlighting their collaborative potential for enhanced accuracy and efficiency.
Future Prospects of High Precision Positioning Technologies
The podcast explores the future landscape of high precision positioning technologies, scrutinizing potential advancements and challenges. Concepts like cell phones as sub-centimeter positioning tools are deliberated, citing constraints such as antenna size and orientation stability. Contemplations on the integration of visual positioning and GNSS for comprehensive mapping and navigation purposes signify a transitional phase towards sophisticated positioning solutions across diverse sectors.
GNSS receivers - why precise positioning will not be coming to your phone any time soon
Igor is the CEO and cofounder of Emlid.com a company that started out making high-precision GNSS receivers in his kitchen and crowd-funded the first batch on Kickstarter.
But that was over ten years ago so today on the podcast Igor is going to tell us about the innovations that made this possible, give a great explanation of RTK and PPP and explain why we should expect to see high precision positioning on your phone any time soon.
**Introduction to Emlid and its Focus**: Introduction to the company Emlid, its CEO and co-founder Igor, and their focus on high precision GNSS receivers and software designed for centimeter accuracy positioning.
**Startup Story and Crowdfunding**: The origin story of Emlid, starting from working with drones in university, the need for accurate maps, the initial challenges with high precision GPS technology, the development of their own GNSS receiver, and their successful crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter.
**Innovations in GNSS Technology**: How Emlid managed to make high precision GNSS technology more affordable and accessible, the role of open-source software, and the technical innovations that allowed them to reduce the cost and size of GNSS receivers.
**Market and Technology Evolution**: The discussion on how the market for GNSS technology has evolved, including the impact of autonomous cars on the development and availability of multi-frequency GNSS chips, and how these advancements benefited broader applications beyond surveying and construction.
**Precision vs. Accuracy in GNSS**: An explanation of the difference between precision and accuracy in the context of GNSS technology, and the significance of each in various applications like drone mapping and volume measurements.
**RTK and PPP Explained**: A detailed explanation of Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) and Precise Point Positioning (PPP), including how they work, their applications, and their advantages and limitations.
**The Future of GNSS Technology**: Insights into the future directions of GNSS technology, including the challenges and potentials for achieving sub-centimeter accuracy with smartphones, the complementarity of GNSS and visual positioning systems, and the potential for GNSS technology to replace traditional surveying methods.
**Global Utility of GNSS**: A discussion on the importance of GNSS as a global utility, its indispensable role in modern technology and everyday life, and the potential consequences of GNSS failures.