Shenzen, China: At the 9th China Satellite Navigation Conference (23rd-25th May in Harbin), Boshengshang Technology (known as BSS), a start-up based in Shenzhen China, announced a new high precision satellite position receiver realized by patented RAC（Real-time Array Calibration）technology. It features to achieve positioning accuracy better than one meter (up to 10cm) by receiving only single frequency signal (GPS L1 or Beidou B1). The RAC technology in high precision satellite positioning frees the dependence on ground based augmentation network and significantly reduces the cost, which will enable high precision satellite positioning to enter large-scale applications.
It’s widely known that the accuracy of civil use satellite positioning is about 10 meters. GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) receiver relies on the support of ground based augmentation system by the implementation of Real Time Kinematic (RTK) deferential reference stations in order to achieve accuracy within one meter. Therefore, large-scale construction and operation of ground based augmentation network have been the only way to promote large-scale applications in current high accuracy GNSS industry. In addition, the construction, maintenance and utilization of ground based or satellite based augmentation network will face various challenges regarding resources, technology and cost.
As for the end users, they also have to pay service and communications data fees to access the differential correction data between user side and augmentation systems, so both the CAPEX and OPEX for traditional high accuracy service are high, the hardware and service fees are more than one thousand USD each set, and correction signal service is also a long-term cost.
In general, there are two pain points of the traditional RTK technology:
So even the potential of high-precision market is huge, these pain points impede the adoption of high-precision satellite positioning to large-scale applications in a short time. Therefore, to reduce the cost of high-precision positioning technology is pressing priority.
There are two distinguishing features of RAC（Real-time Array Calibration）technology that make the low cost high precision position available.
First of all, RAC technology is able to achieve positioning accuracy to decimeter level by receiving only L1 or B1 frequency range signals and without relying on the support of any enhancement technology such as ground based or satellite based augmentation or inertial navigation (INS). However, it is simultaneously compatible to the ground enhancement network system, which can improve the reliability and serviceability of high precision positioning, and greatly reduce the cost on building ground based augmentation equipment.
Secondly, the RAC Technology only adopts the most common traditional chips and elements in the existing mass market, which are affordable and reliable. As the chipsets performance is improving, the RAC technology could be much more improved.
After 3 years R&D, Boshengshang Technology is honored the Intellectual Property Rights in both domestic and overseas market. The advanced RAC technology, possessed by Boshengshang Technology, is an innovative methodology to improve positioning accuracy. In the future, it would coexist with traditional technologies such as RTK, PPP and RTX. Due to its differences from traditional differential mode to receive high precision signal, the RAC technology still has space for correction and expansion. Meanwhile it points a new research direction for positioning technology which could be used in indoor positioning and other fields.
At this moment, Boshengshang Technology has launched a series of products at mass production capacity.
In the age of artificial intelligence, the rapid development of intelligent vehicle and Internet of Things make the universal application of high precision satellite positioning a rigid demand. Unmanned vehicles, Intelligent network connection, V2X, Lane level positioning and navigation, autopilot, UAV, unmanned ship, and HD map data collection, are all possible application scenes of high precision satellite positioning using RAC technology.
The products of Boshengshang Technology have been actively deployed in the field of intelligent automotive, and have been tested and evaluated with multiple OEMs, Tier1 and start-ups. Many customers are satisfied with the RAC technology accuracy and stable performance importantly at the affordable price. Without any service charge, the scope of use is not geometrically limited to the ground based network, which could lead to a subversive change in the current market.
Products of Boshengshang Technology have improved the precision of navigation to the lane level without increasing any cost, in the open, CBD, viaduct, short tunnel and other scenes. RAC technology is believed to be one really feasible large-scale GPS sensor for next generation intelligent driving car and become the standard of future autonomous car.
Beidou navigation system is the main driving force for the rapid growth of the global satellite industry in the next 10 years. According to the three-step strategy, around 2020, Beidou will complete the 35 satellite network to achieve global coverage.
With the advent of the Beidou’s global network in 2020, large scale building of Beidou ground based system abroad would be difficult. In this case, by using Beidou’s single frequency signal, RAC by Boshengshang Technology could be a great help for China Beidou’s high precision positioning service to reach overseas, surpass the precision of single frequency GPS and occupy a broad global market.
In addition, Boshengshang Technology could easily expand the RAC technology to support other main global position systems like Galileo and GLONASS.
