Make your work more efficient | CHCNAV

Surveying & Engineering

Advanced GNSS and optical solutions to make your surveying

and engineering projects more productive.

Surveying & Engineering

MACHINE CONTROL & CONSTRUCTION

High-productivity GNSS sensors and solutions.

MACHINE CONTROL & CONSTRUCTION

MAPPING & GEOSPATIAL

Mobile mapping solution for 3D mass data acquisition.

MAPPING & GEOSPATIAL

Marine Construction

High-performance USVs, GNSS sensors and echosounders

for marine survey and construction professionals.

Marine Construction

News & Events

Meet us at the COMMERCIAL UAV EXPO AMERICAS 2021

BB4 drone, Unmanned Air Vehicle, in the air for the mountain mapping task

Shanghai, China – CHC Navigation (CHCNAV), a global high-precision navigation company in autonomous drone and geomatics technologies, will be exhibiting at the 2021 Commercial UAV Expo Americas from September 7 to 9 in Las Vegas, USA. The Commercial UAV Expo Americas is North America’s leading trade show and conference focusing on the integration and operation of commercial UAS with more exhibitors than any other commercial drone event. This Expo is where the commercial drone community gathers to learn, connect, and drive the industry forward. Visit the CHCNAV booth #1010 at The Mirage, Las Vegas. We will be presenting our latest cutting-edge UAV technology, specifically designed for professional applications. Our AlphaAir 450 LiDAR system, along with our BB4 drone and the Apache 4 USV, is a complete line of scalable solutions that will be showcased at this exhibition. Figure 1. BB4 drone, Unmanned Air Vehicle, and AA450, airborne LIDAR system, in the air for a city mapping task; to be presented on the exhibition. Figure 2. Apache 4, autonomous hydrographic and bathymetric surveys USV, on the water for a hydrological survey task; to be presented on the exhibition. Access the map of COMMERCIAL UAV EXPO 2021: floor plan Learn more about COMMERCIAL UAV EXPO 2021: https://www.expouav.com/ _____ ABOUT CHC NAVIGATION CHC Navigation (CHCNAV) creates innovative GNSS navigation and positioning solutions to make customers' work more efficient. CHCNAV products and solutions cover multiple industries such as geospatial, construction, agriculture and marine. With a presence across the globe, distributors in more than 100 countries and more than 1,300 employees, today CHC Navigation is recognized as one of the fastest-growing companies in geomatics technologies. For more information about CHC Navigation [Huace:300627.SZ], please visit: https://www.chcnav.com/about-us/overview

2021-08-19

2021-09-07 2021-09-09 USA, Las Vegas Meet us at the COMMERCIAL UAV EXPO AMERICAS 2021

AUVSI XPONENTIAL 2021 in Atlanta

CHCNAV to exhibit at the world's largest event for unmanned and autonomous systems. Shanghai, China - CHC Navigation (CHCNAV), a global high-precision navigation company in autonomous drone and geomatics technologies, will participate in AUVSI's XPONENTIAL 2021 exhibition on August 16-19, 2021, in Atlanta, USA. This event is the only place where unmanned systems leaders and end-users from all industries share use cases, discover new technologies, build partnerships, and solve real-world problems. Figure 1. BB4 UAV -Unmanned Air Vehicle for airborne surveys from CHCNAV; to be presented at the exhibition CHCNAV will have a booth in the XPO hall (booth #2859). Attendees will have the opportunity to speak one-on-one with CHCNAV's experts and learn more about CHCNAV's latest technologies and innovative products across the entire spectrum of unmanned applications, from land, marine and airborne drones to LiDAR and integrated GNSS+INS sensors. CHCNAV's latest AA450 airborne LiDAR, BB4 UAV, and Apache4 USV marine UAV will be showcased at this exhibition. Figure 2. Navigation from entrance #1 to the CHCNAV’s booth #2859 Access the map of AUVSI XPONENTIAL 2021: https://www.xponential.org/xponential2021/public/eventmap.aspx?shmode=E Learn more about AUVSI XPONENTIAL 2021: https://www.xponential.org/ _____ About CHC Navigation CHC Navigation (CHCNAV) creates innovative GNSS navigation and positioning solutions to make customers' work more efficient. CHCNAV products and solutions cover multiple industries such as geospatial, construction, agriculture and marine. With a presence across the globe, distributors in more than 100 countries and more than 1,300 employees, today CHC Navigation is recognized as one of the fastest-growing companies in geomatics technologies. For more information about CHC Navigation [Huace:300627.SZ], please visit: https://www.chcnav.com/about-us/overview //

2021-07-20

2021-08-16 2021-08-19 USA, Altanta AUVSI XPONENTIAL 2021 in Atlanta

Meet us at the FIG e-Working Week 2021

FIG Community with over 250.000 members from 120 countries, including CHCNAV, will be at FIG e-working week online in 2021

We are pleased to invite you to join us at FIG e-Working Week 2021, June 20-25, the virtual conference of surveyors and geomatics experts from around the world. As an online conference, it will be accessible to visitors from all over the world and allow the 250,000 members from 120 countries of the FIG Community to join the event. Our CHCNAV representatives will be there to share meaningful insights into surveying technologies to improve your daily operations, from GNSS receivers and GNSS RTK networks to the latest LiDAR solutions for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The theme of FIG e-Working Week 2021 will be: "Smart surveyors for land and water management." In addition, it will also focus on the challenges surveyors face in an unstable, uncertain and unpredictable world and the technologies, methods and procedures they use to cope with these new developments. Learn more about FIG Working Week 2021: https://www.fig.net/fig2021/

2021-05-19

2021-06-20 2021-06-25 e-Working Online Meet us at the FIG e-Working Week 2021

The Application of CHCNAV GNSS Solutions in Mining and Quarrying

The latest GNSS technologies from CHCNAV have been used recently in combination with vocational training on the island of Sumatra to improve the productivity of surveying activities and hence contributed to local economic development. Figure 1. The island of Sumatra on the map The island of Sumatra is one of the largest islands in Indonesia, Java and south of the Malay Peninsula. It is known for its fertile soils, its wide variety of animals, and its natural resources, including coal, crude oil and natural gas. These support some of Sumatra’s key economic activities, generating more than 60% of the region’s income. In addition, the government of Sumatra also places great emphasis on vocational trainings as local human resources play an important role in contributing to economic development on the island. Mining and quarrying are demanding industries for the topographical surveys In Sumatra. PT Bukit Asam (coal), PT Semen Baturaja (cement), and PT Pupuk Sriwijaya (chemicals) are among the largest companies there. They are continuously investigating new technologies to improve their workflows, methodologies and overall organization. With the use of increasingly efficient equipment and techniques for full 3D digitization of sites, the operation of a mine or an open pit has been greatly optimized; at every stage, from exploration to operation of mines or quarries, CHCNAV solutions were used and recognized for their accuracy and affordability by all stakeholders. USERS PAIN POINTS When customers implementing new methodologies for 3D mapping and surveying frequently they experience difficulties. These can be summarized as follows: The existing metrology tools may be technologically outdated, e.g., a simple theodolite and level for topographic surveys. High and recurring maintenance costs of aging equipment consume part of the financial resources at the expense of acquiring new equipment. Large mining companies have difficulty recruiting high-quality employees as they prefer to use up-to-date equipment such as GNSS receivers, photogrammetric drones and Lidar. Veteran employees are reluctant to learn how to use new equipment and different software, such as switching from theodolites to GNSS technology. High-tech solutions are often associated with high-cost equipment and are therefore considered out of reach from a financial point of view. SOLUTIONS IMPLEMENTED 1) The availability of technologies that meet the specific needs in mines and quarries, such as harsh operational conditions and remote sites. The IP (water and dust protection) certification level and the ruggedness of the i73 and i90 GNSS receivers provided maximum confidence in their daily use and drastically reduced hardware downtime. In addition, the GNSS technology, such as iStar (the newest GNSS PVT (Position, Velocity, Time) algorithm for CHC Navigation's GNSS RTK receivers that allows tracking and usage of all the 5 main satellite constellations (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BDS or BeiDou system, QZSS) and their 16 frequencies with optimal performance) optimized the performance of GNSS surveying, both in terms of positioning accuracy and its availability in challenging environments. Figure 2. Setting up control point for base-rover GNSS RTK 2) The adoption of GNSS technologies for first-time users by simplifying work processes. The integration of GNSS+IMU modules allowed surveyors to survey points without the need to level the range pole. Software development also played a significant role in this process, enabling the implementation of automated processes: safety checklists for the use of drones, codification of topographic surveys for optimal data processing using CAD software, etc. Figure 3. Staking out with i73 GNSS rover 3) Lastly, systematically conducting training sessions with field operators contributes to increased productivity and a rapid return on investment. The training program for this project covered the fundamentals of GNSS RTK systems. Although most of the sites in this project have network coverage for operation in NTRIP RTK mode, the ability to use the integrated radio modems provided a valuable operational back-up. The data acquisition phase with an extended codification (addition of photos, video and voice messaging to the survey points coordinates) facilitated the final processing step, cartographic rendering, volume calculation, etc. Figure 4. GNSS training by CHCNAV expert GNSS PRODUCTS USED The i73 GNSS Receiver is more than 40% lighter than a typical GNSS receiver, making it more convenient to carry, use and operate without fatigue. The i73 compensates for up to 45° tilt of the survey range pole, eliminating the challenges associated with surveying points that are concealed or unsafe to reach. Its integrated high-capacity battery provides up to 15 hours of operation in the field. Full-day projects can be easily completed without worrying about a power outage. The i90 GNSS Receiver with embedded 624-channel GNSS technology takes benefit from all GPS, GLONASS, Galileo and BeiDou signals and provides robust RTK position availability and reliability. The 4G modem brings ease of use when working within RTK networks. The internal UHF radio modem allows long-distance base-to-rover surveying over distances of up to 5km. LandStar7 Software is the latest field-proven survey software solution for any Android device and CHCNAV data controllers. Designed for high-precision surveying and mapping tasks, LandStar7 provides seamless workflow management from field to office and an easy-to-learn and easy-to-use graphical user interface to complete projects efficiently. Figure 5. CHCNAV i90 GNSS, i73 GNSS and LandStar7 App CONCLUSION · The project in Sumatra was realized in accordance with the customer’s requirements. Whether capturing natural surfaces in the exploration phase or conducting control surveys, calculating available resources, managing road ramps, or calculating bench heights and widths during the mine exploitation phase, using CHCNAV geospatial solutions has been increasing the safety and productivity of quarries and mines in Sumatra. · The availability of CHCNAV experts in mapping, surveying, Lidar and photogrammetric drone survey applications contributed to the user adoption of the new 3D digitizing methodology. GNSS RTK receivers, local or regional GNSS RTK networks, airborne unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs or ‘drones’), photogrammetry, and the latest Lidar technology are all solutions CHCNAV provides to help mining and engineering companies increase their productivity. The affordability of CHCNAV’s cutting-edge products contributes to the extremely rapid return on investment and significantly removes financial barriers. ____ Discover more about CHCNAV’s GNSS receivers or GNSS software Send an inquiry

2021-09-06

Apache 4 USV in the hydrographic survey project

PROJECT BACKGROUND Rivers nourish the land, maintain ecological balance, and promote agricultural development, but if changes in the flow of major rivers are not known, floods or droughts may occur. From large rivers to small streams, velocity and flow monitoring have always been a headache for hydrographic measurement. Early representative equipment such as mechanical current meters, printed current meters, electromagnetic current meters, etc., can only measure single-point flow velocity and cannot accurately measure the cross-section flow. The emergence of the Acoustic Doppler Velocity Profiler (ADCP), which can measure the velocity of each layer of the entire section, more intuitively and accurately displays the flow of rivers, so global hydrological users favor it. USERS PAINT POINTS At present, the methods that traditional hydrological users carry ADCP for cross-section flow measurement mainly include ropeway towing, being mounted on an unmanned boat, towing by a trimaran, etc. Therefore, the pain points can be listed as follows: 1. The installation of the equipment to tow in a ropeway is costly and it’s complicated to maintain. 2. The artificial boat is inflexible when carries ADCP for flow measurement. The route along the section is often not straight, which leads to poor data results and danger for people in turbulent currents. 3. Loss of tracking data at the bottom of ADCP leads to missing flow measurement data, in addition, the environment easily can affect the accuracy of the compass. Figure 1. Apache 4 USV is completing the hydrological survey SOLUTION The APACHE 4, an autonomous hydrographic survey USV, can help avoid the high maintenance cost of towing fish in a ropeway; it is compact, easy to launch, and handle at the mission site, works effectively in a narrow environment. Moreover, it can be conveniently transported by car. The APACHE 4 was integrated with a single beam echo sounder and ADCP to make up for the loss of ADCP's bottom and compass tracking data, vulnerable to environmental conditions. This USV supports a wide variety of ADCP systems available on the market; it offers an unmanned operation solution with a shallow draft, high navigational accuracy, and stable hovering for hydrologists when measuring the current section's water flow velocity and discharge. The APACHE 4 USV brings together the best of high-accuracy positioning and automated navigation control technology, built around the operator's habits when conducting ADCP hydrographic cross-section flow measurements. Even when obstructed environments might degrade GNSS positioning, the internal GNSS+IMU module continues to provide a reliable position and heading for the ADCP and autopilot controller. As a result, the APACHE 4 is a perfect solution for obtaining high-quality flow and velocity measurements in water where manned boat access is impractical. KEY FEATURES OF APACHE 4 USV TO COMPLETE THE PROJECT SUCCESSFULLY ◼ It makes the route along cross-section straighter and the flow measurement data more accurate due to automatic adaptive water flow straight-line and stable hovering technologies ◼ It provides uninterrupted positioning and heading data for ADCP and makes up for the loss of ADCP's bottom & compass tracking data due to environmental interference ◼ When it has a built-in single-beam echo sounder and ADCP at the same time, the bottom topography can be obtained during flow measurement. PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION STEPS 1. INSTALLATION The 17cm diameter ADCP installation hole is reserved at the center of gravity of the USV’s hull that is compatible with the most common variety of ADCPs on the market. In this project, APACHE 4 is equipped with CHCNAV’s D230 single beam echo sounder and Teledyne RD Instrument RiverPro ADCP. Therefore, users can quickly install and remove them on site. Figure 2. The ADCP installation into the APACHE 4 2. MISSION PLANNING A round-trip line was planned along the cross-section of the river in the AutoPlanner software in advance, which would be the round-trip route followed autonomously by the APACHE 4 USV to collect the depth and flow data. Figure 3. A round trip route planned for the survey with the APACHE 4 3. AUTONOMOUS HYDROLOGICAL OPERATION In this project, APACHE 4 transmits ADCP data to the software of the ground station on shore through the 4G network. After configuring the ADCP data, NMEA GPGGA positioning, and GPHDT orientation data access and setting of the distance to shore in the WinRiver II software, APACHE 4 entered the fixed-point hovering mode on the shore, and it is released after the ADCP collected the shore data. Then APACHE 4 was equipped with the D230 single beam echo sounder and RiverPro ADCP to automatically navigate along the river cross-section line planned, and the software recorded the cross-sectional flow profile data. Figure 4. APACHE 4 collects the data for a survey 4. DATA COLLECTION In this project, the APACHE 4 USV was equipped with RiverPro ADCP, completed two round-trips of cross-sectional flow measurement in just 20 minutes, shortening the time of one-time round-trip measurement to 2 hours, reducing human resources to 2 people. Figure 5. Data obtained after the first round-trip measurement Figure 6. Data obtained after the second round-trip measurement 5. SUMMARY The comparison error of the total flow of the two measurement rounds is only 0.39%, which is far better than the 5% required by the flow measurement accuracy specification of this project. Users have highly praised the high efficiency and high accuracy of APACHE 4. CONCLUSION Water operations are one of the most dangerous industries today, where human factors cause approximately 70% of accidents. The integrated applications of USV have started to modify the working status of the relevant staff and ships. The staff is already partially transferred from the boats to the land when boats are equipped with smart sensors to navigate autonomously. As a result, the operating costs are reduced, and the efficiency and measurement accuracy are greatly improved. The APACHE 4, Autonomous Flow Measurement USV, solves the problems related to the low navigation and measurement accuracy, short data transmission distance, low work efficiency, shore flow distance estimation that are so common in hydrological surveys. It meets the measurement specification requirements and innovates the way we do the hydrological survey. ____ KNOW MORE ABOUT APACHE 4 USV SEND INQUIRY FOR APACHE 4 USV

2021-09-01

CHC Navigation introduces the NX510 Pro Auto Steer

High accuracy and economical steering solution for most tractors in any field type. Shanghai, China – August 16, 2021 – CHC Navigation (CHCNAV) releases the NX510 Pro, a high accuracy automated steering system, specially designed for tillage, seeding, fertilization, pesticide, and harvesting applications. With the state-of-the-art steering controller and full GNSS RTK capability, the NX510 PRO can be quickly and easily mounted to various types of tractors and other farming vehicles to achieve ±2.5 cm pass-to-pass accuracy. "The NX510 PRO is the new generation’s auto-steering system, engineered to dramatically reduce installation time, simplify daily operations and increase the productivity of farms of all sizes," said Yorke Tang, Product Manager of CHCNAV's Precision Agriculture Division. "The NX510 Pro allows farmers to afford a high-performance yet affordable auto-steer kit to retrofit their tractors to optimize their work efforts, reduce input costs and fuel consumption, and meet the main goals of sustainable agriculture: Increase farm income Promote environmental stewardship Enhance the quality of life for farm families and communities Increase production for human food needs." What specific benefits can the NX510 PRO bring to users? Here are the most important ones: Quick and easy installation NX510 PRO takes less than one hour from installation start to operator use. The entire system can be installed in 30 minutes and calibrated in about 15 minutes, significantly reducing downtime costs in the field. Figure 1. Installation of NX510 Pro auto-steering system to a tractor Intuitive AgNav software to control operations AgNav supports multiple guidance patterns to fit field layouts, including Straight AB line, A+ line, circle line, irregular curve and headland turn. It eliminates driving steering errors and any overlapping passes on the field. The AgNav software also features real-time remote technical support from local dealer's help desk. Figure 2. Using an automated steering system on the tractor Figure 3. NX510 PRO’s high-torque electric wheel 2.5 cm pass-to-pass accuracy in challenging environments Powered by local, network or satellite-based RTK corrections, the GNSS+INS terrain compensation technology ensures ±2.5 cm hands-free accuracy on any terrain. The advanced controller ensures full RTK accuracy in seconds, provides smooth auto-steering and repeatable long-term accuracy. Figure 4. Auto-steering system’s result in difficult terrain The CHCNAV NX510 PRO is available worldwide from August 16, 2021. To support the rapid growth of our Agriculture Division, dealership opportunities are open in several countries to precision farming professionals. ____ About CHC Navigation CHC Navigation (CHCNAV) creates innovative GNSS navigation and positioning solutions to make customers' work more efficient. CHCNAV products and solutions cover multiple industries such as geospatial, construction, agriculture, and marine. With a presence across the globe, distributors in more than 100 countries, and more than 1,300 employees, today CHC Navigation is recognized as one of the fastest-growing companies in geomatics technologies. For more information about CHC Navigation [Huace:300627.SZ], please visit: www.chcnav.com Discover more about NX510 PRO Send an inquiry for NX510 PRO Media contact: marketing@chcnav.com

2021-08-16

P330 Pro UAV Photogrammetry used in City Planning

CITY PLANNING PROJECT IN GUILIN, CHINA Surveying and mapping are important foundations for the development of a national economy. An accurate understanding of the spatial configuration of territory and information about its attributes is important for decision making. The development of drone photogrammetry technology has brought tremendous change to the surveying and mapping industry. Surveyors no longer need to spend a lot of time and energy on fieldwork, as accurate information can be obtained by drone, and the results are even superior to the traditional way of operating. From a financial point of view, the use of the drone has significantly improved the return on investment. Drone photogrammetry has gradually become a common measurement method due to its convenience, high accuracy, and lower cost. Figure 1. A top-down view to the P330 PRO VTOL drone. ___ TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE URBAN DEVELOPMENT Guilin, in China's Guangxi province, is an important tourist city in southern China. Tourism has become an important part of the city's planning. In order to have up-to-date data on the evolution of local topography, landforms, houses, roads, and other attribute information, the local government has to conduct a comprehensive survey of the entire area every six months. The Guangxi Guilin Survey and Design Institute Co, Ltd. undertook the project implementation lead. ___ TECHNOLOGY BARRIERS IN DIGITAL MAPPING Since tourism has become an important part of economic growth, regular collection of land information is necessary for urban planning. Currently, most land information is collected by manned surveys with GNSS, GIS collectors, and satellite images. The challenges faced by surveying and mapping departments can be listed as follows: Significant manpower expenditure - Because the project covers a large area, many surveyors are required to carry out the data collection. Long completion time - Surveys conducted by field crews are very time-consuming in terms of data collection in the field and post-processing to obtain useable results. Advanced qualification requirement - In order to achieve accurate mapping surveys, all team members must have a solid knowledge of GNSS and GIS technologies. Image updates are not always available when needed - Satellite images are not updated in real-time. The actual site may differ significantly from the reference images obtained earlier for the project. Some areas are hard to reach - rivers, mountains, construction zones - and difficult to map by on-the-ground teams. Figure 2. P330 PRO VTOL drone in the sky. ___ P330 Pro AERIAL Orthophoto Solution Advantages With the constant development of drone technology, UAVs are now widely used for construction, civil engineering, monitoring and emergency rescue. Combined with aerial photography technology, unmanned aerial vehicles become an extremely cost-effective alternative to manned aircraft for surveying and mapping, mining, construction and infrastructure, etc. The main benefits include: Long endurance - 150 min maximum flight time with payload, allowing to cover a larger area (up to 9 km2 at a resolution of 3 cm/pixel and with 70% overlap). 100 Hz differential module. No Ground Control Points. - With the combined use of GNSS RTK positioning, camera offset and CGO GNSS post-processing software, no ground control points (GCPs) were required for this project, saving considerable time and cost. High accuracy trajectography and POS (positioning and orientation system) data - Survey-grade GNSS positioning and POS data at the centimeter level provide a horizontal accuracy of 6 cm for this project. High safety for a secure take-off, flight, and landing - Highly automated operation, safety monitoring, and self-checking procedures minimize human operating errors and ensure a safe flight. ___ A CHOICE OF 2D AND 3D MAPPING OUTPUTS High accuracy Digital Orthophoto Maps (DOM) - Each pixel has high precision horizontal geodetic coordinates from which users can obtain any terrain coordinates directly. Figure 3. Digital Orthophoto Maps made with the help of P330 Pro VTOL drone. High accuracy Digital Surface Model (DSM) - The generated elevation data provides a global view of the terrain. Figure 4. Digital Surface Model made with the help of P330 Pro VTOL drone. High accuracy Digital Line Graph (DLG) - Post-processed DLGs are widely used for construction planning, resource management and environmental impact analysis. Figure 5. Digital Line Graph made with the help of P330 Pro VTOL drone. 3D Photogrammetric Model - 3D reality models generated with the use of an oblique camera can be applied for urban, housing, construction, and landscaping planning. Figure 6. 3D reality model made with the help of P330 Pro VTOL drone. Topographic Map Contour Lines - Generation of contour lines based on Digital Surface Model (DSM) and Digital Terrain Model (DTM.) Figure 7. DSM and DTM made with the help of a P330 Pro VTOL drone. ___ DATA ACCURACY AND RESULTS The flight parameters required for the project were as follows: - Ground Sampling Distance (GSD): 3 cm/pixel - Forward overlap: 80% - Side overlap: 70% - Mapping scale: 1:2000 The final data accuracy achieved against ground control points: - Horizontal: 6 cm - Vertical: 10 cm Figure 8. P330 Pro VTOL drone is landing. ___ Drone Photogrammetry. An obvious asset for urban planning UAV aerial mapping is a technological breakthrough for sustainable urban planning projects involving multiple dimensions: technical, economic, ecological, social and more broadly cultural. The ability of drone mapping to maintain accurate and up-to-date data allows urbanists to think and make cities differently, to create another model of urban planning and development, but also to invent other ways of living, of organizing public transportation, … The reliability of the results and the accuracy of the point cloud information confirm the compelling advantages of UAV photogrammetry for large area surveying and mapping projects. In a constantly evolving urban environment, the use of the P330 Pro VTOL drone contributes to sustainable city planning, safe operations for the field crew, reduced workload and labor costs, and an extremely fast return on investment. ___ Send an inquiry for P330 Pro VTOL Drone Discover more about P330 Pro VTOL Drone

2021-08-10

CGI-610 GNSS INS in the seaport automation project of Thailand

BACKGROUND OF THE AUTONOMOUS DRIVING Autonomous driving has become a popular topic in recent years, whether for self-driving passenger cars, cabs, or industrial vehicles. To accomplish the task of autonomous driving, a vehicle needs to have the following information: where it is (positioning), where it is going (planning), how to get there (navigation planning), how to avoid collisions (perception), and how to follow relevant protocols (understanding modeling). Positioning is the primary problem that needs to be solved, and it is acknowledged that integrated GNSS/INS navigation and positioning is an essential technology to address this application. The CGI GNSS/INS (inertial navigation system) sensor tightly integrates high accuracy positioning GNSS module and an industrial-grade inertial motion unit (IMU) that are designed to meet the requirements of the autonomous driving industry. _____ SELF DRIVING STANDARDS Autonomous driving technology is divided into 6 levels in the SAE standard, from L0 to L5. There should be no manual intervention during the driving process for L4 and L5 autonomous vehicles. In the field of passenger cars, due to the difficulties of establishing laws and regulations covering the notion of risks and responsibilities, L4 and L5 autonomous driving technology is still far from mass production. However, in several special commercial vehicle applications, such as port and fleet logistics, L4 autonomous driving projects are gradually implemented. Among CHC Navigation's customers, Westwell, to which we shall refer in the next paragraph, has already completed the commercial operation of L4 autonomous driving in a harbor. Figure 1. Westwell’s autonomous Q-Truck at the Thai port _____ THE CASE OF STRADDLE TRUCKS Founded in 2016, Westwell aims at the commercial roll-out of AI chip-based solutions, at the smart port business, and subsequently enters the autonomous driving segment in industrial applications. Westwell is one of the early integrators of the CGI-610 GNSS/INS, the first navigation sensor featuring GNSS and INS tight coupling algorithms developed by CHC Navigation. The cooperation between the two parties started in 2019 and contributed to a process of continuous improvement of CHCNAV GNSS navigation and inertial systems, considering all the operational constraints encountered in a port environment. On September 13, 2019, Westwell announced the release of a driverless electric truck, the Q-Truck. The Q-Truck is designed as a cab-less truck that can be used in multiple scenarios such as ports, logistics parks, and mines. It is equipped with CGI-610, the high-precision integrated GNSS/INS navigation receiver that can achieve centimeter-level positioning accuracy. In 2020, 6 Q-Trucks were put into service in the port in Thailand operating at full capacity, loading and unloading containers. Figure 2. Q-Truck fleet at the Thai port _____ ADOPTING HYBRID SOLUTIONS Compared to the combined GNSS/INS navigation and positioning solution, the use of traditional solutions (magnetic guidance nails or base station guidance program) in Automated Guided Vehicles (AVG) and straddle trucks leads to challenges such as the use of external devices, the high cost of port transformation, relatively low operational efficiency and deployment difficulties. Similarly, GNSS positioning solutions also have shortcomings in such complex and obstructed environments as ports. The availability of a single RTK GNSS-based positioning is sometimes affected for a period that can be quite long. The accuracy of GNSS/INS positioning then becomes inadequate to ensure the integrity of autonomous navigation systems. The efficient resolution of such constraints requires the additional use of vision and LiDAR technologies to perform multi-sources fusion positioning. Figure 3. Moving containers from the vessel to the yard with the help of autonomous Q-Trucks _____ CONCLUSION CHCNAV’s CGI-610 GNSS/INS sensor was successfully integrated by Westwell into its driverless Q-Truck. The CGI-610 GNSS/INS sensor is a dual-antenna GNSS receiver, tightly coupled to an inertial module, that provides reliable and accurate navigation and positioning solutions for demanding terrestrial, marine, or aerial applications. Figure 4.CGI-610 GNSS/INS Sensor integrated into the Q-Trucks Today, Westwell has achieved commercial operation of automated straddle truck driving in ports. The Q-Truck is designed as a cab-less truck and could be used in multiple scenarios, such as ports, logistics parks, and mines. The challenge of prolonged GNSS positioning outages in obstructed areas and ensuring the integrity of the truck's position leads to the need to add vision and LiDAR sensors to provide multi-source fusion positioning. CHC Navigation has initiated a research and development program to bring out new high accuracy solutions to fill the gap in GNSS use in seaports. ___ Know more about CGI-610 GNSS/INS sensor Send an inquiry for CGI-610 GNSS/INS sensor Media contact: marketing@chcnav.com

2021-07-27