The new NAVsuite 3.13 release of software and 240917 xBNS/cBNS firmware includes a number of key updates so users can achieve the maximum performance and functionality out of their OxTS GNSS/INS devices.
What’s new in NAVsuite 3.13?
To summarise, NAVsuite 3.13 includes a number of new and updated features:
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- Wheel speed aiding via CAN for improved performance open-road data collection projects without the need for external sensors.
- Ionospheric scintillation shield on RT3000 v3 and RT3000 T v4 products for enhanced GNSS availability around the equator as Solar Cycle 25 peaks.
- Latest TerraStar-C Pro and TerraStar-X service support on RT3000 v3 and RT3000 T v4 products for satellite based RTK-level corrections.
- SBAS and MSM3 support on RT3000 v4, xNAV650/AV200 and xRED3000 products for enhanced correction availability.
- FTP file transfer restart for improved efficiency in data retrieval for post-processing.
- Indoor hotstart initialisation for autonomous driving applications starting where GNSS is unavailable.
In detail…
Improve position drift with wheel speed aiding via CAN.
Constant GNSS interruptions caused by tree cover, tunnels and large buildings can make open-road data collection tough. Whether you’re testing a new ADAS feature, developing an autonomous vehicle, or collecting point cloud data; it’s important to keep position drift to a minimum.
To help constrain drift, many engineers use additional aiding sources, such as LiDAR (see OxTS LIO), Radar and Camera. To implement additional sensors it takes time, patience and a sound understanding of sensor fusion.
If you want to avoid mounting external sensors to your vehicle there is another option.
NAVsuite 3.13 includes the option to use wheel speed data from your vehicle’s CAN bus to aid the INS. Configurable in NAVconfig, you can now feed wheel speed data into your navigation engine to reduce position drift and improve the quality of open-road navigation data.
Improve your GNSS availability and accuracy.
All OxTS inertial navigation systems are aided by GNSS. The release of NAVsuite 3.13 will give you access to improved receiver performance and functionality whichever version you’re using.
+ RT3000 v3/RT3000 T v4/RT3000 DO160 v4 – The firmware upgrade gives users access to the latest TerraStar-C PRO and TerraStar X correction services. Access to the additional functionality will provide significant improvements in performance including convergence time, accuracy and recovery.
In addition, the firmware upgrade will provide enhanced protection against ionospheric scintillation. This phenomenon is caused by increased solar activity and can affect GNSS signal strength around the equator.
+ RT3000 v4/RT1003 v2/xNAV650/AV200/xRED3000 – The firmware upgrade will provide support for SBAS, providing sub-metre accuracy from satellite-based corrections. Support for MSM3 messages in receiver mode has also been included to enhance base station availability.
FTP file copy restart.
OxTS devices can amass large amounts of data for exceptionally long collection projects, during which raw data is often offloaded to an external logging device at the end of each day.
This firmware release now provides support for the FTP REST command to allow resuming FTP file transfers from a specified point. This facilitates transferring data in multiple chunks rather than one large transfer, hence removing the need for one extended transfer session at the end of a day of data collection.
Indoor Hotstart Initialisation.
Used in conjunction with PTP slave timing and indoor generic aiding data (GAD) sources, the hotstart features allows users to trigger the initialisation of their INS indoors from their last power-off location and start navigating accurately in the absence of GNSS.
This feature is particularly useful for autonomous vehicles that have a requirement to begin and end their day in a covered facility such as a depot.
