High-accuracy vehicle positioning to within 50cm without correction data

Alps Alpine and Furuno Electric Co., Ltd. have jointly produced the UMSZ6 Series GNSS1 Module realising high-accuracy positioning to within 50cm without correction data, claimed to be a world-first for automotive applications. Even on general roads (approximately 3m wide), the module reliably facilitates vehicle positioning down to the lane level, as is needed of various V2X2 applications, thereby adding to higher sophistication of autonomous driving functions.

The GNSS module achieves its high-accuracy positioning utilising a multi-frequency GNSS receiver chip based on Furuno's Extended Carrier Aiding3 technology. Running costs linked with RTK4 base stations, correction data receiving, and correction data use are no longer required, maximising cost performance while dependable vehicle positioning down to the lane level is possible even on general roads. The company's expertise in module creation gained over many years in the automotive business was applied to achieve compact dimensions of 17.8mm x 18m x 3.11mm while adhering to automotive grade, contributing to customers' freedom in end-products design.

Under the joint development, Furuno has developed and provided an original multi-frequency GNSS receiver chip – eRideOPUS 9 (model ePV9000B) – and algorithm. Alps Alpine is employing the chip before anyone else to produce and commercialise the UMSZ6 Series GNSS Module.

Hideo Izumi, vice president, Device Business, Alps Alpine: "Relative vehicle positioning accuracy is constantly improving as a result of mmWave radar, LiDAR and camera technology. Achieving absolute position accuracy down to the lane level is essential for V2X applications and genuine Level 3 automated driving, but system-related costs associated with RTK technology have been an obstacle. Getting around this with a multi-frequency GNSS receiver chip based on Furuno's Extended Carrier Aiding technology, which realises high-accuracy vehicle positioning to within 50 centimetres without correction data, will likely prove to be a breakthrough in V2X and advanced autonomous driving technology."

Katsunori Motokawa, executive officer system products division general manager, Furuno Electric Co, Ltd: "Autonomous driving has made rapid progress in the automotive industry and is demanding ever-higher levels of positioning accuracy. By teaming up with Alps Alpine, a company with an extensive track record in the automotive market, module creation expertise conforming to stringent automotive-grade standards, and C-V2X system offerings, we believe the high positioning accuracy Furuno has achieved can contribute to practical application and greater sophistication of autonomous driving technology."