Septentrio and Artisense demonstrate advanced localization technology for autonomous vehicles

Septentrio, manufacturer of high-accuracy GPS/GNSS technology for demanding applications, is providing positioning technology to Artisense, supplier of innovative computer vision solutions for automated vehicles. Artisense incorporates Septentrio GPS/GNSS in their latest Visual Inertial Navigation System (VINS), which will be demonstrated live at Auto.ai show in Berlin, Germany on September 25-27, 2019.

VINS combines computer vision, inertial sensors and GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) measurements to deliver highly accurate global 3D positioning and orientation information in any environment, even indoors. “We are very pleased to work with Artisense on this technology and demonstrate how vehicle localization systems benefit from fusing computer vision with high-precision GNSS,” said Jan Van Hees, Business Development Director at Septentrio. “The result of our cooperation is precise localization in any environment offering positioning reliability and redundancy needed for safety-critical applications such as autonomous vehicles or robotics.”

Multi-constellation, multi-frequency GNSS technology provides reliable centimeter-level global positioning to the VINS system with accuracy required for lane-level maneuvering and V2V warning systems. Cameras and inertial sensors continue accurate localization as the vehicle moves into tunnels or parking garages with no line-of-sight to GNSS satellites. Although the system uses a relatively simple MEMs IMU and off-the-shelf cameras, it delivers precision and reliability of a high-end INS system. “Positioning accuracy and reliability are very important to us. Earlier this year we have deployed a large-scale mapping operation in Berlin where we tested a lot of different GNSS receivers. We saw the best results coming from Septentrio consistently”, said Johannes Start, Technical Product Manager at Artisense. “We continue to use Septentrio receivers because they are precise, they acquire RTK (Real Time Kinematic) fix quickly and reliably and they are easy to integrate.”

The live demo at Auto.ai will offer a ride around Berlin in a car featuring VINS technology. One screen inside the car will continuously display the car’s location. Unlike the GPS of an average infotainment system, VINS will continue accurate localization anywhere, even in tunnels or in parking garages. The second screen inside the car will feature a real-time 3D point-cloud reconstruction of the car’s surroundings.

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