Alps Alpine, Furuno Develop UMSZ6 Series GNSS Module
Alps Alpine and Furuno Electric have jointly developed the UMSZ6 Series GNSS Module realizing high-accuracy positioning to within 50 centimeters without correction data, a world-first for automotive applications.
The UMSZ6 Series GNSS Module jointly developed by Alps Alpine and Furuno realizes high-accuracy vehicle positioning to within 50 centimeters even without having to use position correction data, a world-first for automotive applications.
Hideo Izumi, Vice President, Device Business, Alps Alpine said, “Relative vehicle positioning accuracy is constantly improving as a result of millimeter-wave radar, LiDAR and camera technology. Achieving absolute position accuracy down to the lane level is essential for both 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 realizes high-accuracy vehicle positioning to within 50 centimeters 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 said, “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.”
This is achieved using a multi-frequency GNSS receiver chip based on Furuno’s Extended Carrier Aiding technology. Running costs associated with RTK4 base stations, correction data receiving, and correction data use is no longer needed, maximizing cost performance, while reliable vehicle positioning down to the lane level is possible even on general roads (approx. three meters wide).
Alps Alpine expertise in module creation accumulated over many years in the automotive business was applied to realize compact dimensions of 17.8 × 18.0 × 3.11mm while conforming to automotive grade, contributing to greater freedom for customers in end-product design.
Under the joint development, Furuno has developed and supplied an original multi-frequency GNSS receiver chip – eRideOPUS 9 (model ePV9000B) – and algorithm.
Alps Alpine is using the chip before anyone else to create and commercialize the UMSZ6 Series GNSS Module and will carry out evaluations within a real-car environment to assess performance and interoperability with V2X and other communication modules, and pursue sales promotion within the automotive market.
