Trimble Integrated Technologies has announced the introduction of the Trimble UAS1, a compact, high-precision Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) board specifically designed for unmanned aerial systems (UAS). Featuring rugged connectors, state-of-the-art Trimble Maxwell technology, and an intuitive software interface, the UAS1 allows system integrators to easily add satellite-based positioning with potential for upgrades.
The 336-channel GNSS solution provides robust centimeter-level, real-time kinematic (RTK) positioning, tracking L1/L2 frequencies from the GPS, GLONASS, Galileo and BeiDou constellations. Trimble CenterPoint RTX GNSS corrections are also supported, which enable precise and robust positioning without the use of a base station via a subscription service. CenterPoint RTX allows users to achieve better than 2 centimeter horizontal and 5 centimeter vertical accuracy.
The board’s design, providing a full metal shield and a compact 71mm x 46mm x 13mm form factor, enables high-precision GNSS signal protection from electromagnetic interference (EMI) on the host UAS platform. In addition, the receiver is FCC and CE certified, which speeds compliance for the system and can reduce time to market.
The UAS1’s Remote Network Driver Interface Specification (RNDIS) enables manufacturers to access the intuitive web UI over USB. Firmware options and features are password upgradeable, allowing functionality to be added as system requirements change.
Other features include integrated Trimble RTX technology, Fault Detection and Exclusion (FDE), Receiver Autonomous Integrity Monitoring (RAIM), an embedded RF Spectrum Monitoring and Analysis tool, an industry-standard camera hot-shoe interface to geo-position photographs, and LED indicators for status checks. The Trimble UAS1 can also output to the common RINEX postprocessing format.
Thomas Utzmeier, general manager of Trimble’s Integrated Technologies Division, commented: “UAS manufacturers demand high performance, reliability and high-quality customized support for their positioning solutions. The new UAS1 board delivers the latest GNSS technology in an easy-to-integrate form factor for UAV / UAS applications.”
