Trimble and TDK: Pioneering Precision Navigation Solutions
In a groundbreaking collaboration, Trimble® and InvenSense, part of the TDK group, have united their strengths to innovate a next-generation navigation solution. This strategic partnership promises to significantly enhance positioning accuracy and reliability across various sectors, particularly in automotive and IoT applications such as autonomous vehicles, drones, and industrial machinery.
Advanced Navigation Technologies
The innovative navigation solution emerges from the amalgamation of the
Trimble ProPoint® Go engine and
Trimble RTX® correction service with
TDK's SmartAutomotive™ Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs). The Trimble ProPoint Go positioning engine stands out by delivering exceptional accuracy in position and orientation tracking by leveraging Trimble's globally accessible correction services. Its capability to utilize quad-frequency GNSS signals, alongside ASIL-C certified correction data, positions it as a robust foundation for companies looking to enhance their automated driving technologies with a safety-focused lens.
TDK contributes to this cutting-edge partnership with its IMUs, which integrate a triaxial accelerometer and gyroscope within a compact six-axis motion sensor. This powerful feature enables the detection of both linear acceleration and angular velocity with remarkable precision, making it ideal for varied applications from autonomous driving to field robotics.
Synergy for Enhanced Performance
Olivier Casabianca, Trimble's vice president of advanced positioning, remarked on the significance of this partnership by stating, "Together with TDK, we are bringing the power of high-accuracy and precise positioning along with state-of-the-art ASIL-certified sensors. Our collaboration aims to empower customers to develop innovative solutions in the automotive and IoT markets."
The consolidated solution offers several key benefits:
1.
Accuracy: The combined capabilities ensure exceptional positioning accuracy regardless of environmental challenges such as urban canyons or harsh weather conditions.
2.
Reliability: Users can depend on consistent and accurate navigation data, crucial for applications involving autonomous vehicles and industrial machinery.
3.
Versatility: This integrated solution is not limited to automotive uses but extends to advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), cellular vehicle-to-everything (C-V2X) communications, field robotics, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
Driving Automation Forward
Stefano Zanella, automotive motion VP and general manager at TDK, stressed the importance of inertial and positioning data in today’s automated landscape. He stated, "Building on nearly ten years of collaboration with Trimble, we are excited to elevate our efforts by offering an integrated solution. We empower our customers to accelerate deployment processes, simplify integrations, and maximize the potential of this transformative technology."
Comprehensive Solutions for Diverse Needs
The TDK automotive safety IMU components are designed per the
SEooC standard according to
ISO 26262, making them suitable for applications requiring up to ASIL-D safety levels. TDK also provides various options, including a three-axis magnetometer in a comprehensive nine-axis solution.
Availability and Next Steps
Both the Trimble ProPoint Go engine and RTX correction service, alongside TDK's IMUs, are now available for testing via the
Trimble Evaluation Kit. This exciting partnership not only exemplifies the potential of collaboration between leading technology firms but also signifies a pivotal step towards enhancing the safety and precision of connected systems in our rapidly advancing technological landscape.
To learn more about this innovative partnership and the technologies being developed, visit the following resources: