Septentrio Launches UAS Receiver, Software for Drone Market

The AsteRx-m UAS by Septentrio.

Septentrio has launched the AsteRx-m UAS, an RTK-accurate GNSS receiver solution specially designed for the drone market. The AsteRx-m UAS provides high-accuracy GNSS positioning with low power consumption, according to Septentrio.

The launch of the AsteRx-m UAS board is complemented by the release of GeoTagZ software suite. The GeoTagZ suite works with the UAS camera and image-processing solution to provide centimeter-accurate position tagging of images without the need for a real-time data link.

The AsteRx-m UAS will be on display at booth #635 during AUVSI’s Unmanned Systems 2015, held May 4-7 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta.

Despite being Septentrio’s smallest receiver, the AsteRx-m UAS provides consistent, robust and accurate positioning from to Septentrio’s in house GNSS+ algorithm technology. The receiver delivers cm-level accuracy at less than 600 mW with GPS and less than 700 mW with GLONASS. LOCK+ technology guarantees tracking under heavy usage and IONO+ guarantees no interference in challenging ionospheric conditions, Septentrio said.

Integration into Any UAS. One of the key characteristics of AsteRx-m UAS and GeoTagZ is the seamless integration into any UAS. AsteRx-m UAS features standard connection functionality that directly connects to a UAS autopilot, such as Pixhawk and Ardupilot. The power comes directly from a number of power sources, including micro USB, a 9-30V external power supply or the vehicle power bus. GeoTagZ is available as a library of software to integrate into an UAS image-processing tool chain.

“We want to make UAS-based data collection and processing extremely simple. AsteRx-m UAS and GeoTagZ do just that,” said Jan Leyssens, commercial product manager at Septentrio. “The GNSS board connects seamlessly to standard hardware and cameras used on a drone. Together with our software, we provide a data collection solution that provides cm-level accuracy without the need for ground control points or real-time data links, and that integrates effortlessly with an existing UAS image processing software solutions.”